Jeremy Lee Bouwman (CRD# 5530522) is a financial advisor and stockbroker with Edward Jones in Austin, Texas, and our firm is investigating customer complaints alleging unsuitable investment recommendations and related sales practice violations.
Financial Advisor’s Career History
According to his FINRA BrokerCheck report, Jeremy Lee Bouwman has been employed by Edward Jones since May 2008, working as a financial advisor in the firm’s Austin, Texas branch offices.
He first became registered with Edward Jones as a General Securities Representative in June 2008 and later qualified as an Investment Adviser Representative in Texas in October 2009. Over the years, he has obtained registrations with multiple self-regulatory organizations, including FINRA, the New York Stock Exchange, NYSE American, and the Nasdaq Stock Market, and has been licensed as an agent in numerous states, including Texas, Colorado, Georgia, Florida, California, and others.
Since entering the securities industry, Bouwman’s entire reported investment-related employment history has been with Edward Jones, where he continues to service retail customers through the firm’s Austin-area branch locations.
Jeremy Lee Bouwman Fraud Allegations and Investor Complaints Explained
FINRA BrokerCheck for Jeremy Lee Bouwman (CRD# 5530522) discloses three customer disputes, including one settled complaint and two written complaints that were denied after firm investigations.
2022 Customer Dispute – Alleged Unsuitable Use of Home Loan Proceeds
In May 2022, a customer submitted a written complaint alleging that Bouwman’s advice to take funds from a home loan and invest the proceeds in the market was not suitable. The account involved was described as a self-directed, fee-based in-house account. The client claimed damages of $72,160.62.
After Edward Jones investigated, the complaint was resolved on August 4, 2022, through a monetary settlement of $45,844.82, of which Bouwman was required to personally contribute $4,584.48. The BrokerCheck report classifies this event as a “Customer Dispute – Settled.”
2015 Complaint – Alleged Poor Recommendation to Purchase Kinder Morgan Stock
In December 2015, a separate customer alleged that Bouwman provided a “poor recommendation” to purchase Kinder Morgan stock in November 2015. The customer alleged damages of $5,000 in connection with the common stock investment.
Edward Jones reviewed the complaint and, after its internal investigation, denied the claim on January 5, 2016. BrokerCheck reflects that no settlement was paid and that both the settlement amount and individual contribution amount were $0.
2013 Complaint – Alleged Poor Advice Regarding Mutual Fund Sales
In December 2013, another customer complaint was filed alleging that, from August 26, 2013 to September 27, 2013, the sale of mutual funds recommended by Bouwman constituted poor advice or a poor recommendation. The customer alleged damages of approximately $5,500 related to mutual fund transactions.
Following the firm’s investigation, Edward Jones denied the claim on December 16, 2013. BrokerCheck shows a settlement amount of $0 and no individual contribution by Bouwman.
Summary of Disclosed Customer Disputes
Based on the FINRA BrokerCheck report, Jeremy Lee Bouwman has the following customer dispute history:
- May 13, 2022 – Written complaint (Settled):
- Allegation: Unsuitable advice to take funds from a home loan and invest in the market in a self-directed, fee-based account.
- Alleged damages: $72,160.62.
- Resolution: Complaint settled on August 4, 2022 for $45,844.82, with a reported $4,584.48 contribution by Bouwman.
- December 14, 2015 – Written complaint (Denied):
- Allegation: Poor recommendation to purchase Kinder Morgan stock in November 2015.
- Alleged damages: $5,000.
- Resolution: Complaint denied by Edward Jones on January 5, 2016; no settlement, no payment.
- December 5, 2013 – Written complaint (Denied):
- Allegation: Poor advice and poor recommendation involving the sale of mutual funds between August 26, 2013 and September 27, 2013.
- Alleged damages: $5,500.
- Resolution: Complaint denied by Edward Jones on December 16, 2013; no settlement, no payment.
While two of the complaints were denied with no compensation to the customers, the 2022 matter resulted in a substantial settlement payment. Investors should understand that a settlement does not necessarily mean the broker admitted wrongdoing, and denied claims may still involve significant losses that could be recoverable in FINRA arbitration depending on the facts and applicable law.
These allegations, particularly those involving advice to borrow against a home and invest the proceeds in the securities markets, raise serious suitability and risk-management concerns that warrant careful review by experienced securities counsel.
To obtain a copy of Jeremy Lee Bouwman’s FINRA BrokerCheck report, visit this link.
Robert Wayne Pearce Is Committed to Recovering Your Investment Losses
FINRA Rule 2111, the Suitability Rule, requires that a broker have a reasonable basis to believe that any recommended transaction or investment strategy is suitable for the customer in light of the client’s age, financial situation, risk tolerance, investment experience, and objectives. In the complaints involving advice to take funds from a home loan and invest the proceeds in the market, as well as the recommendations to purchase individual securities and mutual funds, regulators and arbitrators will focus on whether Bouwman’s recommendations exposed customers to an unreasonable level of risk relative to their overall financial profile and whether the use of borrowed funds magnified those risks in violation of Rule 2111.
FINRA Rule 2090, the Know Your Customer Rule, obligates brokers to use reasonable diligence to know and retain the essential facts concerning every customer and the authority of each person acting on a customer’s behalf. In the context of the customer disputes involving home equity borrowing and securities purchases, the question becomes whether Bouwman adequately understood each investor’s financial condition, debt obligations, and ability to bear losses before recommending strategies that involved leveraging a home to invest in the markets or concentrating assets in particular securities or mutual funds. A failure to gather or properly consider this information may constitute a violation of Rule 2090.
FINRA Rule 2010 requires brokers to observe high standards of commercial honor and just and equitable principles of trade in the conduct of their business. Even if a particular recommendation is not found to be outright fraudulent, patterns of unsuitable advice, poor recommendations, or disregard for a customer’s best interests can be viewed as inconsistent with the ethical obligations embodied in Rule 2010. The allegations that Jeremy Lee Bouwman recommended risky strategies involving home loan proceeds and other investments that may not have aligned with customers’ needs could, if proven, support a finding that he failed to live up to the standards of professional conduct required by FINRA.
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.
