How We Work
To fulfill their professional obligations to a client, financial advisors are responsible for maintaining a significant, detailed and personalized paper trail. Although this is a reasonable and practical expectation, it is surprising how many advisors fail to meet it.
If there is a paper trail, we will conduct a thorough review of it on your behalf, beginning with a study of all your documents, notes and records. Then we will request all pertinent documents, notes and records from your financial advisor, and from any dealer, insurance broker, or other agent with whom that advisor has conducted investment business on your behalf. This includes evidence regarding your investment history, investment trend after the loss, and the Know Your Client (KYC) process details. Once we have completed this review, we will give you a clear opinion on your potential case.
If your claim is strong and your financial advisor failed to create and maintain a significant, detailed and personalized paper trail, we may still be able to help you. In fact, it is sometimes to your advantage if that paper trail has not been maintained, because in cases that come down to the advisor’s word against yours, you will likely have more detailed documentation of your dealings.
Financial advisors must show that their advice was suitable and reasonable, based upon their process guarantee responsibilities. Without an adequate paper trail, your financial advisor will have a weakened defence against your claim. This is true for both out-of-court settlements and settlements by trial.
Our goal is to return money to your pocket, and to charge a fair fee for this service. Lawsuits can be very expensive. With or without a paper trail, if we don’t think your case for financial loss recovery is a strong one, or if the losses you may recover are not large enough to cover your legal costs, we will advise you not to hire us.