You know investing your money is a smart way to plan for the future, and you trust in your financial advisors to guide you down the right path. When those professionals let you down, you may lose everything due to their misconduct.Â
If you’ve experienced financial losses of at least $100,000 because of the actions of a broker or financial adviser who mismanaged your money, you may be worried about how you can recover your lost assets. Our securities lawyers serving South Carolina can help.Â
At Meyer Wilson, our nationwide securities lawyers have recovered over $350 million for our clients who lost money due to the actions of financial professionals. Contact us today for a free consultation and share your story with us.Â
How a Securities Lawyer Can Help
It’s a helpless feeling when the money you have earned and saved for years vanishes in the blink of an eye, all because you put your faith in the wrong person or firm. It’s not your fault, and there is something you can do about it.
Registered Investment Advisors have a fiduciary duty to their clients, meaning they are legally and ethically obligated to act in your best interest when they are managing your funds. When they disregard this duty and cause harm, you can seek restitution.Â
Our securities attorneys serving South Carolina can take steps to hold these financial professionals accountable for their actions and recover the funds you’ve lost. While every case is different, some actions we often take include:
Explain Your Rights
We’ll help you understand our legal rights regarding your case and your options. We want to ensure that you are involved in the process and able to make informed decisions as your case progresses.Â
Assess Your Case
We will review your financial records, your agreement with your financial professionals, and any important documents that can help us understand what happened. We will investigate potential violations of securities laws and regulations to develop our strategy for your case.Â
Represent You During Arbitration
Most likely, your dispute with your financial advisors must be resolved through arbitration. We’ll help you file your arbitration claim with the appropriate organization, such as the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), and represent you throughout the process.Â
Represent You During Negotiations
Sometimes, you can recover your losses through settlement negotiation. We possess the skills and experience to negotiate on your behalf for the best possible outcome, with the goal of fully recovering your lost funds.Â
Affordable Representation
We’ll handle your case on a contingency basis, meaning there are no fees or costs until we recover your money. And, the initial consultation is free, so there’s nothing to lose by calling to talk about your options.Â
Types of Securities Claims
While investing your money always comes with certain risks, unscrupulous or negligent actions by financial professionals you are supposed to trust should not be one of them. Some of the claims our securities lawyers serving South Carolina deal with include:
- Unsuitable investments: Brokers might encourage clients to invest their money in securities that are not appropriate for their goals.Â
- Misrepresentation: Brokers and financial advisors sometimes fail to disclose important information or risks to their clients.Â
- Churning: Churning, or excessive trading, involves an advisor placing unnecessary trades to boost their commissions.Â
- Breach of Fiduciary Duty: Any time a broker or firm fails to make decisions in the best interest of their client, it is a breach of their fiduciary duties.
- Ponzi Schemes: A Ponzi scheme is when a firm or advisor uses new income to fraudulently pay previous investors, creating the illusion of a profitable opportunity.Â
- Unauthorized Trading: Unauthorized trade transactions are those that occur without your consent or that your advisor does not have the authority to execute.Â
- Overconcentration: Brokers can create undue risk for their clients—and potential benefit for themselves or others—by investing large portions of their portfolios in a single security.
- Margin Abuse: Margin trading can be risky, and brokers must disclose the potential downside to clients before encouraging them to do so.Â
- Lack of Supervision: When a firm or brokerage fails to provide proper oversight of its representatives who are making trades on behalf of its clients.
If you believe a firm or broker engaged in any of the activities listed above, either intentionally or through negligence, contact us today to discuss your potential case. Your securities attorney can advise you of your rights and help you understand the path to recovering your losses. Â
Blue Sky Laws in South Carolina
Blue sky laws are state regulations designed to provide an extra layer of protection for investors, alongside federal regulations. These laws require securities firms to register with the state’s Attorney General’s Office unless they qualify for an exemption.
They also require that brokers, dealers, and advisers be registered and licensed to operate in the state, specifically South Carolina. The goal is to promote transparency and fairness in financial markets by requiring full disclosure of important financial information.
Get Help from a Securities Attorney Serving South Carolina
Investing your money is a smart move, especially when it comes to achieving your long-term financial goals. Sometimes that’s tough to do alone. Stockbrokers and financial advisors are trained professionals whom we are supposed to trust with our money.Â
Sometimes, whether through negligence or misconduct, these professionals can create tremendous financial hardship in your life. When that happens, you can turn to our securities attorneys serving South Carolina for the help you need to become whole again.Â
At Meyer Wilson, our team has a proven track record of success, having helped thousands of clients over the past 25 years. Call today to schedule a free consultation and find out how we can help you, too.Â