Financial Advisor Awarded $376,000 in Partnership Dispute

Posted on July 1st, 2024 at 2:15 PM
Financial Advisor Awarded $376,000 in Partnership Dispute

From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law

Financial advisors often partner with other financial advisors, but how they document the arrangement is critically important.

As reported by InvestmentNews, a recent arbitration dispute involved Miami-based financial advisors Eduardo Augsten and Gustavo Vega. The two former partners were embroiled in a conflict over the revenues from their shared book of business. The dispute arose because they operated under a "handshake" agreement rather than a written contract, a decision that led to significant complications.

On May 17, a panel of three FINRA dispute resolution services arbitrators awarded Augsten $376,000. Augsten’s complaint was filed in January 2020 following the dissolution of their joint firm, Wealthengage. He sought unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, joint office and lease reimbursement, and other related expenses. Augsten aimed to secure an "equitable lien on the revenues" generated from client fees and commissions and compensation for any debts incurred after the partnership ended.

The panel’s decision highlights the importance of formal agreements in professional partnerships to prevent similar disputes.

 

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

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next

Jim, Stephany and the whole team were a God send.  We felt like we were put into a situation where we had no advocate. Jim’s team came in with a strong, well laid out strategy on how to get our story heard. Where our outside compliance company had no ability to help, our Broker Dealer was impenitent, and the regulators were aggressive pursuing vague rules, Jim came like a barricade against an assault we did not understand. Though you pay member dues to be affiliated with FINRA and a B/D, you have no voice. The only thing that is truly heard in this un-level playing field is a bulldog’s bark like Jim’s. I would encourage anyone to call Jim and his team to find a real ally in the tough and complicated world of securities regulation. They are truly the best.

Greg P.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

July 3, 2024
Nontraded REIT Sales Slump Amid Market Uncertainty

InvestmentNews recently covered the sluggish start to nontraded real estate investment trust (REIT) sales in the current year, observing that the slump reflects the challenges facing commercial real estate investors, hinting at potential devaluation in certain REITs, especially net asset value (NAV) products.

July 2, 2024
Brokerage Firm Settles FINRA Allegations for Texting Lapses and Due Diligence Deficiencies

A recent settlement between a Florida-based brokerage firm and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has drawn attention to the importance of retaining
business-related text messages and conducting due diligence on private placement offerings.

July 1, 2024
Financial Advisor Awarded $376,000 in Partnership Dispute

Financial advisors often partner with other financial advisors, but how they document the arrangement is critically important.