Christopher Bradford Facing Dispute that Alleges Misrepresentation and Unsuitable Investments

Christopher Bradford (CRD #:4572707), a registered broker with Securities America, is involved in an investor dispute, according to his BrokerCheck record, accessed on October 27, 2021. He is also a registered investment advisor with Securities America Advisors and Arbor Point Advisors. Keep reading for more details regarding the allegations.

Investor Allegations

On August 27, 2021, an investor filed a dispute against Christopher Bradford, alleging he made unsuitable recommendations and misrepresentations. The firm denied the dispute but investors should know that firms can deny disputes without any external review. Investors can still pursue FINRA arbitration and recover their losses following a denial.

FINRA Rule 2020 – Misrepresentation

FINRA Rule 2020 prohibits brokerage firms and stockbrokers from making material misrepresentations of fact to induce an investor in connection with the sale or purchase of an investment. Misrepresentation also violates The Securities Act of 1933, which prohibits deceit, misrepresentation, and other fraud in the sale of securities. 

FINRA Rule 2111 – Suitability

FINRA Rule 2111 defines suitable investments as securities that fit an investor’s profile. An investor’s profile includes information about their risk tolerance, financial goals, and age. 

• Investments can be unsuitable because they are high risk and likely to lose money.
• Securities may also be unsuitable because they are illiquid, meaning that they are intended to be held for an extended time, and investors may have to pay high fees to cash out.
• Securities can be quantitatively unsuitable, which means that brokers executed an excessive number of trades.
• These requirements apply to the overall investment strategy as well as the investments themselves. For instance, an investment strategy might be unsuitable if the securities are over-concentrated in a particular stock or sector.

Brokers are required to have a reasonable basis for recommending an investment according to FINRA Rule 2111. Investors who rely on their brokers for recommendations may be able to recover their losses through FINRA arbitration.

Christopher Bradford’s alleged conduct is also unethical and violates FINRA Rule 2010, which states that brokers must uphold the highest standards of commercial honor.

Older Investment Dispute

On December 20, 2013, Christopher Bradford was also involved in another investor dispute. According to the investor, Christopher Bradford allegedly solicited non-public information and used the information to propose a financial project to a client. The investor sought $500,000; the dispute settled for $115,000.

Christopher Bradford Background Information

Christopher Bradford has passed the following exams:

• Series 66 – Uniform Combined State Law Examination
• Series 63 – Uniform Securities Agent State Law Examination
• SIE – Securities Industry Essentials Examination
• Series 7 – General Securities Representative Examination

Christopher Bradford is a registered broker in 16 states. He is a registered investment advisor in California.

Other than Securities America and Arbor Point Advisors, Christopher Bradford has worked with the following firms:

• KMS Financial Services (CRD#:3866)
• Raymond James Financial Services Advisors (CRD#:149018)
• Raymond James Financial Services (CRD#:6694)
• Edward Jones (CRD#:250)  

Kurta Law Can Help

If you have worked with Christopher Bradford and have concerns about your investments, don’t hesitate to contact us today at 877-600-0098 or info@kurtalawfirm.com for a free consultation.

For nearly 20 years, Kurta Law has advocated for investors to recover their investment losses from brokers and brokerage firms. Kurta Law is a nationally recognized law firm and exclusively represents investors against brokers and brokerage firms on a contingency basis. This means that the firm only earns a fee if our securities attorneys recover money on your behalf. Please contact us today if you would like us to evaluate your potential case.