Ittai Dvir: $120K REIT Complaint Against Sentinel Advisor

North Bethesda, Maryland financial advisor Ittai Dvir (CRD# 5692050) allegedly made an unsuitable investment recommendation, according to a recent investor complaint. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority records show that he is registered as a broker and an investment advisor with Independent Financial Group, doing business as Sentinel Financial Group.

Mr. Dvir’s BrokerCheck report discloses one investor complaint. Filed in February 2026, it alleges that as a representative of Independent Financial Group, he recommended an unsuitable non-traded real estate investment trust. The pending complaint alleges damages of $120,000.

A real estate investment trust, or REIT, is an investment company that pools funds from investors for the purchase and operation of real estate. REIT investments come with the promise of access to real estate and the income streams it generates, although they also come with certain risks. Although publicly traded REITs can be liquid investments that offer routine cash flow to investors, they are still subject to market conditions. Meanwhile, non-traded REITs are usually illiquid investments with little to no transparency, which can make them unsuitable products for unsophisticated and/or conservative investors. In fact, FINRA warned in a 2016 investor alert that non-traded REITs are “rarely, if ever, suitable for short-term investors.” Brokers who recommend unsuitable REIT investments may be liable for damages.

Investors should be aware that FINRA’s suitability rule required brokers to “have a reasonable basis to believe” that the investments they recommend are appropriate for a client’s background and objectives. As explained in FINRA Rule 2111, and later the SEC’s Regulation Best Interest, the suitability standard stipulates that brokers must ascertain an investment’s suitability through “reasonable diligence” into the client’s investment profile, which includes their age, financial status, risk tolerance, liquidity needs, income, and more. It explains further that brokers must form a reasonable belief that the product is suitable for at least some investors, as well as a reasonable belief that is suitable for the specific customer they’re recommending to. When considering a series of transactions in an account over which the broker holds actual or de facto control, they must arrive at a reasonable basis to believe that the series of transactions, “even if suitable when viewed in isolation, is not excessive and unsuitable for the customer.” Brokers who recommend unsuitable investments may be held liable for damages.

According to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Ittai Dvir holds 16 years of securities industry experience. Based in North Bethesda, Maryland, he has been broker and an investment advisor with Independent Financial Group since 2011 and 2021, respectively, doing business as Sentinel Financial Group. His past registrations include Plotkin Financial Advisors and Pacific West Securities. His credentials include the passage of three securities industry qualifying exams: the Securities Industry Essentials Examination, or SIE; the Uniform Combined State Law Examination, or Series 66; and the General Securities Representative Examination, or Series 7. He is licensed in California, the District of Columbia, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Virginia. (Information current as of March 30, 2026.)

Carlson Law represents investors throughout the United States in claims against financial advisors and investment firms. If you or a loved one have suffered investment losses, please call us at 888-976-6111 or complete our contact form for a free and confidential consultation.