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Investor Alleges Diane Valenzuela Made Misrepresentations

Diane Valenzuela (CRD #: 2105685), a broker registered with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, was recently the subject of an investor dispute, according to her BrokerCheck record, accessed on February 2, 2023. Read on to learn more about her alleged conduct as a broker.

Investor Dispute

On October 7, 2022, an investor alleged that Diane Valenzuela made misrepresentations and unsuitable investment recommendations from November 2020 through October 2022. This dispute was denied by the firm.

Investors should know, however, that firms can deny disputes without an outside review. Investors can still pursue FINRA arbitration following a denial and may be able to recoup their losses.

FINRA Rule 2020

FINRA Rule 2020 prohibits the use of deception, manipulation, and other unethical methods to influence investors’ decisions. Misrepresenting an investment’s potential fees, risks, returns, or other relevant information violates this rule.

FINRA Rule 2111

FINRA Rule 2111 requires brokers to recommend securities that sufficiently suit an investor’s financial goals. Brokers must use the information in an investor’s profile, such as their age, tax status, and risk tolerance when making recommendations.

Investors who rely on brokers for recommendations may be able to recover their losses through FINRA arbitration.

Background Information

Diane Valenzuela has passed the following exams:

  • Series 65 – Uniform Investment Adviser Law Examination
  • Series 63 – Uniform Securities Agent State Law Examination
  • SIE – Securities Industry Essentials Examination
  • Series 7 – General Securities Representative Examination
  • Series 10 – General Securities Sales Supervisor – General Module Examination
  • Series 9 – General Securities Sales Supervisor – Options Module Examination

Diane Valenzuela is a registered broker in 24 states and a registered investment adviser in California and Texas.

She previously worked for PaineWebber (CRD#:8174).

Kurta Law Can Help

If you worked with Diane Valenzuela and you have concerns about your investments, please contact us today at 877-600-0098 or info@kurtalawfirm.com for a free consultation.

For over 20 years, Kurta Law has advocated on behalf of investors who want 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.