Securities Arbitration Lawyers BlogFINRA Bars Former Broker William Brunner After Customer Complaints
William George Brunner (CRD #2610348) is a former registered broker and investment advisor. His last employer was Investment Planners, Inc. (CRD #18557) of Huntington, NY. He was previously employed with First Midwest Securities, Inc. (CRD #21786) and Pointe Capital, Inc. (CRD #112097), also of Huntington. He resigned from Investment Planners on 05/31/2017, and has not been registered with any FINRA-affiliated broker since. No current employment information is available. Brunner joined the industry in 1995.
FINRA recently began an investigation into allegations that Brunner was engaging in excessive trading, and “use of discretion without written authorization in customer accounts” while he was a registered broker. He was requested to give on-the-record testimony in regard to the investigation, and declined to do so. Brunner was indefinitely barred from affiliation with any FINRA broker, effective 04/06/2018.
The investigation stems from a customer complaint to Investment Planners on 05/10/2018 that alleged “suitability, discretion, client unaware of amount of fees paid, client did not receive statements and did not sign active trading letters (client did not allege RR signed letters). Mar 2015 – Feb 2017.” The customer requested damages in the amount of $1,000,000. The firm requested phone records and a written response from Brunner, and he resigned on 05/12/2018. The dispute is still listed as “pending.”