PIABA Urges SEC to Limit RIAs' Mandatory Arbitration and Mandate Disclosure of Client Claims
From the Desk of Jim Eccleston at ÍøÆسԹÏ.
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.
ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï LLC represents investors and financial advisors nationwide in securities, employment, transition, regulatory, and disciplinary matters.
Related Attorneys: James J. Eccleston
Tags: Eccleston, ÍøÆسԹÏ, PIABA, SEC, arbitration
