Richard Brittain Subject of a Suitability Dispute
Richard Brittain (CRD #: 5928857), a broker registered with Equitable Advisors, is the subject of a suitability dispute. This disclosure appears on his BrokerCheck record, accessed on January 19, 2024. Keep reading if you have concerns about his alleged conduct as a broker.
On October 27, 2023, an investor alleged that Richard Brittain recommended an unsuitable annuity. The dispute was denied, but investors should know that firms can deny disputes without an external review. Investors may be able to recover their losses after a denial by pursuing FINRA arbitration.
What is a Suitable Investment?
FINRA 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.
FINRA Rule 2111 identifies the three prongs of a suitability determination as 1) reasonable-basis suitability, 2) customer-specific suitability, and 3) quantitative suitability.
- Reasonable-basis Suitability: Brokers are required to use reasonable diligence before making a recommendation. This means they have an obligation to understand an investment strategy and its potential risks or rewards.
- Customer-specific Suitability: Before recommending a particular security or investment strategy involving a specific client, brokers are required to have reasonable grounds for believing it will be suitable based on that client’s personal profile. The profile includes information on the investor’s financial goals, investing experience, and risk tolerance.
- Quantitative Suitability: Brokers with control over a customer’s account must have a reasonable basis to believe that the series of transactions they recommend are not excessive before executing them. Excessive transactions run the risk of incurring too many fees and negating any returns.
Investors who rely on their brokers for recommendations may be able to recover their losses through FINRA arbitration.
Background Information
Richard Brittain has passed the following exams:
- Series 66 Uniform Combined State Law Examination
- SIE – Securities Industry Essentials Examination
- Series 7 General Securities Representative Examination
- Series 24 General Securities Principal Examination
He is a registered broker and investment adviser in California and Washington. He is also a registered broker in Georgia and Oregon.
Kurta Law Can Help
If you have worked with Richard Brittain and you have concerns about your investments, do not hesitate to contact us 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 that 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. Do not let securities fraud go unchecked. Start your recovery process today.