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”) reports troubling information in regard to Centaurus Financial securities broker Galen Kyle Kopman (CRD#: 3011906, Vancouver, Washington). Notably, FINRA BrokerCheck reports that three investors brought disputes about the securities broker. Here’s more on those disputes and what you could do if you experienced investment losses because of him.
Evidently, Galen Kopman worked for Centaurus Financial from 2015 to 2018. A client of that securities firm filed a lawsuit in 2020 over the broker’s sales of real estate securities. Allegedly, Kopman invested that client’s money in investments which were illiquid and high-risky. Supposedly, this conflicted with the client’s risk tolerance and liquidity needs. For this reason, the client demanded compensatory damages in this ongoing dispute.
Particularly, LPL Financial LLC employed Galen Kopman from 2006 to 2015. An LPL Financial client took aim at Kopman via a FNIRA Arbitration Claim in September 2019. Supposedly, Kopman told the client to invest in alternative investments including BDCs. It appears that the investments Kopman positioned did not gel with the client’s needs and objectives. Not only that, but Kopman purportedly misrepresented or omitted risks and liquidity of the BDCs. Because of this, LPL Financial paid the client $115,000 in May 2020 to settle.
Also, a client of LPL Financial disputed Galen Kopman’s sales practices in July 2016. Mainly, this client alleged that Kopman pushed unsuitable investments. Supposedly, the broker may have altered documents relating to the client’s real estate security purchase. However, this matter was denied.
BrokerCheck indicates that Galen Kopman denies allegations of his sales practice violations. Have you experienced losses by investing through him? If so, reach out to Soreide Law Group at (888) 760-6552 and speak with experienced counsel concerning a potential recovery of your investment losses. Soreide Law Group represents clients on a contingency fee basis and it advances all costs. The law firm has recovered millions of dollars for clients who have incurred losses due to misconduct of securities firms and financial advisors.
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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