Client alleged that recommendation to purchase an index-linked certificate of deposit was unsuitable.

$15,822.00

$10,000.00

I vehemently deny all allegations of this complaint. The client and her husband had been clients of mine for several years and I met with them regularly for reviews. Their investments included variable annuities and mutual funds. Upon his death she approached me to invest proceeds she inherited. I suggested the indexed linked CD for it's guarantee of principal upon maturity and growth potential of the market. She understood the features, including the lack of liquidity and potential loss if cashed before maturity. Her objective was potential growth and to leave it to her beneficiaries. She understood it was penalty free for them to inherit it if she died before maturity, as it had a death put feature. She had plenty of other cash for emergencies and short term needs, so she felt she could leave this money alone until maturity. She met with me and discussed this more than once before she decided to proceed, and was given the required documents for the offering prior to me taking her order. Several months later, her daughter contacted me to let me know that her mother used money to buy a family house in Florida and wanted to possibly have more money for the family now. Her daughter came in with her for a review shortly after this conversation, and with the approval of my client I reviewed the CD again. The client decided to keep the CD. Upon my leaving Suntrust Investment Services, the client redeemed the CD and accepted the penalty according to notes from the current Financial Advisor shared by Suntrust's attorney. About a year or so after the redemption, I received notice of this complaint filed by law students pro bono at Howard Universities Law School. According to Suntrust's attorney, in lieu of continued legal fees Suntrust would be paying to argue this case they decided to offer the client a much lower amount to save Suntrust attorney fees. This is not an acceptance of guilt. The client decided to take the money and drop the case. The recommendation of the purchase of the CD was appropriate for my client.

SunTrust Investment Services

Discharged

STEVEN GOLDBERG WAS NOT FORTHCOMING DURING AN INTERNAL REVIEW ABOUT HIS USE OF A PERSONAL SALESFORCE ACCOUNT. NOT SECURITIES RELATED AND NOT SALES PRACTICE RELATED.

I was permitted to maintain a SalesForce account by management at SunTrust. I disagree with the statement that I was not forthcoming during an internal review concerning the use of SalesForce software. In truth, I was asked a confusing question by SunTrust during an internal review. I answered the question honestly and later clarified after I discovered that I misunderstood the question in the first instance.