Ronan Cox: Ex-Morgan Stanley Advisor Received Complaint

New York City financial advisor Ronan Cox (CRD# 2693480) allegedly recommended an unsuitable investment, according to a recent, denied investor complaint. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority records show that he is registered as a broker with Arete Wealth Management and an investment advisor with Arete Wealth Advisors, doing business as Fincadia.

Mr. Cox’s BrokerCheck report discloses two investor complaints. The most recent, filed in March 2026, alleges that as a representative of Morgan Stanley, he recommended an unsuitable alternative investment. The complaint alleged unspecified damages and was denied by the firm.

An unsuitable investment, as described by FINRA Rule 2111, is an investment or strategy which a broker lacks a reasonable basis to believe is appropriate for their customer’s investment profile. An investor’s profile “includes, but is not limited to, the customer’s age, other investments, financial situation and needs, tax status, investment objectives, investment experience, investment time horizon, liquidity needs, risk tolerance,” and other information. FINRA-associated brokers are required by Rule 2111 to conduct reasonable diligence to determine a customer’s profile; then, they must use this information to arrive at a determination as to whether an investment or strategy is not only suitable for some customers, but for that specific customer. Brokers who sell unsuitable investments, or who misrepresent information regarding an investment’s suitability, may be liable to their clients if those investments experience losses.

An earlier investor complaint, filed in 2008, alleged that as a Morgan Stanley & Company representative, he recommended unsuitable closed-end funds. The complaint alleged unspecified damages and was closed with no action taken.

According to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Ronan Cox holds 30 years of securities industry experience. Based in New York City, he has been registered as a broker with Arete Wealth Management and an investment advisor with Arete Wealth Advisors since 2022, doing business as Fincadia. His past registrations include National Securities Corporation, Wells Fargo Clearing Services, UBS Financial Services, Morgan Stanley, Grayson Financial, and MS Farrell & Company. His credentials include the passage of eight securities industry qualifying exams: the Securities Industry Essentials Examination, or SIE; the General Securities Sales Supervisor – General Module Examination, or Series 10; the General Securities Sales Supervisor – Options Module Examination, or Series 9; the General Securities Representative Examination, or Series 7; the Futures Managed Funds Examination, or Series 31; the General Securities Principal Examination, or Series 24; the Uniform Investment Adviser Law Examination, or Series 65; and the Uniform Securities Agent State Law Examination, or Series 63. He holds 22 state licenses. (Information current as of June 20, 2026.)

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