Our firm is investigating Morgan Stanley broker and investment adviser representative Shaun Bruce Freeman (CRD# 2779691) of Morristown, New Jersey in connection with customer disputes reported through FINRA BrokerCheck.
According to his BrokerCheck report, Freeman has been registered with Morgan Stanley since June 2009 as both a broker and investment adviser representative. His record reflects two customer dispute disclosures, both of which were denied.
Financial Advisor’s Career History
According to his FINRA BrokerCheck report, Shaun B. Freeman has been registered with the following firms:
- Morgan Stanley — 06/2009 to Present
- Citigroup Global Markets Inc. — 08/2004 to 06/2009
- Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc. — broker registration 03/1998 to 08/2004 and investment adviser registration 06/2002 to 08/2004
- Olde Discount Corporation — 09/1996 to 03/1998
FINRA reports that Freeman has worked as a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC since June 2009 and with Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. since January 2015.
His BrokerCheck report also lists an investment-related trust as an outside business activity.
Shaun Bruce Freeman Allegations and Investor Complaints Explained
FINRA BrokerCheck reflects two customer disputes involving Shaun Freeman.
The more recent complaint alleged that a client’s Morgan Stanley accounts were not managed with her best interests in mind during 2022. The complaint did not specify a damages amount and was later denied on July 17, 2026.
Freeman’s record also includes an earlier complaint from 2003 in which a customer alleged unauthorized discretion and margin in an account at Merrill Lynch. That customer alleged $64,000 in damages, and the complaint was denied.
Customer Complaint: Alleged Failure to Manage Accounts in Client’s Best Interests
The most recent BrokerCheck disclosure identifies Morgan Stanley as the employing firm when the alleged conduct occurred.
According to the disclosure, the client alleged that her accounts at Morgan Stanley were not managed with her best interests in mind during 2022.
The disclosure provides the following information:
- Disclosure Type: Customer Dispute
- Firm: Morgan Stanley
- Allegation: Accounts allegedly were not managed with the client’s best interests in mind
- Time Period: 2022
- Product Type: No Product specified
- Alleged Damages: Unspecified
- Date Complaint Received: 06/12/2026
- Complaint Pending: No
- Status: Denied
- Status Date: 07/17/2026
- Written Complaint: Yes
- Arbitration or Civil Litigation: No
Prior Customer Complaint: Alleged Unauthorized Discretion and Margin
Freeman’s BrokerCheck report also reflects an earlier customer dispute associated with Merrill Lynch.
According to the disclosure, the customer alleged unauthorized discretion and margin in his account. The product involved was listed common and preferred stock, and the customer claimed $64,000 in damages.
The disclosure states:
- Firm: Merrill Lynch
- Allegations: Unauthorized discretion and margin
- Product: Listed common and preferred stock
- Alleged Damages: $64,000
- Complaint Received: 08/19/2003
- Status: Denied
- Status Date: 10/16/2003
Merrill Lynch stated that it denied all allegations and denied the request for mediation.
Disclosure Summary
- Customer Dispute — Denied
- Firm: Morgan Stanley
- Allegation: Client alleged that her accounts were not managed with her best interests in mind
- Period: 2022
- Damages: Unspecified
- Complaint received: June 12, 2026
- Status: Denied
- Status date: July 17, 2026
- Customer Dispute — Denied
- Firm: Merrill Lynch
- Allegations: Unauthorized discretion and use of margin
- Product: Listed common and preferred stock
- Alleged damages: $64,000
- Complaint received: August 19, 2003
- Status: Denied
- Status date: October 16, 2003
Conclusion
Investors reviewing Shaun Freeman’s BrokerCheck record should note that both customer complaints were denied and neither is pending.
FINRA explains that disclosure matters may involve allegations that are contested and that a final matter may be denied, dismissed, withdrawn, settled, or otherwise resolved. The existence of a customer complaint does not itself establish wrongdoing.
Investors considering doing business with Shaun Bruce Freeman may want to review his complete FINRA BrokerCheck report under CRD# 2779691 for the most current information concerning his registration and disclosure history.
Robert Wayne Pearce Is Committed to Recovering Your Investment Losses
Claims alleging that investment accounts were not managed in a customer’s best interests can raise questions about whether recommendations, portfolio management decisions, and risk exposure were consistent with the customer’s investment objectives and financial circumstances.
Claims involving unauthorized discretion may arise when a customer alleges that investment decisions were made without the customer’s approval or without appropriate discretionary authority. Margin trading can also increase investment risk because borrowed funds may magnify both gains and losses.
In Freeman’s most recent reported complaint, the client alleged that her Morgan Stanley accounts were not managed with her best interests in mind during 2022. The complaint was subsequently denied on July 17, 2026.
For over 45 years, Robert Wayne Pearce has helped investors recover losses caused by broker fraud, negligence, unsuitable recommendations, unauthorized trading, and other investment-related misconduct. 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.
