If you think you were taken in by securities fraud, you’re probably right. Unfortunately, it happens a lot. It happens to smart people. It happens to people who are sophisticated and well-educated. It happens to a really wide range of people young and old, wealthy and...
Representing Investors
Can I sue my financial advisor for lost money?
Yes. Specifically, if your advisor was licensed through the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), you can file an arbitration claim to get some or all of your money back. Whether your claim will succeed depends on exactly what happened. All investments...
I was sold an inappropriate investment. Do I have any recourse?
You may. If a registered broker-dealer or investment adviser sold you an investment that went against your risk profile and you lost money, they may have violated their legal duty to you. You may be able to get your money back via mediation or arbitration through the...
Working to end the culture of victim-blaming after financial frauds
Experiencing financial fraud of any kind can be demoralizing. We tend to see the fraud all at once as a sort of revelation. It suddenly dawns on us that we have been defrauded. You can almost feel the blood rushing from your head. Far too many investors blame...
Dispute about an investment? Does your contract require arbitration?
Investors sometimes get into disputes with their broker-dealers over how their money has been invested. Your broker may have gone against your wishes, for example, by trading against your established investment plan. Or, your broker may have recommended an investment...
FINRA arbitration data now includes Reg BI disputes
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) publicly posts statistics about the arbitration proceedings held under its auspices. As of this writing on August 5, the 2022 numbers are available through June, providing an interesting overview of the kinds of...
3 ways to address complaints against financial advisors
Investing is risky. As an investor, you shoulder most of the risk, and there are no guarantees that you’ll see a return on your investment. Even losing money due to a financial advisor’s bad advice isn’t enough to take legal action as long as they follow government...
What is an ‘unsuitable’ investment?
Investment advisors and brokers who invest on others’ behalf are required to have a reasonable basis to believe that the investments they choose are suitable for the customer’s investment profile. They must be acting on information obtained through reasonable...
What evidence can you get from the other side in a FINRA arbitration?
If you believe that a broker or brokerage firm has treated you unfairly, you may have a claim for money damages. Depending on your exact situation, you may wish to seek damages in arbitration through the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). FINRA is a...
Bill would restrict SDIRA investment in closely held companies, part 1
On Nov. 19, 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Build Back Better Act using the budget reconciliation process. Reconciliation rules would allow the Senate to follow suit with a simple majority, which would require every Democrat to say yes to create a...