Joe Barreca: $300K Complaint Against Wells Fargo Advisor

Metairie, Louisiana financial advisor Joe Barreca (CRD# 3276048) allegedly recommended unsuitable market-linked notes, according to a recent investor complaint. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority records show that he is registered as a broker and an investment advisor with Wells Fargo, having previously been registered with First Horizon Advisors.

Mr. Barreca’s BrokerCheck report discloses several investor complaints. The most recent, filed in June 2018, alleges that as a representative of First Horizon Advisors, he recommended unsuitable and illiquid market-linked notes in an account that lacked diversification. The pending complaint alleges damages of $300,000.

An earlier investor complaint, filed in 2023, alleged that he did not contact the client to discuss her account after it was transferred from another representative. The complaint alleged damages of $70,000 and was denied by the firm.

Wells Fargo’s website includes a profile of Mr. Barreca that describes his background and services as a Managing Director of Investments and Senior Vice President at the firm. As it explains, he worked at “top investment institutions” before joining Wells Fargo and entered the financial services industry after he graduated from Louisiana State University. “Joe applies a comprehensive approach to managing his clients’ assets,” the profile states, “supported by a sales and administrative team dedicated to excellent customer service.”

According to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Joe Barreca holds 25 years of securities industry experience. Based in Metairie, Louisiana, he has been registered as a broker and an investment advisor with Wells Fargo since October 2024. His past registrations include First Horizon Advisors, Infinex Investments, Essex National Securities, ProEquities, PFIC Securities Corporation, Bank United Securities, and Hibernia Investments. His credentials include the passage of six securities industry qualifying exams: the General Securities Principal Examination, or Series 24; the Investment Company Products/Variable Contracts Representative Examination, or Series 6; the Securities Industry Essentials Examination, or SIE; the General Securities Representative Examination, or Series 7; the Uniform Combined State Law Examination, or Series 66; and the Uniform Securities Agent State Law Examination, or Series 63. He holds 27 state licenses. (Information current as of August 27, 2025.)

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