If your securities-backed credit line or margin account was hit with margin calls and liquidated, recovery focuses on what your advisor recommended and disclosed before the account opened—not the liquidation itself. Misrepresentations, unsuitable leverage for conservative investors, and concentration can support claims. Investors often must pursue FINRA arbitration or mediation to seek reimbursement and fees.
FINRA arbitration can help investors recover losses, but results depend on preparation and strategy. Our attorneys conduct a detailed case review, draft a fact-rich Statement of Claim, and manage arbitrator selection, discovery, mediation, and hearing presentation. We focus on evidence, deadlines, and damages analysis so clients know what to expect from start to award today.
FINRA regulates broker-dealers and conducts routine and cause-based examinations to check compliance with industry rules. Examinations may stem from complaints, disclosures, or risk signals and focus on capital adequacy, supervision, and sales practices. Brokers should understand their obligations and seek legal counsel, as FINRA’s jurisdiction and procedures can lead to serious disciplinary consequences.
J.P. Morgan Securities faces a FINRA arbitration claim alleging former vice-chairman Edward Turley used a highly leveraged, one-size-fits-all strategy in clients’ retail margin accounts. Claimants seek about $55.6 million plus interest and punitive damages, alleging misrepresentations, unsuitable trading, and unauthorized discretion. The post notes prior awards/settlements and reports Turley was barred by FINRA in 2022.
Regulation D private placements can be used legitimately, but fraudsters cite the exemption to limit disclosure and sell illiquid, high-commission products. Investors face risks from inadequate disclosure, lack of liquidity, imprecise valuations, and broker-dealer due diligence failures. Our attorneys investigate Reg D sales practices, verify issuer claims, and pursue recovery for investors harmed by misconduct.
At our firm, we filed a claim alleging a UBS Puerto Rico advisor recommended an excessive concentration in Puerto Rico closed-end bond funds and urged the investor to pledge them as collateral for loans. When fund values plunged, the account faced margin calls and liquidation threats, leading to claims of fraud, negligence, and failed supervision.
Structured notes and other structured products are complex, unsecured obligations whose payoff depends on an underlying asset and derivatives. Key risks include issuer credit risk, limited liquidity, difficult pricing, uncertain income, caps and barriers, volatility exposure, fees, and adverse tax treatment as contingent payment debt instruments. Principal protection can still fail if the issuer weakens.
FINRA Rule 3210 requires registered financial professionals to notify their member firm before opening or maintaining accounts at another firm, including any account in which they have a beneficial interest. Written consent and duplicate statements support supervision to reduce conflicts of interest, front-running, and insider trading. Close family members’ accounts may also trigger disclosure duties.
The Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. filed a claim alleging a Merrill Lynch Puerto Rico broker placed a novice investor into a concentrated Puerto Rico bond portfolio on margin. The account was leveraged 4:1 with nearly $800,000 borrowed, described as “safe” and “guaranteed,” then held through collapse, margin calls, forced liquidation, and losses.
In an arbitration against UBS Financial Services and UBS Financial Services of Puerto Rico, the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. secured a $1.45 million award plus interest for a client. The claim alleged unsuitable recommendations and overconcentration in Puerto Rico municipal bonds and closed-end funds. Investors may contact us for a free consultation.
GWG L Bonds were sold to many investors as income products, but the issuer’s collapse and bankruptcy left holders facing steep losses and uncertainty. Our firm helps investors evaluate whether the recommendation was unsuitable, misrepresented risk, or lacked due diligence. We pursue recovery through FINRA arbitration and related claims against responsible brokers and broker-dealers today.
Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. is investigating investor losses tied to Hartman Real Estate Investment Trusts, including situations where shares cannot be sold. Our attorneys handle illiquid, high-yield REIT disputes and pursue recovery through FINRA arbitration and related securities litigation. Contact our firm for a free consultation to discuss potential claims against broker-dealers.
Attorney Robert Wayne Pearce reports the firm represents an investor pursuing arbitration against Centaurus Financial over alleged misconduct by Joseph Michael Todd. The page summarizes an SEC lawsuit alleging Todd misappropriated at least $3 million from Centaurus customers by directing checks to his entities and himself then using funds personally. It outlines selling-away and allegations.
A securities lawyer focuses on laws and regulations governing investors, brokers, and financial advisors. These attorneys help investors pursue recovery when misconduct or fraud causes losses, and they defend brokers or advisors facing complaints by clients or employers. Securities laws, enforced by the SEC, aim to prevent fraud and keep markets fair and transparent overall.
