Joel Benanti: FINRA Lodges Complaint Against Ex-Network 1 Advisor

Former Hauppage, New York financial advisor Joel Benanti (CRD# 4210681) was under investigation for undisclosed outside business activities and private securities transactions, according to a recent regulatory complaint against him. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority records show that he was most recently registered as a broker with Network 1 Financial Securities.

A FINRA Disciplinary Proceeding (No. 2025087193401) outlines the agency’s complaint against Mr. Benanti. Filed on April 20, 2026, it alleges that he refused to provide information and documents requested by FINRA as part of its investigation into whether he “participated in undisclosed outside business activities and private securities transactions away from his employer member firm” in violation of FINRA rules. The complaint specifically alleges that he violated FINRA Rule 8210, which requires persons under FINRA’s jurisdiction to comply with requests for information and documents connected with matters under its investigation. It also alleges that he violated Rule 2010, which stipulates that brokers must “observe high standards of commercial honor and just and equitable principles of trade” as they perform their business. FINRA seeks various sanctions in the complaint, which remains pending.

Mr. Benanti’s BrokerCheck report discloses several investor complaints. The most recent, filed in 2015, alleged that as a representative of Laidlaw & Company, he churned investments and made unsuitable recommendations. The complaint reached a settlement of $28,500.

A second investor complaint, filed in 2014, similarly alleged that as a Laidlaw representative, he made unsuitable investment recommendations and engaged in churning. The complaint reached a settlement of $46,000.

According to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Joel Benanti holds 23 years of securities industry experience. Most recently based in in Hauppage, New York, he was last registered as a broker with Network 1 Financial Securities from 2019 until 2024. His past registrations include Network 1 financial Securities, Laidlaw & Company, Worden Capital Management, Joseph Stone Capital, Salomon Whitney Financial, First Standard Financial Company, EKN Financial Services, Maxim Group, Ehrenkrantz King Nussbaum, and Ladenburg Capital Management. His credentials include the passage of three securities industry qualifying exams: the Securities Industry Essentials Examination, or SIE; the Uniform Securities Agent State Law Examination, or Series 63; the General Securities Representative Examination, or Series 7. He is not currently registered with any state or firm. (Information current as of April 19, 2026.)

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