When you entrust your hard-earned money to a financial advisor, you are placing a great deal of trust in that person. You are counting on them to act in your best interest and to always have your financial wellbeing top of mind. Unfortunately, not all financial advisors live up to this standard of care.
At Heritage Law Office, we offer services in securities law and have extensive experience suing financial advisors and their supervising broker-dealers for breach of fiduciary duty.
What Is Fiduciary Duty?
In order to understand how fiduciary duty applies to financial advisors, it's important to first understand what fiduciary duty is. Simply put, a fiduciary duty is a legal obligation to act in someone else's best interest. When it comes to financial advisors, they owe their clients a fiduciary duty, which means they must always act in their clients' best interests and never put their own interests ahead of their clients'.
Sadly, not all financial advisors uphold this standard of care. Some may recommend investments that are not ideal for their clients' needs or goals simply because they stand to make more money off of them. Others may use their clients' money to speculate in risky ventures in an effort to make a quick profit. And still others may try to hide fees and commissions that they're earning off of their clients' investment decisions. Heritage Law Office has seen firsthand the many ways in which financial advisors can breached their fiduciary duty to their clients—and we're committed to holding them accountable.
The Financial Advisor-Client Relationship
A key component of the financial advisor-client relationship is transparency. Financial advisors should be upfront and honest with their clients about all aspects of the relationship, including any fees or commissions that may be charged. Advisors should also keep their clients updated on a regular basis as to how their investments are performing and whether or not any changes need to be made. Clients should feel like they can approach their advisor at any time with questions or concerns—and they should expect clear, concise answers backed up by data and market analysis.
If you're not getting this level of service from your financial advisor, it may be time to find someone new. And if you've been the victim of fraud or negligence on the part of your financial advisor, you may be entitled to compensation. The attorneys at Heritage Law Office have experience handling these types of cases and are here to help you every step of the way.
Contact a Securities Attorney in Wisconsin Today
At Heritage Law Office, we understand how important it is for financial advisors to uphold their fiduciary duty to their clients. We also know that not all advisors do so—which is why we're dedicated to holding them accountable when they don't live up to this standard of care. If you believe your financial advisor or broker-dealer has breached their fiduciary duty or has otherwise acted negligently or fraudulently, we encourage you call us today at 414-253-8500 or send us a message for a free consultation. We'll review your case and advise you as to next steps moving forward. Don't wait—call us today!