James Appel: Centaurus Advisor Faces $150K Complaint

Santa Barbara financial advisor James Appel (CRD# 6445389) recently received an investor complaint alleging he misrepresented a bond investment, leading to six-figure damages. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority records show that he is a broker and an investment advisor with Centaurus Financial.

Mr. Appel’s BrokerCheck report discloses one recent investor complaint. Filed in May 2023, it alleges that as a representative of Centaurus Financial, he misrepresented a corporate bond investment and breached his fiduciary duty to act in the customer’s best interests. The pending complaint alleges damages of $150,000.

In a statement included with the complaint’s disclosure, Mr. Appel pushes denies the allegations, which he describes as meritless. “The investments about which the customer complained were suitable and were recommended based on the customer’s objectives, goals and financial circumstances and were offered only after his review of all material documentation related to the investment,” he writes, asserting that the customer made a written affirmation that they received necessary information about the investment and understood its features and risks. “At all times, I put the customer’s interest first,” he concludes, “and I will vigorously defend this matter to the fullest extent of the law.”

According to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, James Appel holds eight years of securities industry experience. Based in Santa Barbara, California, he has been a broker and an investment advisor with Centaurus Financial since 2015. His credentials include the passage of three securities industry qualifying exams: the General Securities Representative Examination, or Series 7; the Securities Industry Essentials Examination, or SIE; and the Uniform Combined State Law Examination, or Series 66. He is licensed in California, Colorado, and Michigan. (Information current as of June 24, 2023.)

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