Scott Wendelin is the Subject of a Suitability Dispute
Scott Wendelin (CRD #: 1146303), a broker registered with Wells Fargo Clearing Services, is the subject of an investor dispute. This disclosure appears on his BrokerCheck record, accessed on March 1, 2024. Keep reading if you have questions.
Investor Allegations
On November 17, 2023, an investor alleged that Scott Wendeling recommended investments that were improper and unsuitable in a portfolio that underperformed. The investor is seeking $495,000.
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
Scott Wendelin 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 31 Futures Managed Funds Examination
- Series 7 General Securities Representative Examination
- Series 28 Introducing Broker/Dealer Financial Operations Principal Examination
- Series 24 General Securities Principal Examination exams
He is a registered broker in six states and D.C. and is a registered investment adviser in California and Texas.
He has registered with the following firms:
- Wells Fargo Clearing Services (CRD #: 19616)
- Credit Suisse Securities (CRD #: 816)
- AllianceBernstein (CRD #: 108477)
- Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. (CRD #: 104474)
- Prospect Financial Advisors (CRD #: 124728)
- Tucker Anthony Incorporated (CRD #: 837)
- Sutro & Co. Incorporated (CRD #: 801)
- Salomon Brothers (CRD #: 740)
- A.G. Becker Paribas Incorporated (CRD #: 7635)
- Warburg Paribas Becker Incorporated (CRD #: 6742)
Kurta Law Can Help
If you have worked with Scott Wendelin and 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.