Mark Ellis Carter (CRD# 1833030) of Okemos, Michigan—who previously worked as a registered broker with **NYLIFE Securities LLC** and is now an active investment adviser with **Financial Strategies Group, Inc.**—has a public disclosure history that some investors may want to understand in plain English before making decisions about their accounts.
**Haselkorn & Thibaut has opened an investigation into Mark Ellis Carter’s sales practices and disclosures** to evaluate whether any investors may have been harmed and whether recovery options may be available under applicable rules and standards. If you have questions about your investments or the explanations you received, you are not alone—and you deserve clear answers.
Snapshot: Mark Ellis Carter (CRD# 1833030) and Current Registration Status
Table of Contents
Investors often assume that a long career automatically means fewer concerns. Experience can matter, but so can **the type of products recommended**, **how risks were explained**, and **how fees and ongoing obligations were disclosed**.
| Name | Mark Ellis Carter |
| CRD # | 1833030 |
| Primary Location | Okemos, Michigan |
| Current Role | Active investment adviser (not currently FINRA-registered as a broker) |
| Current Firm | Financial Strategies Group, Inc. (since March 2019) |
| Prior Broker-Dealer | NYLIFE Securities LLC (July 1988 – March 2019) |
| Disclosures on Record | 3 customer disputes (2004, 2006, 2024) |
If you want to review the regulator-posted record yourself, you can start here (single link): FINRA BrokerCheck.
Why This Matters to Investors
Many complaints raised by investors are not about market losses alone. They tend to focus on whether an investor was given a fair opportunity to understand what they were buying—particularly when the product involves **market risk, fees, surrender charges, or ongoing funding requirements**.
In Mark Ellis Carter’s disclosure history, the recurring themes investors should pay attention to include:
- Disclosure of market risk (for products tied to market performance)
- Fee clarity (what you pay, when you pay it, and how the costs change over time)
- Suitability and recommendations (whether the strategy aligned with the investor’s goals and risk tolerance)
- Complex insurance-investment products (such as variable universal life)
None of these points proves misconduct on its own. However, they can be meaningful signals for investors deciding whether to ask more questions—or to seek an independent review of account documents and communications.
Complete List of Customer Complaints and Disclosures (Be Specific)
Below is a clear, investor-friendly list of the disputes reported publicly.
| Date Filed | Product | Key Allegations | Outcome | Amounts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 30, 2024 | Variable Universal Life Insurance (policy purchased Dec. 2007) | Customer alleged the representative did not inform her she would need to make additional premium payments beyond the initial payment and that she was not aware the policy was invested in the stock market. | Closed – No Action | Damages: Not disclosed Settlement: N/A |
| Oct. 23, 2006 | Financial products (purchased around Nov. 2000) | Customer alleged unsuitable recommendations, material misrepresentations, and failure to disclose market risk. | Settled | Requested: $250,000 Settled: $115,000 |
| Mar. 7, 2004 | Mutual funds (purchased Jan. 2002) | Customer alleged fees were not adequately disclosed and that products were misrepresented. The claimed compensatory amount reflected the customer’s total investment amount. | Denied | Requested: $85,270.76 Settled: $0 |
Investor “Red Flags” to Understand (Without Jumping to Conclusions)
A disclosure does not automatically mean an adviser did something wrong. Still, investors should know what patterns commonly lead to disputes—especially when the product is complex, long-term, or expensive to exit.
Consider these practical red flags if they sound familiar:
- You didn’t understand ongoing costs or future funding requirements (for example, being surprised you had to keep paying premiums).
- You didn’t realize your product was market-exposed (common with variable products where performance can fluctuate).
- Your risk tolerance and time horizon weren’t carefully documented, yet the recommendation involved significant market risk.
- Fees or charges changed later, or you learned about account-level charges after the fact.
- Explanations felt rushed, or you only received high-level summaries rather than clear, written breakdowns.
If any of these points match your experience with Mark Ellis Carter at **NYLIFE Securities LLC** (or later), it may be worthwhile to gather your records and ask for a professional review. Often, the key question is whether the recommendation and disclosures were consistent with what regulations and firm policies typically require.
What to Do If You Have Concerns About Mark Ellis Carter or NYLIFE Securities LLC
Investors frequently worry they waited too long or that nothing can be done. In many situations, the first step is simply understanding what happened and whether the documentation supports the explanation you were given.
Helpful items to collect include:
- Account statements covering the period of the recommendation
- New account forms (risk tolerance, objectives, time horizon)
- Trade confirmations and product applications
- Policy illustrations (for insurance-based investment products)
- Emails, notes, and meeting summaries describing the recommendation
A careful review can clarify whether losses were purely market-driven, whether risks were reasonably explained, and whether the product and strategy matched your goals.
Free Consultation: Haselkorn & Thibaut (No Recovery, No Fee)
Haselkorn & Thibaut (investmentfraudlawyers.com) is a national securities fraud law firm with over 50 years of experience, a 98% success rate, and millions recovered for clients. If you believe you were misled, overcharged, placed into an unsuitable investment, or not fully informed about market risk or ongoing costs, you can speak with a team that handles these matters every day.
Call Haselkorn & Thibaut at 1 888-885-7162 for a free, confidential consultation. If there is no recovery, there is no fee.
