What to do if you suspect broker misconduct
EDITOR – I MADE A NUMBER OF REVISIONS. David Robbins
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Are You a Victim of a Breach of Fiduciary Duty?
Trusting another person or party with your financial well-being means that you are placing your stability and security in the hands of someone else. A fiduciary is a party that accepts the legal responsibility of managing the financial interests of the beneficiary....
The role of FINRA & the SEC roles in enforcing fiduciary duty
As we move into 2025, investors can expect increased scrutiny of investment professionals' fiduciary duties. With the lines between brokers and investment advisers continuing to blur, it's essential to understand the roles of regulatory bodies like the Financial...
Recouping Losses from Margin Liquidations
Your margin positions have been liquidated to meet a margin call despite the fact that you and the brokerage firm had established a pattern of meeting such calls extending to a longer period of time than was set forth in the margin agreement that you signed. Or your...
Fraudulent Transfer of Customer Funds
You return from a well-deserved vacation, relaxed and in a great mood. But that changes dramatically when, a few days later, you happen to check your online brokerage account and discover that all of your securities have been sold and all of the proceeds have been...
Arbitrating a Registered Investment Advisor at the American Arbitration Association and JAMS
Over the past years, brokers have shifted their association from brokerage firms regulated by FINRA to investment advisory firms that are not regulated by FINRA. Their business model has changed from commission-based transactions (after speaking with you to get your...
Important questions before you choose to invest
What you do with your financial resources is a personal decision based on unique objectives, which may include financial gain, purchase of property or growth of wealth through investments. Making the decision to invest comes with certain risks, but when done properly...
Duties Owed to You by Your Investment Adviser
There has been a substantial increase in the number of financial advisers foregoing registration with FINRA as a registered representative in favor of becoming an investment adviser – an RIA. Depending on the structure of the firm and the size of the assets under...
What to Expect When Contacting an Attorney
You’ve suffered financial losses as a result of misconduct from your financial advisor. Whether those losses were the result of an unsuitable recommendation, undisclosed risks or unauthorized trades, you need to consult an attorney to recoup your losses from the...
FINRA’s New Expungement Rules
In 2023, FINRA’s significant changes to its expungement procedures will be implemented, making the permanent removal of a customer complaint or arbitration from a broker’s record much more difficult to obtain from a FINRA arbitration panel. While the three limited...