Indiana Investment Fraud Lawyer

Indiana investment fraud attorney Robert Wayne Pearce at the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce P.A., has extensive experience representing investors and organizations in securities arbitrations through FINRA in the State of Indiana.

Have you fallen victim to investment fraud? Are you looking for an experienced attorney to help you fight for the compensation you deserve?

You need an investment fraud lawyer who is dedicated to protecting your rights as an Indiana-based investor.

We have over 40 years’ experience with clients and  understand the frustration and stress that comes with being a victim of investment fraud, and we are here to help you navigate the legal process and hold those responsible accountable.

Since 1980, we have been devoted to helping investors and have successfully recovered over $175 million in settlements and verdicts on their behalf. View client testimonials here. We have experience handling all types of securities fraud cases and utilize all available legal avenues from the federal level to Indiana law as it applies to investment fraud cases. Don’t let investment fraud ruin your financial future – contact the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. today via our quick-response form, or call (800) 732-2889.

Investment Fraud and Securities Fraud – What You May Not Know

Investment fraud is a term sometimes used interchangeably with securities fraud, and it involves using deceptive practices, including false or misleading information, to manipulate investors into making investment decisions that result in substantial losses. Dishonest brokers may even resort to outright theft of investor’s funds or securities. 

Every type of investment fraud is designed to trick investors into making decisions that financially benefit the fraudster. This could involve various schemes such as Ponzi schemes, pump-and-dump operations, or offering unregistered securities for sale. Engaging in securities fraud, which includes any illegal or unethical manipulation in the financial sector, is a punishable offense under the law and the civil remedies may include damages, rescission, restitution, attorney fees, interest, etc.

“Did you know that in the first quarter of 2023, The FTC has reported nearly 50,000 individual cases of investor fraud with an estimated $1.9 Billion in total losses?”

Brokers, broker-dealers, and investment advisers often sell new and exotic investment products to earn high commissions and profits, regardless of whether their clients are prepared to handle potential losses. These complex investment products and strategies, which are suitable only for a small portion of investors willing to take significant risks, are sometimes used to obscure excessive trading and risk within accounts.

Example Scenario: A broker convinces an investor to allocate a substantial part of their retirement funds into a high-risk, non-liquid investment, minimizing the dangers and overstating the potential gains while urging the investor towards a hasty decision. Ultimately, the investment does not succeed, resulting in considerable financial losses for the investor.

Upon initially engaging your broker-dealer, you probably believed they would prioritize your interests. However, numerous brokers and financial advisors fall short of meeting their fiduciary responsibilities, or they may even partake in outright securities fraud. This can include providing misleading information about investments, hiding associated risks, participating in unnecessary trading (churning) to earn commissions, or imposing hidden fees to increase charges.

Investment Losses? We Can Help

Discuss your legal options with an attorney at The Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A.

Get A Free Consultation

or, give us a ring at (800) 732-2889.

Indiana and Federal Laws That Protect Investors

Indiana investors benefit from a robust framework of protections designed to ensure fair and transparent markets. These safeguards include:

• Key Laws and Regulations
  
  • Indiana Uniform Securities Act: The cornerstone of Indiana investor protection, this law combats fraud, mandates the registration of most securities, and provides avenues for investors to seek recourse if they’ve been misled.
  • Indiana Business Corporation Law: This outlines shareholder rights and the responsibilities of company leaders, aiming to ensure that corporations act in the shareholders’ best interests.
  • Indiana Deceptive Consumer Sales Act (DCSA): This broad law empowers investors to take action against unfair or deceptive investment practices.
    
• Governing Agencies
  • Indiana State Securities Division: This agency is the primary watchdog for the Indiana securities industry. They register offerings, license brokers, investigate misconduct, and educate investors about their rights.
  • Office of the Indiana Attorney General (Consumer Protection Division): Focused on consumer protection, this office can intervene in cases of investment fraud or other deceptive practices that harm Indiana investors.
• National Regulatory Bodies
  • FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority): FINRA oversees all broker-dealers in the US, setting ethical standards, enforcing securities laws, and providing investor education resources. They work alongside the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) for broad investor protection.

Useful Resources

• Indiana State Securities Board: https://securities.sos.in.gov/about-the-division/
• Office of the Indiana Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division: https://www.in.gov/attorneygeneral/consumer-protection-division/
• FINRA: https://www.finra.org/
• The SEC – https://www.sec.gov/ 

How our Indiana Securities Law Attorneys Can Help You

Certainly, experiencing losses is an inherent aspect of investing. However, brokers who engage in fraudulent activities can face legal accountability. If you suspect that you’re a victim of investment fraud, reaching out to an attorney specializing in investment fraud cases is crucial. Additionally, it may be necessary to inform regulatory organizations such as the SEC or FINRA about any potential market manipulation or insider trading activities.

The sooner you act, the greater your chances of recovering compensation. At the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A., we have helped countless investors recover their losses due to investment fraud. We will thoroughly investigate your case, uncovering any misrepresentation or fraudulent activity, and fight to get you justice and the compensation you deserve.

If you have lost money due to negligence or fraud by a stockbroker or advisor, the easiest way to know if you have a case is to call our office at 800-732-2889. Here’s how our knowledgeable and experienced investment fraud law firm can advocate for you:

• Represent & Advise: We’ll stand as your legal representative, advising you on your rights and options throughout the process.
• Investigate & Analyze: We’ll thoroughly investigate your case, meticulously analyzing financial documents and potential fraudulent schemes to uncover evidence of wrongdoing.
• Identify Liable Parties: We’ll work strategically to identify all potentially liable parties, including brokers, financial advisors, and financial institutions.
• File Complaints & Lawsuits: We’ll file formal complaints with regulatory agencies (such as the SEC or FINRA) and, when necessary, initiate lawsuits to protect your interests.
• Litigate & Negotiate: We are skilled litigators ready to fight aggressively for you in court or arbitration. Additionally, we’ll negotiate tirelessly to secure the most favorable settlement possible.
• Recover Losses: Our ultimate goal is to recover your financial losses and protect you from further harm. We are results-driven and committed to achieving the maximum financial recovery you deserve.

Can I Recover my Investment Losses?

Yes you can recover your investment losses, if you prove that your broker-dealer or financial advisor made false or misleading statements, breached their fiduciary duty to you as an investor, negligent, or violated industry rules.

In most cases, this means filing a FINRA arbitration claim against the broker-dealer and/or representative.

The majority of securities fraud cases are handled by FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) rather than being brought to the court system.

FINRA arbitration is a streamlined, cost-effective way to resolve disputes between investors and their brokers without going to court – it also allows you to collect punitive damages, which are not available in civil court.

As an investor, you have certain rights that must be respected and protected.

We’re currently investigating several financial firms and stockbrokers who may have been the subject of customer complaints, may be facing legal action, and who may have acted unethically and committed fraud in Indiana, including:

• https://www.secatty.com/investigations/randall-raciti-securian-financial-services/
• https://www.secatty.com/investigations/scott-mickey-tiaa-cref-individual-institutional-services/
• https://www.secatty.com/investigations/jacob-jewell-principal-securities/
• https://www.secatty.com/investigations/steven-norman-nylife-securities/  
• https://www.secatty.com/investigations/charles-harris-edward-jones/

Some of our Lawyer’s Success Stories Include: 

FINRA ARBITRATION SETTLEMENT $7,840,000

This FINRA arbitration case centered on a sophisticated options trading strategy within the oil and gas industry, filed by a Brazilian holding company against one of the largest broker-dealers in the Midwest of the United States. The dispute was settled through mediation just before the trial was set to begin.

FLORIDA STATE COURT SETTLEMENT $3,500,000

Mr. Pearce secured a $3.5 million settlement in a state court lawsuit on behalf of a trust for an elderly widow against one of the country’s largest corporate trustees. The lawsuit alleged that the corporate trustee neglected to diversify a portfolio overly concentrated in a single stock amidst the financial market downturn of 2008-2009. The case reached a settlement in 2010, compensating the widow for nearly all of her entitled losses within the brief six-month statutory period for filing claims against trustees in Florida.

FINRA ARBITRATION AWARD $2,752,049

Case No. 10-03554

College Health and Investment, Ltd. v Wells Fargo Advisors LLC

The FINRA Arbitration case filed by College Health against Wells Fargo Advisors was subsequent to a Federal court action that accused the firm of assisting and abetting the defendant in the earlier case with the misappropriation of funds from the family holding company’s brokerage account at Wells Fargo.

Did You Know . . . Investment Fraud Attorney Robert Pearce Has Single-Handedly Collected Over $175 Million On Behalf of His Clients

Over the past two decades, Robert Pearce has successfully recovered more than $175 million on behalf of his investor clients. Remarkably, he has secured funds for over 99% of his investor clientele through different recovery methods such as settlements, arbitrations, and litigation in court.

No investment fraud firm can ever guarantee the same or similar results in any given case. However, when you hire the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A., you can sleep well knowing you are in qualified and capable hands. Attorney Robert Pearce has represented hundreds of investors over his 40 year career and in the last 20 years alone recovered over $175 million for his investor clients.

Robert Pearce will fight for your rights day in and day out to get you the recovery you are entitled to.

What Can an Investment Fraud Lawyer Do for Investors?

What Can an Investment Fraud Lawyer Do for Investors?

An investment fraud lawyer helps investors recover investment losses that they lost due to a financial advisor or broker who did not act in their best interest. Typically, the lawyer will help the investor recover their losses through a process called FINRA arbitration.

Investment Losses? Let’s talk.

or, give us a ring at 800-732-2889.

Client Testimonials

What is the Cost to Hire a Securities Attorney?

An initial consultation with a securities attorney is typically free. During this consultation, the lawyer will review your case and give you an estimate of the legal fees. If you decide to move forward with the case, you will typically be asked to sign a contingency fee agreement.

A contingency fee agreement means that you will only have to pay the lawyer if he or she is successful in recovering money on your behalf. If the lawyer is not successful, you will not owe any legal fees.

What Are the Statute of Limitations?

Prompt action is crucial in cases of investment fraud. There are statutes of limitations under both Indiana and federal law, establishing deadlines by which legal actions must be initiated. In Indiana, the typical statute of limitations for fraud claims is six years. At the federal level, securities fraud claims must generally be filed within five years of the violation occurrence or within two years from when the fraud could reasonably have been discovered. To make sure your claim is submitted timely, consulting with an attorney at the earliest opportunity is essential.

Types of Investment and Securities Fraud Cases We Can Help Represent You With

There are a variety of investment fraud tactics that unscrupulous brokers and advisors may use.

Our firm has represented investors who have fallen victim to a wide range of investment fraud tactics, including:

• • Unsuitable Investments: Recommendations not aligned with the investor’s needs.

• • Forced liquidation (forced selling): Broker sold without warning client or advising on margin calls.

• • Ponzi Scheme Fraud: Fraudulent investment operation promising high returns.

• • Excessive Trading (Churning): Excessive transactions to generate advisor commissions.

• • Misrepresentation & Omission: Deceptive or misleading information about investments.

• • Breach of Fiduciary Duty: Prioritizing advisor interests over the client’s best interests.

• • Unauthorized Trading: Executing trades without client permission.

• • Failure to Supervise: Brokerage firms not adequately monitoring advisors.

• • Overconcentration or lack of diversification: Holding too much of a single investment, increasing risk.

• • Theft or Misappropriation of client funds: Brokers stealing money for their own personal use.

• • Mutual Fund Sales Violations: Recommending unsuitable mutual funds or excessive switching.

• • Excessive Markups/Markdowns: Inflated prices when buying/selling securities.

• • Selling Away: The advisor sells unapproved investments outside the firm.

• • Broker & Advisor Negligence: Failure to adhere to industry standards.

• • Margin Abuse: Encouraging excessive margin use, leading to high risks.

• • Conflicts of Interest: Prioritizing advisor/firm profits over client interests.

• • Private Placements: Selling risky, non-registered securities.

• • Cryptocurrency Fraud: Deceitful schemes related to digital currencies.

• • 401(k) Plan Misconduct: Fiduciary breaches affecting retirement plans.

• • Microcap Fraud: Manipulation of stocks of small companies.

• • Mining and Mineral Investment Fraud: Schemes involving fictitious investments in mining or minerals.

• • EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program Fraud: Scams related to obtaining visas through investment.

• • Advance Fee Schemes: Asking for upfront fees in exchange for non-existent investments.

• • Including many more that we can’t fit on this list.

Contact an Indiana Securities and Investment Fraud Attorney Today

The Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A., is a law firm specializing in representing defrauded investors recover. Indiana investment fraud lawyer Robert Wayne Pearce specializes in getting individuals their money back from bad investments using any and all available methods.

If you are an investor who has recently dealt with investment loss due to potential securities or investment fraud, we want to help.

If you have questions about how to move forward, contact our team online or by phone at 561-338-0037 for a free confidential consultation with an Indiana securities lawyer. We will fight aggressively for your financial recovery and for justice.

Our law firm works with clients throughout the state:

Robert Wayne Pearce has decades of first-hand experience in FINRA securities arbitration, and is one of the preeminent experts in this matter both nationwide and internationally.