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, an experienced lawyer can help you pursue damages. The legal team at Meyer Wilson is ready and waiting to get started on your investment fraud case today. Reach out to us to schedule your free initial consultation with one of our investment fraud lawyers serving Pennsylvania.
We Handle All Types of Investment Fraud Cases
No matter what type of investment fraud you are facing, 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
- Broker negligence
- Asset allocation misconduct
- Breach of fiduciary duty
Unauthorized Trading
Before making trades with a client’s money, investment brokers first need to secure authorization. This authorization can be granted by the investor in two main ways.
The first method for authorizing a trade is to give direct approval to the broker at the time they present the trade on a case-by-case basis. Alternatively, an investor can authorize their broker to make a range of trades that fit within certain parameters, as outlined in the investment contract they sign with their broker.
If your broker 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.
Failure to Supervise
After losing money due to investment fraud, you may be able to pursue a claim against both the broker and the brokerage firm that employs them. Brokerage firms are legally obligated to provide supervision to their brokers to ensure they are in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
If your investment broker takes actions that are unethical, irresponsible, or illegal while handling your money, an investment fraud attorney in Philadelphia, PA, can help you file a lawsuit to recover damages from both the broker and the brokerage firm.
Broker Negligence
Investment brokers have a legal duty to ensure they behave in a responsible manner that will best suit the needs of their clients when handling the money of an investor. If your broker is negligent in their duty, an experienced 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 going to be 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. For these investors, putting their money into only a few asset types that have a higher growth potential is often the best approach.
If your broker 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.
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 ensure they are upholding their fiduciary responsibilities, investment advisors must thoroughly vet all investment opportunities by performing due diligence, weighing the risks against the rewards, presenting their clients with complete and correct information, and ensuring the investment matches the investment strategy created for the client.
We Have Recovered Over
$350 Million for Our Clients Nationwide.
Determining When Investment Fraud Has Occurred
Following the loss of money you invested with a brokerage firm, you may be unclear about where your money went and how. While investment fraud is one possible answer, other illegal activity, world events, and standard fluctuations of the market 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 that are familiar to you and your situation, you might want to contact an experienced securities fraud attorney for help.
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
Our lawyers are nationwide leaders in investment fraud cases.
Get Started Today With an Experienced Philadelphia Investment Fraud Attorney
Suffering financial losses caused by investment fraud can put you in a tough spot. Fortunately, an experienced 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. You can reach us by phone or through the contact form on this website.
Recovering Losses Caused by Investment Misconduct.
