Ernesto Chavez (CRD: 4315877) faces a new pending claim on BrokerCheck over an investment made in 2018. The customer alleges $180,000 in damages, and no arbitrator has ruled on the claim.
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has censured and fined AAG Capital, Inc., $100,000.00 and ordered them to pay $38,591.39 plus interest in restitution to customers. FINRA found that the firm’s practices surrounding registered index-linked annuities (RILAs) allegedly did not comply with Regulation Best Interest standards. The order was initiated May 20, 2025.
According to a recent article from InvestmentNews, FINRA stated that from February 2021 through April 2023, the Florida-based firm recommended 479 registered index-linked annuities (RILA) transactions totaling over $92 million in principal. Of those, 41 were funded through the exchange of existing insurance or annuity contracts, totaling more than $7.9 million.
According to FINRA, AAG Capital failed to establish and maintain written policies and procedures and a supervisory system designed to comply with Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Rule 15l-1 (Regulation Best Interest or Reg BI) for recommendations to their retail customers regarding registered index-linked annuities (RILAs).
The InvestmentNews article stated that AAG Capital had adopted general written procedures addressing best interest recommendations, yet FINRA said they were not adequately designed to ensure compliance when it came to RILAs. According to the letter, AAG’s system lacked specific instructions for supervisors to assess whether proposed annuity exchanges were in the customer’s best interest. FINRA said AAG Capital's policies and procedures allegedly failed to consider potential downsides from exchanging an insurance product for a RILA, "such as the loss of a living benefit or death benefit, or the imposition of surrender fees."
According to InvestmentNews, 19 of the 41 RILA exchanges AAG Capital's representatives recommended, customers reportedly lost living or death benefits from their prior contracts or paid surrender charges. FINRA stated that 6 customers exchanged life insurance policies for RILAs and forfeited death benefits valued at over $100,000 more than their contracts’ surrender value in certain cases. Eight clients incurred surrender charges which totaled $38,591.39. AAG Capital has been ordered to repay that amount with interest.
AAG Capital, Inc. is headquartered in Wesley Chapel, Florida. The firm sells private placement securities, mutual funds, and registered index-linked annuities to retail investors.
To discuss this article or any other securities issues, contact the Florida-based Soreide Law Group and speak to an experienced securities lawyer at no cost: 888-760-6552.
Soreide Law Group represents clients nationwide before FINRA on a contingency fee basis, no fee if no recovery.
Ernesto Chavez (CRD: 4315877) faces a new pending claim on BrokerCheck over an investment made in 2018. The customer alleges $180,000 in damages, and no arbitrator has ruled on the claim.
William Tunink (CRD: 2738224) settled a customer claim for $299,000 on August 11, 2026, according to his BrokerCheck report. The customer alleged that he obtained loans from the customer, and that some of the money went into an investment.
Tony Barouti (CRD: 3031995) faces a pending $230,400 customer claim, according to his BrokerCheck report. He says the allegations in it are false. His report also lists SEC administrative and cease-and-desist proceedings from August 2025.
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