George Merhoff: $500,000 Losses Alleged Against Ex-Cetera Rep

Former Klamath Falls, Oregon-based broker and investment adviser George Merhoff (CRD#: 2918171) has received numerous settled or pending customer complaints alleging he made unsuitable investment recommendations to his customers. According to records provided by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Merhoff was most recently registered with Cetera Advisors.

George Merhoff’s FINRA-maintained BrokerCheck report lists eleven pending investor complaints and 39 settled investor complaints against him.

A complaint filed in April 2021 alleges that as a representative of Cetera Advisors, George Merhoff over-concentrated the account in risky, unsuitable stock products. The pending complaint alleges damages between $500,000 and $1 million.

A complaint filed in 2020 alleges that as a Cetera Advisors representative, he made unsuitable investment recommendations. The pending complaint alleges damages of $100,000.

Another complaint filed in 2020 alleges that as a Cetera Advisors representative, George Merhoff breached his fiduciary duties, made negligent misrepresentations, committed common law fraud, and breached contract. The pending complaint alleges damages of $500,000.

A third complaint filed in 2020 alleges that he breached his fiduciary duty, engaged in negligence, committed fraud, and breached contract with regard to investments in equity products. The pending complaint alleges damages between $500,000 and $1 million.

A complaint filed in 2018 alleged that as a representative of Cetera Advisors, he violated Oregon securities law, breached his fiduciary duty, recommended unsuitable investments, violated NASD and FINRA rules, and acted negligently. In 2020 the complaint reached a settlement of $99,000.

A complaint filed in 2019 alleged that as a representative of Cetera Advisors, he violated Oregon securities law, violated the California Corporations Code, and acted negligently. The complaint reached a settlement in 2020 of $270,000.

Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) show that George Merhoff has been barred from acting as a broker or investment adviser. His prior registrations include Cetera Advisors in Klamath Falls, Oregon; Pacific West Securities in Klamath Falls, Oregon; and AAG Securities in Cincinnati, Ohio. He currently holds no state securities licenses. (Information current as of June 11, 2021.)