Know that this isn’t your fault. Brokers and financial advisors must follow strict rules when handling your investments. When they violate these rules through negligence or greed, our securities attorneys help victims reclaim their financial security through FINRA claims and other legal remedies.
Call our Philadelphia line at (800) 732-2889 to discuss how we can help you recover your investment losses.
How a Pennsylvania Investment Fraud Attorney Can Help You
If you’ve suffered financial losses due to investment fraud, our Pennsylvania securities fraud lawyers at the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. can help you understand your rights and recover your losses.
Below we discuss common types of securities violations and how our experienced lawyers can assist.
Misrepresentation and Omissions
Investment professionals must disclose material risks and provide accurate, complete information about investments. Misrepresenting or omitting material facts violates the Pennsylvania Securities Act (§1-401), empowering investors to seek compensation. Our investment fraud lawyers can investigate your case, identify misleading statements, and help recover your losses from misrepresentation.
Churning (Excessive Trading)
Excessive trading or churning occurs when brokers execute unnecessary transactions primarily to generate commissions. This practice violates federal securities laws, including SEC Rule 15c1-7 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Attorneys at the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. are skilled at identifying signs of churning, analyzing trading records, and holding responsible parties accountable.
Unauthorized Trading
When brokers buy or sell securities without authorization, they breach fiduciary duties under the Pennsylvania Securities Act (§1-402). If you’ve experienced unauthorized trading, our lawyers can help by thoroughly investigating these securities transactions and initiating legal action to recover your investments.
Ponzi Schemes and Pyramid Schemes
Ponzi schemes involve misusing investor funds, paying earlier investors with money from new investors. This violates federal and state laws, including Pennsylvania’s Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law (UTPCPL), which bans deceptive acts in securities sales. Our investment fraud attorneys have extensive experience uncovering fraudulent schemes and aggressively pursuing compensation for victims.
Breach of Fiduciary Duty
Brokers and financial advisors must act in their clients’ best interests. Violations constitute breaches under Pennsylvania Associations Code (§1712). The Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. attorneys can identify breaches of fiduciary duty, hold brokers liable, and pursue financial recovery on your behalf.
Failure to Diversify Investments
Failure to properly diversify investment portfolios exposes investors to unnecessary risks, violating the fiduciary duties outlined in Pennsylvania securities regulations.
If you’re one of the Pennsylvania residents who experienced this, our skilled attorneys can evaluate your portfolio and determine whether there are inappropriate investments or not. And, if negligence has occurred, we can pursue claims to recover your losses.
Negligence and Overconcentration
Brokers who negligently recommend high-risk investment products for your investment portfolio violate regulatory standards set by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Our investment fraud attorneys understand these complexities and can advocate for you by holding brokers accountable and recovering your lost investments.
Other Common Securities Violations
- Insider Trading
- Market Manipulation
- Unsuitable Investment Recommendations
- Failure to Supervise Brokers
Unsuitable recommendations often mean brokers ignoring your investment objectives and risk tolerance, or pushing high-risk bets on small companies you never asked about.
Pennsylvania and Federal Investor Protection Resources
Key regulatory agencies that enforce investor protections include:
- Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities
- Office of the Pennsylvania Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division
- Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)
- Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Statute of Limitations for Investment Fraud in Pennsylvania
Under Pennsylvania’s law, investors typically have one year from the discovery of fraud (and no more than five years after the fraudulent act) to file claims. Federally, claims must usually be filed within two years of discovery or five years after the fraud occurred.
How Our Investment Fraud Attorneys Advocate for Investors
If you’re one of the Pennsylvania investors that suspect fraud, contacting the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. can significantly improve your chances of recovering financial losses. Our investment fraud lawyers can:
- Provide expert representation and legal guidance
- Investigate financial records and uncover evidence of fraud
- Identify responsible parties and file regulatory complaints or lawsuits
- Negotiate aggressively or litigate to obtain maximum financial recovery
Contact our office today for a free consultation with an investment fraud attorney.
Can I Recover my Investment Losses?
The legal process for recovering investment losses starts with proof. You must show your broker-dealer or financial advisor violated the Pennsylvania Securities Act, breached their fiduciary duty to you as an investor, or was negligent in advising you and managing your account.
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 through securities litigation in the court system.
FINRA arbitration is a faster, cheaper way to resolve disputes between investors and their brokers without going to federal courts. It also allows you to collect punitive damages, which are not available in civil court.
What Can an Investment Fraud Lawyer Do for Investors?
You need a knowledgeable attorney with real experience in the securities industry who understands how securities cases actually get won.
Here’s what sets our firm apart:
- 45+ Years of Experience: Robert Wayne Pearce has fought investment fraud and stockbroker misconduct cases for over four decades. He knows how Wall Street defense teams build their strategy before they even file paperwork.
- $185 Million Recovered: We’ve won back $185 million for clients hurt by investment fraud, across Pennsylvania and nationwide.
- 99%+ Success Rate: Mr. Pearce has recovered money for over 99% of his clients through litigation, arbitration, and settlements, both here in the US and internationally.
- 200+ Cases Tried: Attorney Pearce has taken more than 200 cases to trial verdict or arbitration award. He’s lost only 4 in his entire career.
- No Fees Unless We Win: Most securities fraud cases run on contingency. You pay nothing unless we win your case.
The Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A., is a law firm specializing in representing defrauded investors. Pennsylvania investment fraud lawyer Robert Wayne Pearce specializes in getting individuals their money back from bad investments using any and all available methods.
Contact our team online or call our Philadelphia office line at (800) 732-2889 for a free confidential consultation with a Pennsylvania securities lawyer. We will fight aggressively for your financial recovery and for justice.