Saving for the future is one of the most responsible things you can do, and investing with a brokerage firm is one of the best ways to grow your savings. While investing can help you grow your nest egg, it also leaves you vulnerable to investment fraud, which can result in substantial financial losses.
If you invested your money and suffered losses caused by investment fraud, and you’ve lost more than $100,000 from the actions of a financial advisor or investment firm, we can help you. Meyer Wilson’s experienced Philadelphia securities & investment fraud lawyers are ready to hear your story.
Reach out to us to schedule your free initial consultation with one of our investment fraud lawyers serving Pennsylvania. We’ve recovered over $350 million for our clients, and we’re committed to helping you get your money back.
Notable Case Results
Here are a few of the case results Meyer Wilson has been able to achieve for our clients:
- Recovered $530,000 in life savings after an unapproved sale of securities.
- Recovered $650,000 for the victim of a Ponzi scheme where the advisor missed clear red flags.
- Recovered $1,800,000 for nine families in Florida who hired us to fight a large brokerage firm where a registered stockbroker sold unlicensed securities.
We Have Recovered Over
$350 Million for Our Clients Nationwide.
We Handle All Types of Investment Fraud Cases
No matter what type of investment fraud you’ve suffered, our team has seen it in the 25+ years since we were founded, and we can help get you the money you need. Some of the investment misconduct cases we most frequently handle include:
- Unauthorized trading
- Failure to supervise
- Investment negligence
- Asset allocation misconduct
- Breach of fiduciary duty
Unauthorized Trading
Investment advisors must first secure authorization before making trades with a client’s money. The investor can grant this authorization in two main ways.
The first method for authorizing a trade is to give direct approval to the advisor at the time they present the trade on a case-by-case basis. Alternatively, an investor can authorize their advisor to make a range of trades that fit within certain parameters, as outlined in the investment contract they sign with their advisor.
If your advisor fails to secure authorization before making a trade with your investment and you lose money as a result, they can be held accountable for any financial losses you incur. Our investment fraud lawyers serving Philadelphia can help you.
Failure to Supervise
After losing money due to investment misconduct, you may be able to pursue a claim against both the advisor and the brokerage firm that employs them. Brokerage firms are legally obligated to supervise their advisors to ensure they comply with all applicable laws and regulations.
If your investment advisor takes actions that are unethical, irresponsible, or illegal while handling your money, a securities & investment fraud attorney in Philadelphia, PA, can help you file a lawsuit to recover damages from both the advisor and the brokerage firm.
Investment Advisor Negligence
Investment advisors have a legal duty to ensure they behave in a responsible manner that will best suit their clients’ needs when handling an investor’s money. If your advisor is negligent in their duty, an experienced Philadelphia securities fraud lawyer can help you pursue compensation through a lawsuit.
Asset Allocation Misconduct
When your financial advisor is deciding the best way to distribute your investment among different asset types, it is critical that they consider the amount of risk you can safely take on. The asset classes amongst which your investment can be split include:
- Real estate
- Natural resources
- Stocks
- Bonds
- Foreign currency
- Cash
Most of the time, older investors need a more conservative approach than younger investors. These investors can’t wait out a down year or two and instead need to ensure year-over-year gains. Because of this, it is generally best to split their investments across several different asset types to help ensure stability.
Younger investors, on the other hand, can afford to wait for an asset class that takes a dip to rebound. Putting their money into only a few asset types with higher growth potential is often the best approach for these investors.
If your advisor invests your money among asset classes in a manner that is counter to your risk tolerance level, they can be held financially responsible for any money you lose as a result. Find out if you have a case by speaking with our Philadelphia securities fraud attorneys.
Breach of Fiduciary Duty
The law places a high standard of fiduciary responsibility on investment advisors. Since investors often entrust these financial professionals with the bulk of their savings, there is a real potential that mismanagement of this money can lead to financial ruin for the investor.
To uphold their fiduciary responsibilities, investment advisors must thoroughly vet all investment opportunities. They must perform due diligence, weigh the risks against the rewards, present their clients with complete and correct information, and ensure the investment matches the strategy created for the client.
Determining When Investment Misconduct Has Occurred
After losing money invested in a brokerage firm, you may be unclear about where your money went and how. While investment misconduct is one possible answer, other illegal activity, world events, and market fluctuations can all play a role.
If you suffered substantial losses, you might want to go over this checklist of investment fraud red flags put together by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). If you notice things on this list familiar to you and your situation, you might want to contact an experienced securities & investment fraud lawyer serving Philadelphia for help.
Our lawyers are nationwide leaders in investment fraud cases.
Recent Cases of Investment and Securities Fraud
The U.S. Department of Justice issues press releases when they are successful with a major case. Here are some of their recent successes in cases of investment and securities fraud in Pennsylvania:
- A Pennsylvania attorney was sentenced to 78 months in prison and three years of supervised release for his role in a $2.7 million Ponzi scheme.
- A federal grand jury indicted a Texas businessman for a years-long scheme of manipulating five publicly traded companies and defrauding investors of over $200 million.
- The president and CEO of a Las Vegas-based company was sentenced to 51 months in prison and ordered to pay $6.1 million in restitution for a fraud scheme.
We Are The firm other lawyers
call for support.
Our Award-Winning Team Helps Set Us Apart
At Meyer Wilson, we have leveraged our over 75 years of combined experience to help us recover north of $350 million on behalf of our clients. Among the many things about our firm that help set us apart from the competition include:
- The fact that every case we take on is handled from the start with the assumption that it will go to court, giving us leverage in settlement negotiations while ensuring we are prepared should a trial prove necessary
- Our use of state-of-the-art technology, which improves our odds of winning your case while also boosting the experience for our clients
- The size of our caseload, which we keep manageable to help ensure that every client gets the attention they deserve
- Our use of a contingency fee-based payment structure, which allows our clients to rest assured that they will only have to pay for our services if we get them money
Get Started Today With an Experienced Philadelphia Securities & Investment Fraud Attorney
Suffering financial losses caused by investment fraud can put you in a tough spot. Fortunately, an experienced Philadelphia investment fraud attorney can help. At Meyer Wilson, our team can significantly increase your odds of recovering the money you need and deserve.
Contact us today to schedule a free initial case consultation with a securities & investment fraud attorney serving Philadelphia. You can reach us by phone or through the contact form on this website.
Recovering Losses Caused by Investment Misconduct.