For a number of years, stockbrokers told individual and institutional clients with significant cash holdings that there was a safe way to earn a better return than money market funds, without risking a loss of principal. The place to get these returns was in Auction Rate Securities (ARS). It turns out the ARS were not […]
Common Forms of Stockbroker Misconduct
By Brian N. Smiley In recent months, the brokerage industry has been the subject of scathing headlines about fraud, corruption and conflicts of interest. The media have reported on abuses ranging from tainted research reports to outright theft by brokers. Investors have lost billions of dollars and confidence in securities markets has plummeted. Happily for […]
10 Ways to Protect Yourself Against Fraud
If you hope to prosper in today’s volatile market and lack the time or skill to choose your investments, you should find an honest, competent professional adviser, but that is easier said than done. Many brokers invest client funds with prudence and skill and put their clients’ interests first, even when inherent market risk brings […]
Principal Protected Notes
Smiley Bishop & Porter LLP is investigating Principal Protected Notes (aka, Structured Notes) commonly sold by major Wall Street firms. The notes are touted as safe investments with a guaranteed minimum rate of return with additional upside related to market or index performance. Unfortunately, Structured Notes are not as safe an investment as promised. Issues […]
Auction Rate Securities
Smiley Bishop & Porter LLP has represented clients with significant losses resulting from investments in Auction Rate Securities (ARS). These securities were sold by virtually every major Wall Street firm and were marketed as a highly liquid, safe investment equivalent to CDs or money markets, but with a higher interest rate. In reality, the auction market was […]
Employment Disputes
Our employment law practice continues to be quite active as many brokerage firms have restructured and consolidated after mergers and acquisitions. Brokerage firm employees have been dismissed, offered severance packages or been reassigned to new positions. Our law firm has been called upon to advise many clients with regard to the new employment contracts or […]
Top 10 Tips for Dealing With Your Stockbroker in a Bear Market
By Brian N. Smiley If you are going to make money in today’s unpredictable market and don’t have the time or the skill to make your own investment choices, you may have to select a professional advisor to help you. But that is easier said than done. As a group, stockbrokers are no more or […]
Reading and Understanding Brokerage Account Statements
Co-Authored by J. Michael Bishop AAII Journal Every month, individual investors across the country receive brokerage account statements. Many investors find it difficult to understand the information contained in the statements and after a quick review of their account values never look at their statements again. There is, however, a method behind the seeming madness […]
Stockbroker-Customer Disputes: Making a Case for Arbitration
By Brian N. Smiley As the bulls run wild on Wall Street, there is increasing evidence that the nation’s securities markets have also provided a home for vipers. Names of prominent executives and major brokerage houses have appeared under headlines announcing investigations, indictments and plea bargains for insider trading, market manipulation. Conspiracy, and other conduct […]
Limited Partners Face Hidden Risks, Fees
If you own a limited partnership interest, or are considering such an investment, you should be aware of a less-recognized form of investor abuse: limited partnership fraud. Because limited partners do not participate in day-to-day partnership operations and there is no board of directors to review management decisions, the general partner has almost complete control […]
