Articles Tagged with elder abuse attorney

shutterstock_153667856The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) announced its approval of a rule in a press release to help brokerage firms protect seniors citizens and other vulnerable adults from financial exploitation. The heart of the proposal allows a firm to place a temporary hold on a disbursement of funds or securities and notify a customer’s trusted contact when the firm has a reasonable belief that the customer may be the subject of financial exploitation. According to FINRA, an average of 10,000 Americans will turn 65 every day for the next 15 years.

In our practice, often time accountants, attorneys, or children of elderly investors contact our firm when they suspect that there has been elder abuse or unfair trade practices in the handling of an elderly persons’ accounts. As long time readers of our blogs know senior abuse is an ongoing concern in the securities industry. See Massachusetts Fines LPL Financial Over Variable Annuity Sales Practices to Seniors; The NASAA Announces New Initiative to Focus on Senior Investor Abuse; The Problem of Senior Investor Abuse – A Securities Attorney’s Perspective; Senior Abuse in the Securities Industry A Major Ongoing Concern

In the past, regulators have expressed worry that brokers may be placing seniors in risky investments that chase yield such as inappropriate nontraditional investments like variable annuities, non-traded real estate investment trusts (Non-Traded REITs), structured products, and other alternative products. Regulators have warned brokers that the dangers of seniors’ chasing yield through alternative investments comes from the fact that they don’t have as much time as other clients for them to pay off. In addition, if these investments fail the result is a major loss of irreplaceable life savings.

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