What is Stockbroker Fraud?
Stockbroker fraud is, unfortunately, all too common. Investors typically understand that there is always some risk when investing in the stock market. However, what they don’t expect is for their broker to intentionally deceive them and engage in illegal activities to make a profit. Brokers are strictly regulated by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and must adhere to a fiduciary standard when providing advice to their clients. When a stockbroker fails to act in the most beneficial manner for their client, they may be participating in unlawful activity known as stockbroker fraud. What is Stockbroker Fraud? Stockbroker fraud is any act committed by a broker or financial advisor that violates the securities laws or their fiduciary duty to their client, generally in an effort to gain profits for themselves or their firm. Need Legal Help? Let’s talk. or, give us a ring at 561-338-0037. There are many different ways a stockbroker may violate their legal and ethical obligations towards their clients. If a broker commits securities fraud, their employer – which is often a large brokerage firm – will be held accountable for any losses the client suffers. 12 Common Types of Stockbroker Fraud Below are the most common examples of stockbroker fraud and other stockbroker misconduct: Recommending Unsuitable Investments Brokers have an obligation to make sure that any investments they recommend are suitable for the investor’s individual needs and objectives. If a broker recommends a high-risk investment to someone who is looking for conservative, low-risk options, this could be seen as unsuitable advice. Unsuitable investments can lead to serious losses for the investor, so it is important that brokers provide advice tailored to their clients’ individual needs and goals. Outright Theft or Misappropriation of Funds This is one of the most serious forms of stockbroker fraud. It involves a broker taking money from their client’s account without authorization and using it for their own personal gain. This could include transferring funds to accounts they control or even selling securities in the client’s account and pocketing the proceeds. There are many different ways brokers can steal from their clients, so it’s important for investors to closely monitor their accounts. If you find unusually large transactions or other suspicious activity, you should contact a stockbroker fraud attorney. Churning (Excessive Trading) Churning occurs when a broker engages in excessive buying and selling of securities in a client’s account, often for the purpose of generating commissions. While some trading activity is expected with any investment strategy, churning can be seen as irresponsible behavior that only benefits the broker while putting the investor at risk. You can often spot churning by looking for unusually high commission charges or a large number of transactions with short holding periods. Unauthorized Trading on a Client’s Account Similar to churning, unauthorized trading occurs when a broker executes trades in a client’s account without their knowledge or authorization. This is an illegal activity that can be seen as a form of theft if the broker does not have the client’s permission to act on their behalf. Unauthorized trading can also be seen as a breach of fiduciary duty, since the broker should have obtained their client’s consent before entering into any transactions. Lack of Diversification Another form of stock broker fraud is a lack of diversification. This occurs when a broker invests all or most of the client’s money in one type of security, such as stocks, bonds, or mutual funds. Diversifying an investment portfolio can help reduce risk and maximize returns, so failing to diversify a client’s investments could be seen as a breach of fiduciary duty. Misrepresenting or Omitting Information It is the responsibility of a stockbroker to provide accurate and complete information about any investment they recommend. If they fail to do so, or intentionally misrepresent the facts, this could be seen as a form of stock broker fraud. Not only that, but they must also disclose any risks associated with the investments they recommend. Failing to do so could lead to serious losses for their clients. Failing to Follow Instructions In most cases, your broker is ethically and contractually compelled to follow your directions when you’re buying or selling stock. If you instruct your broker to make a certain trade, and they fail to do so, this could be seen as a breach of their duties. In some situations, the broker won’t flat-out ignore your instructions but might attempt to persuade you into keeping a stock that you wanted to sell, for their benefit rather than yours. Failure of a broker to follow your instructions, and even improper pressure to change your instructions, can be grounds for recovering your loss. Over-Concentration of Assets Over-concentration occurs when a broker invests too much of a client’s money in one particular security or sector. This is risky, as it could cause the investor to suffer significant losses if that security or sector declines in value. Imagine if your broker recommended investing all of your money in a structured product, and then the structured product suddenly declined. You could find yourself with a margin call or a forced liquidation of your portfolio. Failure to Disclose a Personal Interest in a Security Brokers owe their clients a duty of disclosure, meaning they must disclose any personal interest they have in security before recommending it. Imagine if your broker recommended that you invested in a certain stock only for you to later find out they had a majority ownership stake in the company. Of course, you would be upset. You have a legal right to expect your broker to put your interests first. Failing to disclose their personal stake in the security could be seen as a breach of fiduciary duty and constitute stock broker fraud. Negligent Portfolio Management A big reason you hired a broker in the first place was to get professional advice on how to manage your investments. If the broker fails to follow through on their duties and takes actions that are deemed negligent, this could be seen as a form of stockbroker fraud. When it...
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