When financial advisors engage in unauthorized trading, misrepresentation, or unsuitable investment advice, investors unknowingly face risks that can lead to extensive losses. Meyer Wilson Werning has over 75 years of combined experience representing investors harmed by financial advisor misconduct.Â
Our firm, led by industry-renowned trial attorneys, has recovered more than $350 million for clients across the country. Our financial advisor misconduct lawyers in Ohio are equipped to handle cases through arbitration or in court.Â
Our Ohio securities & investment fraud lawyers are committed to holding financial professionals accountable. Call our office today to access a free consultation.Â
What Constitutes Financial Advisor Misconduct?
Advisors must follow applicable laws, regulations, and client agreements, including suitability and accurate disclosures. Not all advisors owe a fiduciary duty in every context, though.
Advisor misconduct often results in significant financial losses, erodes investor trust, and can leave clients feeling misled or betrayed. Various actions constitute misconduct, including:
- Unsuitable investment recommendations: Recommending investments that do not align with a client’s financial goals, risk tolerance, or overall portfolio strategy.
- Churning: Engaging in excessive trading within a client’s account to generate commissions, often at the expense of the account’s value.
- Overconcentration: Allocating too much of a portfolio to a single investment, sector, or asset class, increasing the risk of substantial losses if the investment performs poorly.
- Failure to disclose risks: Failing to provide clear and accurate information about the potential risks associated with an investment, leaving clients exposed to risks they did not fully understand.
- Unauthorized trading: Executing trades in a client’s account without obtaining prior consent, in violation of both the client’s trust and industry regulations.
At Meyer Wilson Werning, our Ohio financial advisor misconduct lawyers can help you pursue recovery for your losses and work to hold negligent financial advisors or investment firms accountable.
We Have Recovered Over
$350 Million for Our Clients Nationwide.
How Our Ohio Financial Advisor Misconduct Lawyers Can Help
At Meyer Wilson Werning, our Ohio financial advisor misconduct attorneys provide experienced representation to investors harmed by advisor negligence or misconduct. If you suffered investment losses of more than $100,000 due to the misconduct of an investment advisor or financial firm, our team can pursue compensation through tailored legal strategies.
Investigating the Advisor’s Actions
Every case begins with a comprehensive review of the financial advisor’s behavior. Our attorneys may examine account records, trade histories, and communications to identify unethical practices or violations of industry regulations.
Collecting Evidence to Prove Misconduct
Proving misconduct requires our lawyers to collect thorough evidence. This process often involves gathering account statements, investment agreements, and correspondence. We may also consult industry experts to help establish how the advisor’s actions caused financial losses.
Pursuing Recovery Through Arbitration, Litigation, or Settlement Negotiations
Most financial advisor misconduct cases are resolved through arbitration rather than court litigation. Arbitration is a legal process where both sides present their case to a neutral panel of one to three arbitrators who issue a binding decision, much like a jury verdict in a court case.Â
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) oversees the arbitration process for most securities disputes. In many cases, investors sign agreements with advisors that require disputes to be resolved through FINRA arbitration.Â
While not confidential, the process is private; evidentiary hearings are generally not open to the public. Arbitration is not mediation, either; arbitrators issue a binding award after an evidentiary hearing.
Why Choose Meyer Wilson Werning?
Meyer Wilson Werning is a nationally recognized leader in representing investors harmed by financial advisor misconduct. With over 75 years of combined experience, our legal team has the knowledge and resources to handle even the most complex financial misconduct cases.
Over $350 Million Recovered
We have successfully recovered more than $350 million on behalf of thousands of clients, helping investors regain their financial security after suffering significant losses.
Extensive Legal Resources
We bring significant firepower and resources to every case. With seven attorneys and a large legal support team, Meyer Wilson Werning has the capacity to level the playing field against major financial institutions.Â
Many competing firms operate with just one or two attorneys and limited infrastructure, which can make it difficult for them to handle large, complex cases. Our team’s size and resources allow us to manage high-stakes claims effectively and pursue favorable outcomes for our clients.
Personalized Attention
We purposefully limit the number of cases we accept, allowing our attorneys to dedicate the time and resources necessary to build the strongest possible case for each client. This low-volume, high-value approach ensures that every client receives personalized attention.
National Leadership in Investor Protection
Founding partner David Meyer is a nationally respected advocate for investors. As a past president of the Public Investors Advocate Bar Association (PIABA), he has worked directly with organizations like the SEC and FINRA to strengthen protections for individual investors.
No Upfront Costs
Our firm operates on a contingency fee basis, meaning clients pay nothing up front. If we don’t recover losses for you, you owe us nothing.
Our lawyers are nationwide leaders in investment fraud cases.
Damages Our Financial Advisor Misconduct Lawyers May Recover
At Meyer Wilson Werning, our financial advisor misconduct lawyers work to pursue compensation that reflects the full extent of the harm caused by an advisor’s negligence or unethical actions.Â
While the damages in each case depend on the specific circumstances, they may include:
- Lost investment value: Compensation for the financial losses you incurred due to unsuitable investments, unauthorized trading, or other forms of misconduct.
- Excessive fees or commissions: Refunds of fees, commissions, or other charges generated by practices such as churning or unauthorized trading.
- Market losses due to misrepresentation: Damages caused by advisors providing misleading information or failing to disclose risks, which led to poor investment decisions.
- Punitive damages, if available: In cases involving particularly egregious misconduct or fraud, arbitrators may award punitive damages to penalize the wrongdoer and deter future violations. Punitive damages are rare in these cases, though.Â
Our team is equipped with the experience and resources to build strong cases and pursue these damages through arbitration or litigation.Â
We Are The firm other lawyers
call for support.
Our Financial Advisor Misconduct Attorneys in Ohio Are Here for You
If you have experienced financial losses due to advisor misconduct, Meyer Wilson Werning is prepared to help you hold financial professionals accountable and pursue recovery for your losses.
Our financial advisor misconduct attorneys can assist only when a financial advisor was directly involved in placing the client into the scheme. Cases involving standalone social media scammers are not eligible. Contact Meyer Wilson Werning now for a free consultation.
Recovering Losses Caused by Investment Misconduct.