FAQs
I own what were described as "alternative" investments, yet my investments have plummeted in value. Can I recover those losses?
All investments must be suitable for the investor in light of age, liquidity needs, risk tolerance, investment objectives and all market conditions. Moreover, the risks and features of an "alternative" investment must be adequately explained, including what could happen in a down market such as what we are experiencing with the Coronavirus.
"Alternative" investment losses thus can be recovered if those investments were not suitable, the risks were not adequately explained, or if any of the following alternative investments are involved:
- Leveraged ETF or Inverse ETF
- Energy (oil and gas) limited partnership
- Non-traded REIT (real estate investment trust)
- BDC (Business Development Company) limited partnership
- Reverse Convertible Note or Reverse Convertible Bond (also known as "revertible notes" and "reverse exchangeable securities")
- Hedge Fund
- Equity-Indexed Annuity
- Any other "structured product" that combined and underlying investment with the use of derivatives such as options
If you or someone you know incurred losses with such alternative investments or "structured products", and any of the above happened, we recommend contacting us for a no-charge consultation. Most investors file claims in FINRA arbitration to recover their losses, and most claims are brought on a "contingency fee" basis.
I own bonds yet my investments have plummeted in value. Can I recover those bond losses?
All investments must be suitable for the investor in light of age, liquidity needs, risk tolerance, investment objectives and all market conditions. Moreover, the risks and features of an investment must be adequately explained, including what could happen in a down market such as what we are experiencing with the Coronavirus.
Bond losses thus can be recovered if those bonds were not suitable, the risks were not adequately explained, or if any of the following occurred:
- The corporate bonds were lower credit quality, junk or "high yield" bonds
- The municipal bonds or state-issued bonds were "revenue" bonds (also known as "limited obligation"), thereby not backed by the full faith and credit of the issuer
- Those bonds were the great majority of the investment portfolio as the portfolio was not "asset allocated" among stocks, cash and other investments
- The bonds were not diversified among issuers (corporate, municipal and state), were not diversified among industry, and were not diversified in duration /length
- The bonds were part of an ETF bond fund or bond mutual fund and the risks of investing in those bonds that way – instead of simply owning individual bonds myself -- was not adequately explained to me
- The "bonds" actually were "reverse convertible notes", "reverse convertible bonds", or "leveraged loans" (also known as "floating rate loan funds"), which are highly complex, risky and unsuitable for most investors
If you or someone you know incurred losses with bonds and any of the above happened, we recommend contacting us for a no-charge consultation. Most investors file claims in FINRA arbitration to recover their losses, and most claims are brought on a "contingency fee" basis.
I own quality stocks yet my investments have plummeted in value. Can I recover those losses?
All investments must be suitable for the investor in light of age, liquidity needs, risk tolerance, investment objectives and all market conditions. Moreover, the risks and features of an investment must be adequately explained, including what could happen in a down market such as what we are experiencing with the Coronavirus.
Quality stock losses thus can be recovered if those stocks were not suitable, the risks were not adequately explained, or if any of the following occurred:
- Those stocks were bought using margin
- Those stocks were the great majority of the investment portfolio as the portfolio was not "asset allocated" among bonds, cash and other investments, which must be done for all investors and especially for retired investors.
- Those stocks were "concentrated" into one or a few sectors, such as energy stocks (oil and gas) or technology
- Those stocks were bought alongside options
If you or someone you know incurred losses with quality stocks and any of the above happened, we recommend contacting us for a no-charge consultation. Most investors file claims in FINRA arbitration to recover their losses, and most claims are brought on a "contingency fee" basis.