How Can Our Non-Traded Securities Litigation Lawyers Help You Recover Your Investor Losses?
For over 30 years, Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (investorlawyers.com) has represented investors who have suffered serious losses in non-traded securities against their brokerage firms and financial advisors. Most recently, this has included either investigating and/filing Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) lawsuits involving:
Northstar Financial Services (Bermuda) annuities and other products
Blackstone Real Estate Investment Trust (BREIT)
Secured Income Group
Complete Business Solutions
Reg D Conservation Easements
IGF Investment Grade Fund I
These illiquid investments are risky and typically unsuitable for the majority of retail investors, including many conservative investors and unsophisticated investors. Yet, many of the securities firm arbitration claims we have filed are on behalf of retirees and inexperienced investors who were clear from the start that they wanted to take on little to no risk. Even when these investments were sold to claimants that were accredited investors, alleged broker misconduct and negligence caused them financial harm.
What Are Non-Traded Securities?
These are securities that do not trade on any public exchange. Generally illiquid, they cannot be traded on any secondary markets, which makes them difficult to buy and sell. The only way to typically purchase non-traded securities is through private transactions or the over-the-counter market via a broker-dealer network. These investments usually come with a minimum holding period.
Not subject to listing requirements, information about a non-traded security’s issuer, pricing, trading volume, any conflicts of interest, and other pertinent information may be hard to find. This lack of transparency can also increase the chances of securities fraud.
Issuers of non-traded securities and the brokers that sell them tend to charge high fees and commissions to investors.
A Few Examples of Non-Traded Securities:
Non-traded real estate investment trusts (non-traded REITs): Like publicly-traded REITs, non-traded REITS, although not listed, have to be registered with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and abide by the same rules and reporting requirements. Non-traded REITS can be sold to any investor, including non-accredited investors.
Private REITs: These real estate investment trusts don’t have to register with the SEC or meet its reporting requirements. They must, however, abide by Regulation D requirements. Private REITs are very illiquid and should only be sold to accredited investors. They tend to require high investment minimums and are very illiquid.
Private Placements: These investments are typically sold to pre-selected investors instead of on the open market. With a private placement, a company sells shares of its stock or other related interest, like bonds or warrants, in return for cash. Private placements are often Regulation D investments.
Private Equity Funds: Investors’ money is pooled together by the fund to invest in companies or participate in buyouts of companies. Private equity firms, which manage these funds, will often charge performance and management fees.
Hedge Funds: These funds also pool investors’ money together to invest in different assets. Because hedge fund managers are generally paid according to performance, many will use aggressive investing strategies to try to generate high returns.
Other non-traded securities: equipment leasing programs, equity crowdfunding, and others.
What Should You Do If You Suffered Investor Losses Involving Non-Traded Securities?
Not all investor losses are caused by brokerage firm negligence or fraud. The possibility of losing money in an investment is a risk every time you invest. However, consider it a big red flag if anyone, including a financial professional, tries to sell you an investment while promising “no risk” and guaranteeing returns.
Still, there are many occasions in which non-traded securities investor losses do happen because some type of misconduct or carelessness was involved. In some cases, it may be the issuer or manager of the non-traded securities who misappropriated or mismanaged the investment. In other instances, it is because a broker failed to conduct the proper due diligence into this non-traded investment, unsuitably recommended the security to an investor, or concentrated a customer’s account with too many of these illiquid products.
Determining when investor losses warrant suing your broker-dealer for damages can be challenging, which is why you want to speak with savvy non-traded securities litigation lawyers. When you work with Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas, you retain the experienced services of not just one investor fraud attorney, you are hiring a team of skilled securities fraud lawyers who are all dedicated to representing you and giving you personalized legal care and attention that you need.
We can help you determine during your free, no-obligation initial case consultation whether you have grounds for a FINRA lawsuit over your non-traded securities losses. Should we agree to work together, our knowledgeable legal team will prepare and file this claim and represent you before a panel of arbitrators. 90% of our clients have received a full or partial recovery for their losses.
How Can You Contact the SSEK Non-Traded Securities Litigation Lawyers?
Our non-traded securities litigation attorneys are focused on helping investors like you pursue damages against brokerage firms and their registered representatives. Over the years, we have collectively won, through arbitration, mediation, and litigation, many millions of dollars on behalf of our clients.
Call (800)259-9010 today.