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

You were most helpful with my FINRA deposition. You are a good lawyer and a good person.

Dan B.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

January 24, 2025
Fidelity to Shift Independent Advisor Cash to Lower-Yielding FCash Amount in 2025

Fidelity Investments plans to redirect cash balances in non-retirement brokerage accounts managed by independent financial advisors to its in-house sweep account, FCash, starting in 2025.

January 23, 2025
Barred Advisor Continues Pattern of Settlements at Western International Securities

Chris Kennedy, a barred advisor formerly associated with Western International Securities, has agreed to a $2.1 million settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over allegations of high-volume trading, or churning, in client accounts.

January 22, 2025
FINRA to Revise Outside Business Activities Rules

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) is seeking to overhaul its rules on outside business activities (OBA) and private securities transactions.