Articles Tagged with Kevin Graetz

Kevin Graetz (CRD# 1935982) has been with Paulson Investment Company since 2013. In a regulatory action from 2016, FINRA found that Graetz willfully failed to timely disclose tax liens against him. Graetz owes over $1,000,000 in unpaid taxes to both the IRS and the State of Connecticut. As a result of this violation, FINRA fined Graetz $10,000 and suspended him for six months. In a separate regulatory action from 2017, FINRA found that Graetz failed to respond to a FINRA request for information. Graetz also failed to request termination of his earlier suspension within the allotted time. FINRA permanently barred Graetz from being associated with any FINRA member firm due to this violation.

Graetz has also been the subject of several customer disputes. In one pending dispute from 2017, the customer alleges fraud and unjust enrichment in connection with the sale of promissory notes; the customer alleges damages of $1,000,000. Graetz was ultimately terminated from Paulson Investment Company as a result of this customer complaint. In a settled complaint from 2005, the customer alleged that Graetz purchased an unsuitably large amount of stock in his account. In another settled complaint from 2003, a customer alleged that Graetz generally mishandled the customer’s account; the case settled for $75,000.

FINRA requires its members to “have a reasonable basis to believe that a recommended transaction or investment strategy” is suitable for a customer given their individual needs. FINRA also requires its members to “observe high standards of commercial honor and just and equitable principles of trade.”