Kurt Mattson: Former Northwestern Advisor Receives $418K Complaint

Atlanta, Georgia financial advisor Kurt Mattson (CRD# 2738627) recently received an investor complaint alleging that his advice resulted in six-figure damages. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and Securities and Exchange Commission records show that the former Northwestern Mutual Investment broker is currently registered as an investment advisor with CWM.

Mr. Mattson’s BrokerCheck report discloses one investor complaint. Filed in July 2026, it alleges that as a representative of Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, he recommended conservation easement investments that led to negative tax implications. The pending complaint alleges damages of $417,578.10.

FINRA rules stipulate that brokers like Mr. Mattson can only recommend investments and strategies that are suitable for a given customer. Under FINRA Rule 2111, a broker must “have a reasonable basis to believe that a recommended transaction or investment strategy” is appropriate for the customer’s objectives, a basis reached through reasonable diligence into the customer’s investment profile. FINRA Rule 2010 requires representatives to “observe high standards of commercial honor and just and equitable principles of trade.” Brokers who recommend unsuitable investments may be held liable in the event of losses.

According to ProPublica, a conservation easement involves a landholder’s “permanent” protection of a parcel of land from real estate development. In theory, the undeveloped land provides a public benefit: people can go and enjoy “pristine” natural beauty. The landowner, meanwhile, reaps a charitable deduction on their taxes. The problem arises when “profit-seeking middlemen known as ‘promoters’” purchase undeveloped land, get an appraiser to attest that it has “huge development value and thus is worth many times the purchase price,” and then sell interests in the land to investors. These investors then get tax deductions that may be “five or more times what they put in,” according to ProPublica. The risk they face, however, is that the appraisals may be fraudulent and the tax deductions therefore “bogus.” That’s why the IRS added conservation easements to their “Dirty Dozen” list of tax scams in 2019, while the Senate Finance Committee has launched investigations of conservation easement promoters and legislators have drafted bills that would prevent them.

According to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and the Securities and Exchange Commission, Kurt Mattson holds 29 years of securities industry experience. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, he has been registered as an investment advisor with CWM since August 2026. His past registrations include Northwestern Mutual Investment Services and Robert W. Baird. 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 Uniform Combined State Law Examination, or Series 66; and the Uniform Securities Agent State Law Examination, or Series 63. (Information current as of August 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.