



If you placed your savings with a brokerage firm and watched them vanish, you are likely facing financial fraud rather than ordinary market loss. Brokers, financial advisors, and their firms have a legal duty to put your interests ahead of commission-driven, unsuitable investment recommendations. When they break that duty, Austin investors have the right to pursue full financial recovery.
The Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. has spent four decades fighting for defrauded investors, recovering $185 million for clients harmed by investment fraud. Our experienced Austin investment fraud attorneys will work to hold the responsible party accountable and recover what you have lost. Call (800) 732-2889 today for a free consultation.
Robert Wayne Pearce’s firm has flagged several Austin-based brokers with multiple customer complaints on their FINRA BrokerCheck records. Jeffry Schneider, formerly of Ascendant Alternative Strategies, LLC, has been the subject of six customer complaints, all pending in state and federal courts, along with several regulatory disciplinary proceedings, including one pending SEC action. Allegations against him include a class action for aiding and abetting violations of the Texas Securities Act, along with claims of failing to disclose fees and misrepresentation. Emmett Johnson, formerly with LPL Financial, LLC, has faced five customer complaints, two filed within the past two years, with two customers obtaining arbitration awards against him and his former employer after his termination over concerns tied to unit investment trust and mutual fund sales practices. Jeremy Bouwman, a current Edward Jones advisor, has three disclosed customer disputes — one settled and two denied — involving allegations that he recommended unsuitable investment strategies, including advising a client to borrow against a home loan to invest the proceeds in the market.
Choosing the right attorney often determines whether a defrauded investor recovers a meaningful portion of their losses or walks away with nothing. Investment fraud cases turn on deep knowledge of the securities industry, courtroom experience, and a firm willing to give your case the attention it deserves.
The Texas Securities Act gives defrauded Austin investors strong state-law remedies that exist alongside federal protections. State securities statutes allow investors who were damaged in a transaction to recover their losses directly from the sellers and advisers responsible. One reason these protections reach so many situations is that Texas law defines a security broadly, covering products such as:
These state-law claims often work together with federal oversight from the Securities and Exchange Commission and with FINRA arbitration, the dispute resolution process run by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. Pursuing both avenues lets our attorneys maximize the recovery options available to you.
An Austin investment fraud claim moves through three clear stages, from the first review of your account to a final resolution.
You worked hard and made sacrifices to build your savings, and watching that money disappear because someone you trusted betrayed you is a painful experience. We understand how overwhelming this feels, and we want you to know that recovering what was taken from you is still possible.
Time limits apply to securities claims, and waiting too long can quietly close the door on your right to recover. Acting now protects your legal options and gives our attorneys the chance to build the strongest possible case for you. The sooner we review your account, the sooner we can pursue the responsible parties.
Contact our Austin investment fraud attorneys today for a free, no-obligation consultation. Call (800) 732-2889 to speak with an experienced securities fraud lawyer.
Texas statutes of limitations and FINRA filing deadlines both apply, and they vary depending on the facts of your case. Because these deadlines can pass sooner than investors expect, you should contact a lawyer quickly to protect your right to recover.
You may be able to recover your lost principal, the market gains you should have earned, and interest on those amounts. In some cases, investors can also recover costs and attorney fees from the responsible parties.
We represent clients on a contingency basis, which means you pay no upfront fees and we are paid only if we recover money for you. An investor who recovers $200,000, for example, owes nothing out of pocket along the way.
FINRA arbitration involves complex procedural and evidentiary rules that are difficult to handle alone. Experienced legal representation gives you a far stronger position when you are seeking to recover significant investment losses.