Investor rights

Investors have a right to seek redress

Victims of investment fraud have a right to seek satisfaction in court or arbitration. Under most financial services contracts, however, consumers are contractually bound to pursue resolution of any dispute through arbitration. The Frankowski Firm has the expertise to guide you through this process.

The Investor Bill of Rights

As in life, when you invest, you have some basic rights. You should always keep these rights in mind when dealing with your brokers or financial advisors. The more aware you are of your rights, the less chance you have of being cheated. Your Investor Bill of Rights allows you to:

Ask for and receive information from a firm about the work history and background of the person handling your account, as well as information about the firm itself.
Receive complete information about the risks, obligations, and costs of any investment before investing.
Receive recommendations consistent with your financial needs and investment objectives.
Receive a copy of all completed account forms and agreements.
Receive account statements that are accurate and understandable.
Understand the terms and conditions of transactions you undertake.
Access your funds in a timely manner and receive information about any restrictions or limitations on access.
Discuss account problems with the branch manager or compliance department of the firm and receive prompt attention to and fair consideration of your concerns.
Receive complete information about commissions, sales charges, maintenance or service charges, transaction or redemption fees, and penalties.
Contact your state and provincial securities agency in order to verify the employment and disciplinary history of a securities salesperson and the salesperson’s firm; find out if the investment is permitted to be sold; or file a complaint.

What does FINRA do??

FINRA has 20 regional offices in the United States, including Washington, DC and New York. Some of the core services FINRA provides are:

Member regulation. Firms and brokers must comply with FINRA’s rules and the rules of the Securities Exchange Commission before they can be licensed and be approved for FINRA registration. Each firm is examined at least once every four years after the initial registration.

Education and information. FINRA works to provide investors and participants the trade information needed to properly assess the value of securities, including timely quotes and trade data for debt and equity securities.

Enforcement. The FINRA enforcement department investigates violations of its rules and other securities rules and brings disciplinary actions against wrongdoers when warranted. FINRA has the authority to impose fines and to bar or suspend brokers and firms that are in noncompliance.

Market regulation. The FINRA market regulation department monitors close to 100% of the equities market and 70% of the options market.

Office of Fraud Detection and Market Intelligence (OFDMI). OFDMI is the main point of contact for securities fraud related issues. The department has surveillance programs that inspect insider trading fraud and regularly reviews the complaints of investors, regulatory filings, and tips it receives.

Adjudication and decisions. FINRA has a hearing process to determine if rules violations have occurred, and if disciplinary action should be taken.

Virtually all investment disputes are heard by an arbitration panel. FINRA manages most of these panels nationwide and trains the arbitrators that sit on the panels. Most investors are required to participate in securities arbitration because firms usually include arbitration provisions in all of their client contracts. Our FINRA arbitration attorneys file claims on behalf of investors who believe their investments have been improperly handled.

Speak to our attorney

When facing the immense power and limitless resources of broker-dealers and financial institutions, you need more than just legal representation. You need a formidable force, a relentless advocate, and a true partner who understands the depths of your pain and is uniquely equipped to fight for what’s rightfully yours. Their internal compliance departments are built to protect them, not you. We exist to protect you. At The Frankowski Firm, our commitment goes far beyond mere legal tactics. We offer a holistic, results-driven approach that truly sets us apart

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