Our FINRA Dispute Attorney Recovers Investment Losses
Get Help When You Have Lost Money Because of Broker Misconduct
If you have endured substantial investment losses and believe they were caused by the misconduct of your stockbroker or financial advisor, you may be able to get your money back, depending upon the facts of your loss. Dispute resolution through the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), which regulates brokers and brokerage firms, may be an option for you if you have suffered substantial losses in the stock market or through other investment opportunities. FINRA disputes are decided in arbitration; and if a dispute is decided in your favor, you could receive financial restitution.
However, not everyone who loses an investment is entitled to financial recovery. Investing can be risky, and losses are not always due to broker fraud or negligence. You must provide evidence and prove to FINRA arbitrators that your broker or advisor committed misconduct that led to your loss. To learn whether your dispute may be resolved through FINRA, it is smart to speak with an attorney with a track record of recovering money for wronged investors. A FINRA lawyer from Wolper Law Firm, P.A. will explain your options after learning about the details of your situation.
Trust Wolper Law Firm, P.A. When You Need a Lawyer for a FINRA Dispute
Our law firm is committed to helping investors recover their losses when they have been wronged or taken advantage of by their stockbrokers, financial advisors, and brokerage firms. You can contact our office to further discuss your legal options for financial recovery by calling 800.931.8452. We provide free consultations, so you have nothing to lose—and potentially much to gain—by speaking with us.
Why choose us? We get results. Our FINRA dispute attorneys have recovered money for wronged investors in 99% of cases we have handled.
What Is a FINRA Dispute?
Most stock loss disputes are resolved through FINRA. This is because the majority of brokerages and investment firms have binding arbitration clauses in their customer agreements. If you as an investor have lost substantial money and have evidence of malfeasance by your broker or advisor, it may be appropriate to take your dispute to FINRA arbitration.
The one thing most of these cases that go to arbitration have in common is that the financial advisor, stockbroker, or brokerage firm is alleged to have wronged investors and cost investors substantial money. Investment losses caused by brokers or advisors could be due to intentional fraud or to carelessness and negligence.
These are some of the ways through which brokers fraudulently or negligently commit misconduct:
- Misrepresentation and omission. Misrepresentation and omission involves brokers providing false information or withholding material information in order to influence investment decisions.
- Unsuitability. Unsuitability is when investment opportunities are recommended that are not aligned with investors’ goals and risk tolerance.
- Failing to supervise. Brokerage firms that do not properly supervise or train a broker who commits a violation may be held liable.
- Unauthorized trading. Unauthorized trading is when brokers make trades in nondiscretionary accounts without customer authorization.
- Churning. Churning, or excessive trading, is when brokers over-trade in investors’ accounts specifically to earn commissions for themselves on each trade.
- Selling away. Selling away is when brokers sell investments, which are typically high-risk, that are not approved or offered by their brokerage houses.
- Lack of portfolio diversification. To reduce risk, investment portfolios should be diversified among businesses, industries and product types.
These are just some ways in which investors can lose money to unscrupulous or negligent brokers. You can discuss the individual details of your case with a FINRA dispute attorney from our firm to learn more about whether you have grounds for restitution. Call us today at 800.931.8452 for help.
What to Expect in FINRA Dispute Resolution
FINRA arbitration involves having your case heard by a panel of arbitrators. If your losses amount to less than $100,000, one arbitrator will hear your case. If they amount to $100,000 or more, a panel of three arbitrators will hear your case.
Arbitration is similar to court proceedings in some ways. Both sides provide evidence and argue their cases before arbitrators. However, unlike in court cases, arbitration claims cannot be appealed through FINRA once they are decided. Even though arbitration does not leave room for an appeal, many wronged investors find it to be a faster and less expensive resolution process compared to court.
Once a decision has been made, if the arbitrators determine you should be repaid, the liable party will then be ordered to compensate you accordingly, within 30 days. If the broker or brokerage firm fails to do so, FINRA can suspend their license.
FINRA Dispute Attorney Answers FAQs
Following are some of the common questions we receive about FINRA dispute resolution. If you have questions specific to your case, contact our office to set up a free consultation with an experienced FINRA dispute resolution attorney.
You must file a claim with FINRA within six years of the incident that you believe caused your investment loss. If you did not discover the incident that caused the loss until a later time, then the six-year deadline may begin at the discovery date. If you do not file a claim within six years from the date of the incident or the discovery date, in most instances you will lose your right to bring a FINRA claim. Do not wait if you believe you were cheated by your broker. It is to your benefit to speak with a FINRA lawyer for a FINRA dispute right away.
Sometimes disputes can be resolved through FINRA mediation instead of arbitration. Mediation is when a neutral and trained mediator seeks to help investors and brokers resolve their disputes. The mediator does not decide the outcome, but rather acts as a facilitator to help both sides negotiate a solution. Mediation is less formal than arbitration and typically involves just the parties involved, their attorneys and the mediator. It is voluntary, though, so both sides must agree to it. If a claim has already gone to arbitration, it can still go to mediation if both sides agree. Likewise, if mediation does not resolve the dispute, wronged investors can still file a claim for arbitration.
According to FINRA, disputes that go to arbitration hearing typically take 16 months to be resolved. Arbitration disputes that are settled before a hearing takes place take just over a year. Cases that go to FINRA mediation may be resolved in just a few months.
You are not required to hire an attorney to have your claim heard in FINRA arbitration. However, you can be sure that the broker/brokerage firm you are making a claim against will have attorneys representing their interests. You will increase your chances of recovery when you work with an experienced FINRA arbitration lawyer. An attorney understands what type of evidence is needed to influence arbitrators and how to present it in the most effective way possible.
While no attorney can guarantee how arbitration will resolve, our FINRA dispute attorneys can guarantee that we will fight hard on your behalf. Our attorneys have recovered money for wronged investors in 99% of cases we have handled.
Contact a FINRA Dispute Resolution Attorney
Our attorneys exclusively represent wronged investors. Prior to establishing Wolper Law Firm, P.A., however, our attorneys defended brokerage firms being sued by investors. This breadth of experience on both sides of the securities industry allows us powerful insight into how brokers and their firms think and operate. We put this knowledge to work to the advantage of our investor clients.
If you want to learn more about your options for investment recovery or are ready to initiate an arbitration claim, contact us for help. We provide free consultations to wronged investors.
Arrange a free consultation with a skilled FINRA dispute attorney by calling 800.931.8452 today. We serve clients nationwide.