Hilltop Securities Inc. (“Hilltop Securities”) (CRD#6220) has faced over 50 regulatory actions and numerous customer complaints from investors who lost money due to broker misconduct, fraud, and supervisory failures. If you’ve suffered investment losses at Hilltop Securities, you have legal options to recover those losses.
You can pursue claims against Hilltop Securities and its financial advisors through FINRA arbitration, even if you signed an agreement waiving your right to sue in court. At the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, we have investigated Hilltop Securities’ regulatory history and represented investors with claims of fraud, negligence, unsuitable investments, and breach of fiduciary duty against this firm.
The firm’s pattern of compliance failures creates opportunities for investors to recover losses. Recent regulatory actions include a $1.6 million SEC fine in August 2024 for widespread recordkeeping violations, where senior managers routinely used personal devices for business communications. These documented violations may directly relate to how your investments were handled.
If you believe broker misconduct at Hilltop Securities caused your investment losses, time is critical. FINRA arbitration claims have strict filing deadlines, and waiting too long can result in losing your right to pursue recovery.
Can I Sue Hilltop Securities?
Yes, you can sue Hilltop Securities if you have lost money due to the misconduct of Hilltop Securities and/or its employees. However, in most cases, you likely signed an agreement that waived your right to sue in court and instead required you to pursue your claims through a FINRA arbitration proceeding. Attorney Robert Wayne Pearce has over 45 years of direct experience handling FINRA arbitration cases. He knows how to not only sue Hilltop Securities in arbitration but also how to win those cases.
How to Sue Hilltop Securities for Investment Losses
What Can I Do If I Lost Money at Hilltop Securities?
If you lost money at Hilltop Securities, you can file a FINRA arbitration claim to recover your investment losses. FINRA arbitration is a dispute resolution process designed specifically for securities cases where investors present evidence of broker misconduct to a panel of arbitrators who decide the outcome. Unlike court litigation, arbitration typically moves faster and costs less, making it accessible for individual investors.
The process begins with filing a Statement of Claim that outlines how Hilltop Securities or its advisors caused your losses. Given Hilltop’s documented regulatory problems—including the $1.6 million SEC fine for recordkeeping failures, the $475,000 FINRA fine for inadequate anti-money laundering programs, and the $250,000 fine for margin disclosure violations—you may have strong grounds for a claim. These compliance failures indicate systemic supervisory weaknesses that can directly affect investment recommendations and account management.
Your arbitration agreement does not prevent you from pursuing justice. It simply means your case will be heard through FINRA’s forum rather than a courtroom. The firm’s track record of regulatory violations strengthens investor claims because documented compliance failures support arguments that the firm failed to properly supervise its advisors or protect client interests.
Who Can Help Me Sue Hilltop Securities?
You need an attorney experienced in securities arbitration who understands Hilltop Securities’ specific regulatory issues and business model weaknesses. The Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce has handled numerous cases against independent broker-dealers like Hilltop, where lax supervision and franchise-style operations create environments prone to misconduct. Our firm has investigated Hilltop’s regulatory disclosures and knows how to build compelling cases around the firm’s documented supervisory failures.
Many investors attempt to navigate FINRA arbitration alone, but securities law is complex and requires specialized knowledge of regulations, arbitration procedures, and how to present evidence effectively. An experienced attorney can evaluate whether your losses resulted from unauthorized trading, unsuitable recommendations, churning, failure to supervise, or other violations—then connect those actions to Hilltop’s documented compliance problems.
What is Hilltop Securities?
Hilltop Securities (CRD#6220) is a registered broker-dealer. It operates as a full-service independent broker-dealer, providing a range of financial products and services to individual investors and financial advisors.
As a registered broker-dealer, Hilltop Securities is subject to regulations and oversight by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). It is required to comply with industry standards and regulations to ensure the protection of its clients’ interests.
A failure to comply with industry standards by either its brokers or the firm itself can result in disciplinary actions, fines, or other penalties imposed by regulatory authorities.
Hilltop Securities In Trouble – Latest News
Yes, Hilltop Securities Inc. is experiencing ongoing regulatory troubles, though the firm continues to operate. The company has faced significant regulatory actions in both 2024 and 2025, with a pattern of compliance failures dating back several years.
The most significant recent development is the August 2024 SEC enforcement action, where Hilltop Securities was fined $1.6 million for widespread recordkeeping violations. The SEC found that from at least August 2019 through 2024, HTS personnel—including senior managers and officers—routinely used personal devices for business communications through text messages and other unapproved platforms, failing to preserve these records as required by federal securities laws.
Why Does Hilltop Securities Have So Many Bad Reviews and Customer Complaints?
Independent broker-dealers like Hilltop Securities often face more customer complaints because of how they operate. Unlike traditional brokerage firms with on-site managers watching over advisors daily, independent broker-dealers run on a franchise-style business model. Financial advisors at these firms work as independent contractors, not employees, which means they operate their own separate businesses with less direct oversight.
This business structure creates supervision problems. The firm typically assigns regional supervisors who themselves run their own businesses and cannot monitor advisors’ day-to-day activities. These supervisors work remotely from Offices of Supervisory Jurisdiction (OSJs), often hundreds of miles away from the advisors they’re supposed to oversee. Without someone physically present to review transactions, account documents, and client communications in real-time, problems can go undetected for months or years.
Key supervision gaps include: no immediate review of new accounts, no daily monitoring of trades or business records, and infrequent compliance audits—sometimes only once per year. This means investors’ accounts may contain unsuitable investments, forged signatures, or inaccurate information about their financial situation, all because no one is checking the advisor’s work regularly. Sales literature and client letters often go unreviewed, allowing misleading statements to reach investors.
The North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) has documented that independent broker-dealers have higher rates of sales abuse and investor losses compared to traditional firms with branch offices. The reason is straightforward: less supervision creates more opportunities for misconduct.
Hilltop Securities Has Many Different Regulatory Problems
Overall regulatory record: 54 regulatory disclosures on the FINRA record, with Rex Securities Law Investment Fraud Attorney investigating the firm for lawsuits, arbitrations, and customer disputes.
2024 SEC action: $1.6 million fine for widespread recordkeeping violations where senior managers and officers routinely used personal devices for business communications from August 2019 through 2024, failing to preserve records as required by federal securities laws.
May 2024 Cboe Exchange fine: $170,000 penalty for approximately 58,656 instances of improper options position reporting between June 2020 and October 2022. Violations caused by coding issues and human error in reporting systems.
July 2020 FINRA action: Censure and $475,000 fine for failing to establish and implement an AML compliance program reasonably designed to detect and report suspicious trading activity in low-priced securities.
September 2019 sanctions: $250,000 fine for failing to establish procedures to ensure customers received required margin interest rate disclosures.
Key supervisory weaknesses: As an independent broker-dealer, the firm operates with a business model that industry observers note can lead to less stringent oversight compared to traditional brokerage firms with on-site managers and compliance personnel.
How to File an Official Complaint Against Hilltop Securities Advisor or One of Its Brokers with FINRA
File a complaint against Hilltop Securities or one of its brokers by contacting a FINRA arbitration attorney immediately. Hilltop Securities has faced over 50 regulatory actions, including a $1.6 million SEC fine in 2024 for recordkeeping failures.
At the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, we help investors hold financial advisors accountable for misconduct, negligence, and breach of fiduciary duty. With over 45 years of FINRA arbitration experience, we are prepared to guide you through filing your complaint the right way, before it’s denied or ignored.
Related Read: Can You Sue Your Brokerage Firm?
How The Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. Can Help You Recover Losses at Hilltop Securities
Our firm provides comprehensive assistance throughout the entire FINRA arbitration process. We begin with a thorough case evaluation to determine whether Hilltop Securities’ documented supervisory failures and regulatory violations contributed to your losses. From there, we prepare and file your Statement of Claim, gather evidence connecting the firm’s compliance problems to your specific situation, and represent you during arbitration hearings.
Attorney Robert Wayne Pearce brings over 45 years of securities arbitration experience and has recovered more than $175 million for investors nationwide. His deep understanding of independent broker-dealer operations—including the supervisory weaknesses common at firms like Hilltop—allows him to build compelling cases that hold both individual advisors and the firm itself accountable. He offers free consultations to evaluate your claim and explain your legal options clearly.
Time limits apply to FINRA claims, so prompt action is essential. The sooner you consult with an experienced attorney, the better positioned you’ll be to preserve evidence and meet arbitration deadlines.
Did Hilltop Securities Advisor Misconduct Cause You Investment Losses?
If you believe that your financial advisor at Hilltop Securities engaged in fraudulent behavior or misconduct that resulted in investment losses, it is important to take action. Contact the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. to discuss your case and explore your legal options.
Our experienced attorneys can evaluate your situation, investigate the actions of your financial advisor, and help you pursue a claim to recover your losses. We have a track record of successfully representing clients in cases involving investment fraud and broker misconduct.
Consult With An Attorney Who Recovers Investment Losses Caused By Hilltop Securities Today
The investment loss attorneys at The Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A., have helped countless investors over the last 45 years recover the losses from their investment accounts that were caused by broker negligence or misconduct. The firm has extensive experience with Hilltop Securities cases, and Attorney Pearce is committed to seeing that those responsible for the losses you have suffered are held fully accountable.
Give us a call at 800-732-2889. Let’s discuss your case and see what we can do to help you get the compensation you need and deserve.
