A breach of fiduciary duty is one of the most common reasons investors bring civil lawsuits against their financial advisors in Pennsylvania. A fiduciary in investment law is an individual or organization that manages assets on behalf of an investor. A fiduciary owes unique duties of care to his or her clients. Any intentional or careless breach of these duties could cause the client significant financial harm.
If you lost money due to a breach of a financial advisor’s fiduciary duties to you, do not hesitate to call (614) 532-4576. The attorneys at Meyer Wilson Werning may be able to help you obtain compensation, starting with a free initial consultation.
Why Clients Trust Meyer Wilson Werning for Pennsylvania Financial Advisor Fiduciary Duty Cases
- We handle investment fraud claims and class/mass actions exclusively, giving us focused and in-depth practice area knowledge.
- We are not afraid of taking fiduciary duty claims to court in Pennsylvania for the best possible results.
- We have plenty of resources to put toward representing claims on behalf of our clients, including relationships with state and federal securities regulators.
- We are proud to accept cases involving financial advisor fiduciary duties on a contingency fee basis, with no attorney’s fees unless we win.
An Attorney Could Improve Your Claim to Damages
Fiduciary duty claims can be complex and confusing. Not all financial advisors are fiduciaries, nor do they all owe clients the same duties of care. Different advisor-client relationships come with different standards and obligations under securities law. Navigating these rules and many others can be easier with help from an attorney. A lawyer from Meyer Wilson Werning can navigate the laws for you, fighting for fair compensation on your behalf every step of the way. An attorney will pay attention to every detail of your case while you enjoy the peace of mind to start looking toward the future.
What Are Fiduciary Duties?
If your financial advisor is a fiduciary, he or she will have certain legal obligations – namely, the requirement to always act in your best interests. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has standards of conduct for fiduciaries that control what they can and cannot do. A fiduciary has a special relationship of trust with his or her clients, along with unique duties of care.
- Serving the best interests of clients at all times
- Not putting the clients’ interests second to his or her own
- Making full and fair disclosure of any conflicts of interest
- Recommending suitable investments to clients
- Complying with all state and federal securities laws
A financial advisor in Pennsylvania that negligently or intentionally fails to fulfill any of these duties could be guilty of a breach. If this breach causes the client financial harm, the financial advisor could be legally responsible for damages. An investment fraud lawyer could help you bring a claim for damages against a negligent or criminal financial advisor.
Proving a Breach of Fiduciary Duty in Pennsylvania
To obtain a compensatory award for your economic losses after experiencing a breach of fiduciary duty by an advisor in Pennsylvania, your attorney must prove your case through a preponderance of evidence. Your lawyer must prove that your version of events is more likely to be true than not true. This burden of proof comes with four main elements.
- Fiduciary duty
- Breach of fiduciary duty
- Causation
- Damages
A lawyer from Meyer Wilson Werning can collect evidence and hire expert witnesses to testify on your behalf. These steps and others could help you build a stronger claim against a financial advisor or brokerage firm. Our attorneys understand exactly how to handle these claims for the greatest odds of client success in Pennsylvania.
Contact a Financial Advisor Fiduciary Duty Attorney Today
If you believe you might have a case against a financial advisor for breaching his or her fiduciary duties and causing you or a loved one’s economic damages, contact Meyer Wilson Werning. Our investment fraud attorneys have represented more than 800 investors. We may be able to help you fight for fair compensation as well.