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

As a financial advisor with over 20 years of experience, I feel fortunate to call Jim my attorney and friend. He is a fantastic lawyer and trusted advisor. He is skilled in the matters necessary to do the job well. He uses his thoughtful approach and calm demeanor to achieve a positive outcome for the client. If you want to feel confident that nothing will be missed and that you will be represented in a highly professional manner, call Jim Eccleston.

Bill C. and Dan M.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

1778521728 Law
May 11, 2026
Private Credit Funds Face Rising Redemptions and Valuation Scrutiny

Investor pressure on private credit funds continues to intensify as redemption requests increase and concerns emerge over how firms value underlying loan portfolios.

1778517375 Law
May 11, 2026
SEC Reports Decline in Enforcement Actions as Leadership Refocuses on Investor Harm

The U.S.

1778171646 Law
May 7, 2026
FINRA Bars Former Raymond James Broker for Refusing Testimony in Unauthorized Trading Probe

A former registered representative with Raymond James has been barred from the securities industry after refusing to cooperate with a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) investigation into alleged unauthorized trading activity.