Silver Law Group is analyzing claims of unauthorized trading and unsuitable investments by former Delray Beach, Florida based Cetera Advisors LLC broker Christopher R. Hickman

Silver Law Group is analyzing claims of unauthorized trading and unsuitable investments by former Delray Beach, Florida based Cetera Advisors LLC (CRD#10299) broker Christopher R. Hickman (CRD# 3267599).  The complaints allege that Hickman recommended unsuitable trades and investments and carried out unauthorized trades over the course of many years.

According to Hickman’s FINRA BrokerCheck report, FINRA suspended and fined Hickman in July 2017 for five months and fined him $5,000. On multiple occasions throughout his career, clients have alleged losses to due to unauthorized trading and unsuitability. The earliest FINRA reported incident was in November of 2007 up until the most recent event in July of 2017.

Hickman was employed and registered by Cetera Advisors LLC from September of 2009 until July of 2015. Previously he was employed by Banc Of America Investment Services (CRD#16361) from 2006  to 2009.

Hickman is not currently registered as a broker.

Unauthorized trading occurs when a broker facilitates a transaction without the permission of the customer in a non-discretionary account.  According to FINRA, it is one of the common investor issues along with misrepresentation, cold-calling, and unsuitability.

Unauthorized discretion is a serious form of broker misconduct.  A broker’s employing firm is responsible for overseeing the broker to prevent such misconduct.

Among other basic tenets, brokers are required to recommend suitable investments to their customers. This requires that the broker: Investigates and conducts due diligence into the investment’s attributes including its benefits, risks, tax consequences, and other relevant factors to form a reasonable basis for the recommendation of the product; and appropriately matches the investment with the customer’s specific investment needs and objectives, such as the customer’s retirement status, long or short-term goals, age, disability, income needs, or any other relevant factors.

When a broker or brokerage firm fails to recommend investments to its customers along those guidelines, there must be accountability.  If you have lost money on an investment that did not fit your investment profile, you may be able to recover some or all of your lost money.

FINRA arbitration is a fast, efficient way to recover your lost investment funds due to unauthorized trading.  We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay us nothing unless we recover money for you.

If you have invested Christopher R Hickman and Cetera Advisors LLC and have lost money doing so, you may be able to recover some or all of your losses.  Our lawyers are experienced in recovering investor losses due to broker and brokerage firm misconduct through FINRA arbitration.

Silver Law Group represents the interests of investors who have been the victims of investment fraud.  If you have questions about your legal rights, please contact Scott Silver of the Silver Law Group for a free consultation at ssilver@silverlaw.com or toll free at (800) 975-4345.