Tr?id=566623520170033&ev=PageView&noscript=1

PIABA Urges SEC to Limit RIAs' Mandatory Arbitration and Mandate Disclosure of Client Claims

Posted on July 28th, 2023 at 11:02 AM
PIABA Urges SEC to Limit RIAs' Mandatory Arbitration and Mandate Disclosure of Client Claims

From the Desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law.

The Public Investors Advocate Bar Association (PIABA), a trade group representing plaintiffs' lawyers, has urged the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to take action against the "broken" arbitration system used by investors bringing claims against registered investment advisers (RIAs). PIABA also demands increased transparency from RIAs concerning customer complaints.

PIABA's case to the SEC included a presentation consisting of testimonials from two customers of RIAs who had difficulty recouping losses due to the high costs or lack of accountability in arbitration. In one case, the plaintiff received an upfront estimate of $200,000 for pursuing a claim against her investment adviser through arbitration, which is more than she allegedly lost, according to AdvisorHub

Likewise, the SEC recently released a report expressing concerns about RIAs' use of mandatory arbitration clauses and highlighting issues such as investors being compelled to attend hearings far from their homes, receiving lower damages, and being subjected to bans on class action claims.

PIABA further emphasizes that investors face difficulties in properly vetting RIAs due to the lack of disclosure regarding the existence and resolution of claims. Unlike financial advisors who must report customer complaints and litigation to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), SEC-overseen investment advisers are not always obligated to disclose this information, leading to a disparity in transparency between the two groups.

Eccleston Law LLC represents investors and financial advisors nationwide in securities, employment, transition, regulatory, and disciplinary matters.

Related Attorneys: James J. Eccleston

Tags: Eccleston, Eccleston Law, PIABA, SEC, arbitration

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next
Quotes Bigger

I am so glad I found you! Wow! I appreciate your help, concern and guidance.

RB

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

1780079651 Law
May 29, 2026
SEC Investigating Fraud Allegations in Private Credit Industry

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) actively is investigating allegations of fraud involving private credit firms, signaling continued regulatory scrutiny of the rapidly expanding sector.

1779992462 Law
May 28, 2026
FINRA Adopts New Rules to Accelerate Arbitration for Elderly and Vulnerable Investors

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has adopted amendments to its Code of Arbitration Procedure to expedite arbitration proceedings for certain eligible parties, according to regulatory updates.

L
May 27, 2026
FINRA Sanctions Cambridge Investment Research for Supervisory Failure in Variable Annuity Exchanges

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has censured Cambridge Investment Research and ordered the firm to pay nearly $280,000 after finding that it failed to properly supervise variable annuity exchanges, according to AdvisorHub.