Brad Davidson: College Yard Advisor Lands $475K Complaint

A recent investor complaint against Mission Viejo, California financial advisor Brad Davidson (CRD# 5142256) alleges that his investment advice resulted in six-figure damages. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority records show that he is registered as a broker and an investment advisor with Emerson Equity, doing business as College Yard Investments.

Mr. Davidson’s BrokerCheck report discloses one investor complaint. Filed in November 2025, it alleges that as a representative of WealthForge Securities, he committed fraud, misrepresented and omitted material facts relating to an investment, made unsuitable investment recommendations, breached his fiduciary duty, acted negligently, and breached contract. The pending complaint alleges damages of $475,000.

Investors should be aware that negligence denotes an advisor’s failure to uphold their duty of care to a client. That failure generally takes the form of a registered representative doing something that a reasonably prudent advisor would not do under similar circumstances. Alternatively, it might take the form of the representative not doing something that a reasonably prudent advisor would do under similar circumstances. Negligence might look like a broker failing to perform adequate due diligence and consequently recommending unsuitable investments; a broker failing to diversify a client’s portfolio; a broker failing to follow a client’s instructions; and more. Representatives who act negligently may be held liable in the event of losses and/or subject to disciplinary action by securities regulators.

Investors should also be aware that FINRA rules prohibit brokers like Mr. Davidson from misrepresenting material information regarding the investments and strategies they recommend to their customers. FINRA Rule 2020 specifically stipulates that no FINRA representative shall “effect any transaction in, or induce the purchase or sale of, any security by means of any manipulative, deceptive or other fraudulent device or contrivance.” Representatives who make misrepresentations regarding investments may be held liable in the event of losses and/or subject to disciplinary action by securities regulators.

According to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Brad Davidson holds seven years of securities industry experience. Based in Mission Viejo, California, he has been registered as a broker and an investment advisor with Emerson Equity since 2024, doing business as College Yard Investments. His past registrations include Secure Asset Management, Aurora Securities, WealthForge Securities, and Emerson Equity. His credentials include the passage of four securities industry qualifying exams: the Securities Industry Essentials Examination, or SIE; the Uniform Investment Adviser Law Examination, or Series 65; the Uniform Securities Agent State Law Examination, or Series 63; and the Direct Participation Programs Representative Examination, or Series 22. He is licensed in California, Idaho, Oregon, South Carolina, and Washington. (Information current as of December 21, 2025.)

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.