Jared Gudenkauf: $1mm Complaint Against Merrill Advisor

A recent investor complaint against Kansas City, Missouri financial advisor Jared Gudenkauf (CRD# 4591389) alleges that his conduct resulted in seven-figure damages. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority records show that he is registered as a broker and an investment advisor with Merrill Lynch.

Mr. Gudenkauf’s BrokerCheck report discloses one investor complaint. Filed in July 2025, it alleges that as a representative of Merrill Lynch, he failed to act in the customer’s best interest in connection with the liquidation of a pension. The pending complaint alleges damages of $1 million.

Investors should be aware that Rule 15l-1(a)(1) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, also known as the SEC’s Regulation Best Interest, requires advisors to recommend investments and strategies in their clients’ best interests. Registered representatives must “act in the best interest of the retail customer at the time the recommendation is made, without placing the financial or other interest of the broker, dealer, or natural person who is an associated person of a broker or dealer making the recommendation ahead of the interest of the retail customer,” the regulation states. Advisors who recommend unsuitable investments may be found liable for damages.

Mr. Gudenkauf’s LinkedIn profile includes a section in which he describes his work as a wealth management advisor at Merrill Lynch, including his focus on retirement planning and structuring wealth for long-term preservation. “I work with busy, successful people who want to delegate their financial affairs to make their lives easier and more fulfilling,” he explains. “Clients come to me for advice and guidance that can help them in practical, meaningful ways.”

According to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Jared Gudenkauf holds 22 years of securities industry experience. Based in Kansas City, Missouri, he has been registered as a broker and an investment advisor with Merrill Lynch since 2011. His past registrations include Ameriprise Financial Services and IDS Life Insurance Company. 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 holds 31 state licenses. (Information current as of August 10, 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.