Investment Fraud Lawyers: Practice Areas Overview

Key Takeaway: Haselkorn & Thibaut recovers investment losses across every major category of broker misconduct and securities fraud — from unsuitable investments and churning to Ponzi schemes and REIT fraud — with a 98% success rate and 95 years of experience in FINRA arbitration.

Investment Fraud Practice Areas — How We Recover Your Losses

When you discover that a trusted financial advisor or broker has mismanaged your investments, the sense of betrayal is immediate. You followed the rules. You did your research. You trusted a professional with your savings — and now you’re looking at losses that may never recover on their own.

You are not alone. Investors lose billions of dollars each year to broker misconduct, unsuitable investment recommendations, and outright fraud. The good news: in the vast majority of cases, you have legal options to fight back and recover what was taken from you.

Haselkorn & Thibaut has spent over 95 years helping investors do exactly that. Our attorneys are former Wall Street defense lawyers — we know how brokerage firms operate because we used to defend them. Today, we use that insider knowledge to recover losses for defrauded investors in all 50 states.

Call 1-888-885-7162 for a free consultation, or contact us online to speak with an attorney about your situation.

Our Practice Areas

We handle every major type of investment fraud and broker misconduct. Click on any practice area below to learn more about the specific fraud type, warning signs, and how we build recovery cases.

Unsuitable Investments

Your broker recommended investments that didn’t match your risk tolerance, time horizon, or financial goals. Unsuitable investment recommendations are the most common claim in FINRA arbitration — and one of the most damaging to retirees and conservative investors. Products like non-traded REITs, private placements, and variable annuities are frequently sold to investors for whom they are completely inappropriate. Learn more about unsuitable investment claims →

Churning & Excessive Trading

Your broker is trading your account excessively to generate commissions — not to benefit your portfolio. Churning erodes your account value through unnecessary transaction costs while lining your broker’s pockets. If your turnover ratio exceeds 6 and your cost-to-equity ratio is above 17%, you may have a churning claim. Learn more about churning claims →

Breach of Fiduciary Duty

Your financial advisor put their own interests ahead of yours — a violation of the highest legal standard in the advisor-client relationship. Breach of fiduciary duty occurs when an advisor who owes you a fiduciary obligation recommends products based on commissions rather than your best interest, fails to disclose conflicts, or engages in self-dealing. Learn more about fiduciary duty claims →

Unauthorized Trading

Your broker made trades in your account without your permission. Unauthorized trading is one of the clearest FINRA rule violations — if you didn’t authorize the trade and your broker didn’t have discretionary authority, the trade is illegal. You may be entitled to rescind the transactions and recover all resulting losses. Learn more about unauthorized trading claims →

Ponzi Schemes

You invested in what you thought was a legitimate enterprise, but the returns were being paid from new investors’ money — not real profits. Ponzi schemes inevitably collapse, leaving investors with devastating losses. Recovery is possible through FINRA arbitration, SIPC protections, and clawback actions, but time limits apply. Learn more about Ponzi scheme recovery →

Private Placement Fraud

You were sold a private placement — a Reg D offering — that was misrepresented or unsuitable. Private placements bypass the investor protections of registered securities, making them one of the most common vehicles for investment fraud. Brokers earn commissions of 5–12% while investors are locked into illiquid, high-risk products with limited disclosure. Learn more about private placement claims →

REIT Fraud

You were sold a non-traded or alternative REIT that was unsuitable, misrepresented, or overvalued. Non-traded REITs carry high fees (5–10% upfront commissions), no public market for resale, and valuations that are often inflated. Major non-traded REITs have collapsed, destroying billions in investor wealth. Learn more about REIT fraud claims →

Variable Annuity Fraud

Your broker sold you a variable annuity that traps your money in a high-fee, low-return product with crippling surrender penalties. Variable annuities generate commissions of 5–8% for brokers while locking investors into products with annual fees of 3–4% or more and surrender periods of 6–10 years. Learn more about variable annuity claims →

Elder Financial Abuse

A financial advisor exploited a senior citizen’s trust, cognitive vulnerability, or limited financial literacy. Elder financial abuse by financial professionals costs seniors an estimated $28.3 billion per year, with a median loss of $50,000 per victim when a financial professional is involved. FINRA has specific protections for senior investors. Learn more about elder financial abuse claims →

Structured Product Fraud

Your broker recommended a structured note or structured product marketed as offering “market upside with downside protection” — but the protection was conditional, the upside was capped, and the fees were invisible. Structured products combine bonds with derivatives in ways that are inherently tilted toward the issuing bank. Learn more about structured product claims →

FINRA Arbitration

You need to file a claim against your broker or brokerage firm through FINRA arbitration — the primary mechanism for resolving investment disputes. Nearly all brokerage agreements require arbitration, and the process takes 12–16 months on average. Investors with legal representation recover significantly more than those who represent themselves. Learn more about FINRA arbitration →

Why Investors Lose Money — The Common Thread

While each type of investment fraud has distinct characteristics, they share a common root: your broker or advisor put their financial interest ahead of yours. Whether through excessive commissions, unsuitable recommendations, unauthorized trades, or outright deception, the pattern is the same:

  1. A conflict of interest drives the recommendation — usually a commission or incentive that benefits the broker
  2. The investor lacks critical information — about fees, risks, illiquidity, or the broker’s compensation
  3. The investment deteriorates — losses mount while the broker has already collected their commission
  4. The investor is left holding the bag — sometimes with losses that represent years of savings

Our attorneys understand this pattern because we’ve seen it thousands of times over five decades of practice. We know how to identify the conflicts, prove the violations, and recover the losses.

Call 1-888-885-7162 for a free consultation, or contact us online — we handle cases in all 50 states.

How the Recovery Process Works

No matter what type of investment fraud you’ve experienced, the path to recovery generally follows these steps:

  1. Free case evaluation — We review your accounts, statements, and investment history at no cost to determine whether you have a viable claim
  2. Claim development — Our attorneys analyze your broker’s conduct, identify FINRA rule violations, and calculate your damages
  3. FINRA arbitration filing — We file a formal Statement of Claim with FINRA and serve the brokerage firm
  4. Discovery and evidence — We obtain documents, take testimony, and build your case through the discovery process
  5. Hearing and award — We present your case before an arbitration panel, which issues a binding decision

Most cases settle before reaching a hearing. Our 98% success rate reflects our ability to build compelling cases that push brokerages toward favorable settlements.

The entire process is handled on contingency — you pay nothing unless we recover money for you.

What You Can Recover

Through FINRA arbitration, you may be able to recover:

  • Net out-of-pocket losses — The money you actually lost as a result of the fraud
  • Rescission — Return of your original investment, as if the transaction never happened
  • Interest — Compensation for the time your money was tied up in a fraudulent investment
  • Attorneys’ fees — In certain cases, FINRA arbitrators may award legal costs
  • Punitive damages — In cases involving especially egregious conduct

Recovery amounts vary based on the specifics of each case. During your free consultation, we will provide an honest assessment of what you may be able to recover.

Why Choose Haselkorn & Thibaut

  • 95 years of experience representing investors in securities fraud and broker misconduct cases
  • 98% success rate — one of the highest in the industry
  • Former Wall Street defense lawyers — we know how brokerages defend these cases because we used to defend them
  • Free consultation — we evaluate your case at no cost and no obligation
  • Contingency fee — you pay nothing unless we recover money for you
  • Nationwide representation — we handle cases in all 50 states
  • FINRA arbitration specialists — we focus exclusively on investment fraud recovery
  • Millions recovered for defrauded investors across every category of broker misconduct

We are not a general practice law firm that occasionally handles investment cases. This is all we do. That focus means we understand the regulations, the industry, and the strategies that produce results.

Call 1-888-885-7162 for a free consultation, or contact us online to get started.

With offices in Juno Beach, FL; Phoenix, AZ; New York, NY; Cary, NC; and Houston, TX, we represent investors nationwide.

Current Investigations

In addition to our core practice areas, we are actively investigating losses associated with specific firms and products. If you lost money in any of the following, we may be able to help:

Related Resources

FAQ

How do I know if I have an investment fraud claim?
If you lost money because your broker or financial advisor recommended unsuitable investments, traded your account excessively, made unauthorized trades, or otherwise violated FINRA rules, you may have a claim. The best way to find out is to speak with an experienced investment fraud attorney who can review your account statements and investment history. Call 1-888-885-7162 for a free consultation.

How much does it cost to hire an investment fraud lawyer?
Our firm works on a contingency fee basis — meaning you pay nothing upfront and nothing unless we recover money for you. The consultation is also free. We only get paid if we win your case.

How long do I have to file a claim?
Investment fraud claims are subject to strict deadlines. FINRA arbitration claims generally must be filed within 6 years of the events giving rise to the dispute, but state statutes of limitations may impose shorter deadlines — sometimes as short as 1–2 years from when you discovered or should have discovered the fraud. The sooner you act, the stronger your case will be.

Do I have to go to court?
Most investment fraud claims are resolved through FINRA arbitration, not in court. Nearly all brokerage agreements require you to arbitrate disputes through FINRA rather than file a lawsuit. Hearings are held in major cities across the United States, and most cases settle before reaching a hearing.

What if my broker has already been fired or the firm has closed?
You may still have a claim. Brokerage firms are generally vicariously liable for the misconduct of their brokers, even after the broker leaves the firm. If the firm itself has closed, there may be other avenues for recovery, including SIPC protections and claims against the firm’s insurance or successor entities.

How long does the recovery process take?
FINRA arbitration typically takes 12–16 months from filing to resolution. However, many cases settle within 6–9 months. Complex cases involving Ponzi schemes or large-scale fraud may take longer. We work to resolve your case as efficiently as possible while maximizing your recovery.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

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