• October 14, 2021
• VOYA Financial Advisors

Jamie Marie Cooke (CRD#: 1969380) is a previously registered Broker and previously registered Investment Advisor. She entered the securities industry in 1989 and previously worked for Voya Financial Adivsors, Inc.; Triad Advisors, LLC; Allstate Financial Services, LLC; NYLife Securities, Inc.; NYLife Distributors, Inc.; Guardian Investor Services Corporation; SIFE; Intersecurities, Inc.; and Federation for Financial Independence.

According to publicly available records released by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), in August 2021, a customer dispute was filed against Jamie Cooke. The allegation states, “Claimant alleges the representative recommended an investment that was unsuitable.” Damages of $100,001 are requested, and the dispute is pending.

In addition, Jamie Cooke has been the subject of two customer complaints, including one that remains pending, including the following:

• June 2021–”Claimant alleges unsuitability of alternative investments causing financial harm. The allegations include unsuitability, over-concentration, material misrepresentations and omissions, violations of rules and laws, and breach of contract.” Damages of $180,000 are requested. The customer dispute is pending.
• July 2009–”CUSTOMER ALLEGES THAT THE REPRESENTATIVE MISREPRESENTED THE INVESTMENT, AS THE CUSTOMER ALLEGES NEVER BEING TOLD THE INVESTMENT WAS AN ANNUITY. IN ADDITION, CUSTOMER ALLEGES THAT THE SURRENDER CHARGES, FEES OR RISKS INVOLVED WITH PURCHASING THE ANNUITY INVESTMENT WERE NEVER DISCLOSED TO THE CUSTOMER. CUSTOMER REQUESTED FULL REFUND OF ALL PREMIUMS PAID AND CHARGES WAIVED.” The customer dispute was denied.

For a copy of Jamie Cooke’s FINRA BrokerCheck, click here.

Financial advisors have a legal and regulatory obligation to recommend only suitable investments that are appropriate for their clients’ needs and objectives. Their employing brokerage firm has a legal and regulatory obligation to supervise the Financial Advisors’ sales practices and dealings with clients. To the extent any of these duties are breached, the customer may be entitled to a recovery of his or her investment losses.

Reasonable basis suitability requires that a recommended investment or investment strategy be suitable or appropriate for at least some investors. Reasonable basis suitability requires an advisor to conduct adequate due diligence so that he or she can determine the risks and rewards of the investment or investment strategy.

Quantitative suitability requires a brokerage firm or financial advisor with actual or de facto control over a customer’s account to have a reasonable basis for believing that a series of recommended transactions – even if suitable when viewed in isolation – is not excessive and unsuitable for the customer when taken together in light of the customer’s investment profile. No single test defines excessive activity, but factors such as the turnover rate, the cost-equity ratio, and the use of in-and-out trading in a customer’s account may provide a basis for a finding that a member or associated person has violated the quantitative suitability obligation.

Customer-specific suitability requires that a member or associated person have a reasonable basis to believe that the recommendation is suitable for a particular customer based on that customer’s investment profile. Among the criteria that a financial advisor must evaluate to satisfy his or her customer-specific suitability obligations include the investor’s agee, tax status, time horizon, liquidity needs, and risk tolerance; a client’s other investments, financial situation and needs, investment objectives, and any other information disclosed by the customer should also be considered.

The Wolper Law Firm, P.A. represents investors nationwide in securities litigation and arbitration on a contingency fee basis. Matt Wolper, the Managing Principal of the Wolper Law Firm, P.A., is a trial lawyer who has handled hundreds of securities cases during his career involving a wide range of products, strategies and securities. Prior to representing investors, he was a partner with a national law firm, where he represented some of the largest banks and brokerage firms in the world in securities matters. We can be reached at (800) 931-8452 or by email at mwolper@wolperlawfirm.com.