May 2018 - Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce

Puerto Rico Closed-Bond Funds

The Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce P.A. handles Closed-end Bond Fund cases throughout the United States and within Puerto Rico. A closed-end bond fund is a publicly traded investment company that raises a fixed amount of capital through an initial public offering (IPO) to purchase and hold bonds for a certain period. The closed end fund is structured, listed and traded like a stock, usually on a major stock exchange. Many investors confuse closed-end bond funds with the more traditional open-end mutual funds. Attorney Pearce will explain the differences: once the fund begins operating, a closed-end bond fund is closed to new capital; closed-end bond fund shares trade on a stock exchange rather than being redeemed directly by the fund; shares of a closed-end bond fund can be purchased or sold throughout the day as opposed to an open-end fund that can be traded only at the closing price at the end of the market day; closed-end bond funds often sell at a premium or discount to net asset value, but an open-end fund sells at its net asset value; and closed-end bond funds can own a greater amount of illiquid investments than open-end funds. Representing clients throughout Florida and nationwide. Brokerage firms often omit disclosing the risks associated with closed-end bond funds. Here are some of the important facts that brokerage firms have neglected to inform investors: The first 5% of the investors’ money in a closed-end IPO goes straight into the pocket of the people selling the fund as a commission; closed-end bond funds are not actively managed, meaning the bonds are held to a certain date and sold at the prevailing price with either gains or losses; closed-end shares usually trade for less than their net asset value because brokerage firms deliberately sell these IPOs at the market’s peak when enthusiasm runs high and the shares are poised to fall; and shares of closed-end bond IPOs are incredibly volatile. So why are investors still being steered by their brokers to closed-end bond funds, particularly those in an IPO? It’s the commissions! For more information about Closed-end Bond Funds and our cases and investigations, click on the links below: FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION WITH CLOSED-END BOND FUND INVESTMENT DISPUTE ATTORNEYS The Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. understands what is at stake in closed-end investment law matters and constantly strives to secure the most favorable possible result. Attorney Pearce provides a complete review of your case and fully explains your legal options when are sold misrepresented and/or unsuitable closed-end bond funds. The firm works to ensure that you have all of the information necessary to make a sound decision before any action is taken in your case. For dedicated representation by a law firm with substantial experience in all kinds of securities, commodities and investment disputes, contact the firm by telephone at 561-338-0037 or toll free at 800-732-2889 or via e-mail.

May 8, 2018

Hedge Funds

The Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. has Hedge Fund cases because they were touted as the panacea for bad markets. Hedge Fund managers claimed to offer diversification through investments that purportedly were not correlated with other asset classes (i.e., they go up when others go down and visa-versa). However, according to Attorney Pearce, in 2008-2009 many investors found out the hard way that was untrue when most investments became correlated and all suffered tremendous losses at the same time. Hedge Funds simply did not perform as hyped and fund managers hid important facts from investors. The common thread in Hedge Funds that has led to many cases is the lack of registration, lack of disclosure, and lack of regulatory oversight (although changes are belatedly underway) making them ripe for fraud and unsuitable investment recommendations. Representing clients throughout Florida and nationwide. Hedge funds are similar to mutual funds in that they pool and invest investors’ money in an effort to earn a positive return. Many hedge funds seek to profit in all kinds of markets by using leverage, short-selling, and other speculative investment practices that are not typically used by mutual funds. Unlike mutual funds, hedge funds are not subject to some of the regulations that are designed to protect investors. Hedge funds are not required to follow any standard procedure when calculating performance, and they may invest in securities that are illiquid and difficult to value. On the other hand, federal securities laws specifically prescribe a mutual fund’s methodology for advertising and calculating current yield, tax-equivalent yield, average annual total return, and after-tax return. Any investor provided with performance data for a hedge fund, should verify whether it reflects cash or assets actually received by the fund as opposed to the manager’s estimate of the change in value of fund assets and whether the data includes deductions for fees. Hedge fund investing can pose several risks for inexperienced and risk averse investors. One of the primary risks associated with hedge fund investing is management’s use of leverage. Hedge funds also invest in other non-conventional securities such as derivatives (options and futures), and they engage in short-selling strategies (selling a security it does not own), which can likewise increase the potential for major losses to its investors. In addition, hedge funds are able to suspend redemptions in certain scenarios, including in times of market distress or when their investments cannot be quickly or easily liquidated. Furthermore, hedge funds may charge investors a redemption fee before allowing them to cash in shares. Hedge funds may also invest in highly illiquid securities. Investors are encouraged to fully understand a hedge fund’s valuation process and know the extent to which a fund’s securities are valued by independent sources. Investors should also keep in mind that valuations of fund assets will affect the fees that the manager charges. FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION WITH HEDGE FUND INVESTMENT DISPUTE ATTORNEYS The Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. understands what is at stake in securities, commodities and Hedge Fund investment law matters and constantly strives to secure the most favorable possible result. Attorney Pearce provides a complete review of your case and fully explains your legal options. The firm works to ensure that you have all of the information necessary to make a sound decision before any action is taken in your case. For dedicated representation by a law firm with substantial experience in all kinds of securities, commodities and investment disputes, contact the firm by telephone at 561-338-0037 or toll free at 800-732-2889 or via e-mail.