Rick Brown: $1.5mm Complaint Against Arete Advisor

A recent investor complaint against Nashville, Tennessee financial advisor Rick Brown (CRD# 2541545) alleges that his conduct resulted in seven-figure damages. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority records show that he is registered as a broker and an investment advisor with Arete Wealth Management.

Mr. Brown’s BrokerCheck report discloses two investor complaints. The most recent, filed in March 2026, alleges that as a representative of Arete Wealth Management, he provided misleading and incomplete information regarding an insurance investment. The pending complaint alleges damages of $1.5 million.

In a statement included with the complaint’s disclosure, Mr. Brown defended himself against the allegations. “The policies remain in force,” he wrote. “This matter is currently in the pre-litigation demand stage. No lawsuit has been filed. This was a disclosed Outside Business Activity; no commissions were shared with the firm.”

A second investor complaint, filed in 2010, alleged that as a representative of Lincoln Financial Advisors, he made an unsuitable investment recommendation. The complaint reached a settlement of $2.25 million.

According to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Rick Brown holds 31 years of securities industry experience. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, he has been registered as a broker and an investment advisor with Arete Wealth Management since 2019. His past registrations include Lincoln Financial Advisors, The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company, and Cigna Financial Advisors. His credentials include the passage of five securities industry qualifying exams: the Securities Industry Essentials Examination, or SIE; the General Securities Representative Examination, or Series 7; the Investment Company Products/Variable Contracts Representative Examination, or Series 6; the Non-Member General Securities Examination, or Series 2; and the Uniform Securities Agent State Law Examination, or Series 63. He is licensed in Arizona, California, and Illinois. (Information current as of April 4, 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.