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.
Investors potentially experienced losses due to securities broker Hugh James McGuire [CRD: 1858293, Collingswood, New Jersey], according to publicly available information on Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) BrokerCheck. Evidently, Hugh McGuire worked for Hornor, Townsend Kent LLC from April 11, 2003, to August 2, 2022. Below, you can learn more about McGuire’s disclosures and a pending client dispute concerning allegations of unsuitable investment recommendations.
Specifically, a client of Hornor, Townsend Kent contested Hugh McGuire’s sales practices by filing FINRA Arbitration No. 24-01835 on August 26, 2024. Allegedly, McGuire made unsuitable recommendations and advised the client to invest in illiquid alternative investments, specifically real estate securities. The client also claims that McGuire continued to recommend holding these investments despite available information indicating the poor performance and outlook of those assets. It appears that McGuire caused the client to sustain damages on REITs or other products. Therefore, the client seeks damages from Hornor, Townsend Kent or McGuire in the amount of more than $5,000 in this ongoing matter.
When a securities broker or financial advisor recommends unsuitable investments, such as real estate investment trusts (REITs), they may be violating regulatory standards designed to protect investors. An unsuitable recommendation occurs when the financial professional suggests an investment that does not align with the client’s financial situation, objectives, risk tolerance, or investment knowledge. Illiquid investments like REITs can be particularly risky because they are not easily sold or traded and can significantly underperform or result in losses if held too long or chosen inappropriately. These unsuitable recommendations can lead to financial harm, especially when advisors ignore warning signs or market information indicating deteriorating performance.
Are you concerned about your investments with Hugh McGuire? You can reach out to Soreide Law Group online or at (888) 760-6552 and talk to a securities lawyer regarding a possible recovery of your investment losses. Soreide Law Group has helped recovered losses for investors throughout the United States, works on a contingency fee basis, and advances all costs. McGuire and any registered investment advisors / securities broker dealers McGuire worked for deny accusations of sales practice violations.
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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