Nov 7, 2025 | By Robert Pearce | Read Time: 3 minutes | News & Articles |

Our firm is investigating stockbroker Keith Michael D’Agostino (CRD# 2837860), formerly of EF Hutton LLC (Woodbury, NY) and Aegis Capital Corp. (Melville, NY), for potential investment-related misconduct.

Financial Advisor’s Career History

  • D. BORAL CAPITAL / EF Hutton LLC (CRD 103792), Woodbury, NY — 10/2023–10/2024.
  • Aegis Capital Corp. (CRD 15007), Melville, NY — 10/2014–11/2023.
  • Stifel, Nicolaus & Co., Inc. (CRD 793), Oyster Bay, NY — 05/2010–10/2014.
  • Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. (CRD 249), Melville, NY — 07/2005–06/2010.
  • Ladenburg, Thalmann & Co., Inc. (CRD 505), New York, NY — 12/2003–07/2005.
  • Wachovia Securities, LLC (CRD 19616), St. Louis, MO — 12/2003.
  • Quick & Reilly, Inc. (CRD 11217), New York, NY — 11/2002–12/2003.
  • Ladenburg Capital Management Inc. (CRD 14623), Bethpage, NY — 03/1997–11/2002.

He is not currently registered; he has passed the Series 7, 24, 63, 9 and SIE examinations.

Keith Michael D’Agostino Fraud Allegations and Investor Complaints Explained

According to FINRA BrokerCheck, Mr. D’Agostino has 22 customer disputes reported, including multiple pending FINRA arbitrations and numerous settlements involving allegations such as unsuitable recommendations, excessive trading, unauthorized trading, misrepresentation/omissions, breach of fiduciary duty, negligence, and account mismanagement. Selected matters and outcomes include:

  • 06/18/2024 complaint (Aegis): Over-concentration/suitability; settled 01/29/2025 for $409,000.
  • 08/19/2024 FINRA arb (Jersey City, NJ; 24-01777) (Aegis): Unsuitable/unauthorized/excessive trading, misrepresentation; settled 06/10/2025 for $26,000. A broker-reported version remains noted as pending on filing date.
  • 08/22/2024 FINRA arb (NY, NY; 24-01807) (Aegis): Unsuitable strategy/breach of fiduciary duty; settled 06/13/2025 for $496,500; broker version noted pending at filing.
  • 07/12/2024 FINRA arb (Jersey City, NJ; 24-01523) (EF Hutton): Unsuitable strategy; settled 09/26/2024 for $17,500 (broker page) and 07/30/2025 for $800,000 (firm page).
  • 05/07/2024 complaint (Aegis): Unsuitable recommendations/account mismanagement; settled 09/18/2024 for $1,461,600.
  • 05/02/2024 complaint (Aegis): Unsuitable recommendations/account mismanagement; settled 09/18/2024 for $538,400.
  • 04/05/2024 FINRA arb (Charlotte, NC; 24-00751) (Aegis): Unsuitability/breach of fiduciary duty/negligence/excessive trading re structured notes; settled 02/27/2025 for $225,000; broker version reflects pending at filing.
  • 01/26/2024 FINRA arb (NY, NY; 24-00204) (Aegis): Unsuitability/breach of fiduciary duty/fraud in listed equities; settled 12/17/2024 for $820,000; broker version shows pending at filing.
  • 11/03/2023 complaint (Aegis): Poor performance; settled 12/14/2023 for $60,000.
  • 08/14/2023 FINRA arb (NY, NY; 23-02224) (Aegis): Unsuitable investments in listed equities; settled 10/18/2024 for $500,000.
  • 08/04/2023 FINRA arb (NY, NY; 23-02166) (Aegis): Unsuitable investments incl. real estate securities; settled 08/05/2024 for $246,382.
  • 06/05/2023 FINRA arb (NY, NY; 23-01643) (Aegis): Unsuitable recommendations in listed equities; settled 02/05/2024 for $325,000.
  • 05/02/2023 FINRA arb (NY, NY; 23-01200) (Aegis): Unsuitable investments; settled 03/26/2024 for $410,000.
  • 03/06/2023 written complaint (Aegis): Poor performance/suitability; settled 04/03/2023 for $90,000.
  • 01/31/2022 FINRA arb (NY, NY; 22-00214) (Aegis): Suitability, misrepresentation/omission, breach of fiduciary duty (private placement); settled 03/10/2023 for $35,000.
  • 05/11/2017 complaint (Aegis): Poor performance (2016); settled 06/13/2017 for $92,000.
  • 2013–2014 FINRA arb (13-02227) (Stifel): Breach of fiduciary duty, negligence, fraud; settled 09/30/2014 for $220,000 (with $110,000 individual contribution).

Pending matters (examples):

  • 03/28/2025 FINRA arb (NY, NY; 25-00636): Unsuitable investments — pending.
  • 02/11/2025 FINRA arb (NY, NY; 25-00283): Unsuitable investments; breach of contract/fiduciary duty; structured products — pending.
  • 01/13/2025 FINRA arb (NY, NY; 25-00076): Unsuitable investments; breach of contract/fiduciary duty — pending.
  • 08/26/2024 FINRA arb (NY, NY; 24-01836): Unsuitable equity recommendations — pending.
  • 08/08/2024 FINRA arb (24-01704): IPO/Securities Purchase Agreement dispute seeking $1,000,000 — pending (EF Hutton).

Note: Allegations may be disputed or unproven; final outcomes can differ from initial claims.

to obtain a copy of Keith Michael D’Agostino’s FINRA BrokerCheck report, visit this link.

Robert Wayne Pearce Is Committed to Recovering Your Investment Losses

Ruling part 1. FINRA Rule 2111 (Suitability) requires that a broker have a reasonable basis to believe a recommendation is suitable based on the customer’s investment profile (including risk tolerance, objectives, time horizon, liquidity needs, and overall portfolio). Allegations here—unsuitable strategies, over-concentration, and structured-note losses—are classic Rule 2111 scenarios. If recommendations in 2023–2025 ignored risk tolerance or concentrated clients in high-risk equities/notes that later underperformed (e.g., matters settled for $1,461,600; $538,400; $500,000; $496,500; $409,000; $410,000; $325,000; $246,382; $225,000; $220,000; $820,000; $800,000; $60,000; $90,000; $35,000; $26,000), that pattern supports 2111-based claims.

Ruling part 2. FINRA Rule 2010 (Standards of Commercial Honor and Principles of Trade) is a broad conduct rule often paired with unsuitability and misrepresentation. Allegations of misstatements/omissions, negligence, and breach of fiduciary duty—and documented settlements in multiple arbitrations between 2013–2025—can constitute 2010 violations when conduct falls below high standards of commercial honor and just and equitable principles of trade.

Ruling part 3. FINRA Rule 3260 (Discretionary Accounts) & Unauthorized Trading: Where customers allege unauthorized trading or use of discretion without proper written authorization and firm approval (e.g., 24-01777), Rule 3260 is implicated. Even sporadic trades without prior consent or absent a valid discretionary agreement can trigger liability, alongside damages measured by turnover/cost-to-equity metrics in an excessive trading (churning) analysis.

For over 45 years, Robert Wayne Pearce has helped investors recover losses caused by broker fraud, negligence, and unsuitable recommendations. His firm, The Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A., represents clients nationwide on a no-recovery, no-fee basis. Call (800) 732-2889 or email pearce@rwpearce.com for a free case review with an experienced securities attorney.

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