Michael Schmidt 2015年11月8日
投資者經常尋求一些專業人士在市場中引導他們並提供一些服務，但是有時候他們會感覺到他們的賬戶被不恰當操作了。他們有時候需要找到誰是他們資金損失的罪魁禍首，這通常是由市場環境造成的，投資者必須對這些風險做好準備。然而，如果有證據證明經紀商推薦了不恰當的投資、進行欺詐或者過度收取佣金，那麼仲裁和其他一些途徑就會有用了。在本文中，我們將幫你判斷是的賬戶是否被進行錯誤操作和你是否有必要進行投訴。
第一步
如果你認為經紀商沒有按你的最大利益操作，嘗試和投資公司一起進行所有的補救措施。確定損失後，和投資公司進行深入的讨論，聽聽他們的說法。如果這個過程不能得到足夠的信息，把投訴升級到下一個水平直到達成某種解決。這可能會產生多種結果。包括單純的等待市場改善以結束所有讨論和進入法律程序。
如果糾紛是與經紀商發生的，你可能已經同意採取仲裁方式。在此類事件中，美國金融業監管局（FINRA），將會對事件進行全程處理。該組織的争端解決論壇將會幫助解決投資人和證券公司以及個人和公司法人和他們公司之間的糾紛。
如果你需要法律代理
在所有有利可圖的法律程序中，許多法律顧問提供免費咨詢。向律師咨詢將會打開外部視角並幫助確定合適的論壇解決糾紛。這時候如果形勢需要，是時候確定一個簡短的訴訟人列表了。如果使用仲裁方式，那麼減少這個列表的名單，因為仲裁比法院用到的律師少。
雖然過程簡化了以便任何人進行訴訟和處理，大多數訴訟人的法律團隊至少需要一位律師這一位專家證人。這時可以根據可能的結果和時間框架設定合理的預期。別指望包括懲罰性賠償在内的處理結果，因為很少出現這類的判決。在仲裁日期設定之前可能要登上幾個月甚至幾年的時間。這取決於案件的規模、法律參和預期，如果案件如果在最初時間表沒有完成，可能推遲到適合所有參與者和委員會成員的時間表。
仲裁程序
如果仲裁看起來是最佳的方案，訪問FINRA網站搜索該公或者法人還未處理的案件。列表將會提供一個針對該公司、法人或者顧問所有尚待解決和已經處理案件的總結和逐條記錄。但是不會包含任何案件的已删除信息。
如果搜索的是一個註冊投資顧問而不是為經紀公司工作的個人，那麼請使用美國證券交易委員會（SEC）網站或者該公司授權政府發出的網站。如果搜索的是註冊代表或者經紀商公司，FINRA的BrokerCheck程序將會從中央註冊登記中心搜索數據。BrokerCheck顯示當前註冊經紀商、註冊證券公司和以前註冊的團體的專業背景信息。其中一部分提供在CRD報告時間的重要信息，這需要證券行業授權和註冊程序。財務披露的任何信息都將在這裡顯示，包括破產和無薪留置權。清單還可能包括正式調查、客戶糾紛、紀律行為、刑事指控或者定罪。
提起申訴
如果你確定投資組合被錯誤操作，那麼接下啦要做的是提起申訴。FINRA 建議要越早越好，以免延誤仲裁和調解的時間。調解是仲裁的補充或者替代，是雙方自願以不計約束力的形勢解決争端。對於大多數低於25000美元的額索賠，主要通過雙方向FINRA提交書面聲明解決。這些小案件可能分配給一個仲裁員並且處理非常迅速。
進展評估
這個過程是一個進行回顧、設立時間框架和期望的好時機。但是要記住，你和你的代表和顧問之間的關系已經改變。雖然客戶有時候會留在他們起訴的公司，但是大多數不會。因為起訴和損失，他們可能轉移到另一家公司，盤活他們的資產進行其他安排。這時進展已經變成了一個法律城西，雖然比傳統的審判程序不正式些，你可以把它視為正在解決。
總結
FINRA提供了一個經紀商許可、註冊、教育、監控和和保護的框架以確保公衆得到最好的服務。雖然大多數金融服務人士提供優質的服務，還是有賬戶被誤操作，FINRA向任何人提供尋求有效索賠的程序。請記住仲裁員和聯合委員給出的結果石油約束力的，而法院判決是強制的。最後，雖然投資者擁有進行起訴的所有權利，這將花費費用、包括申請費用、仲裁費用或者調節費用，而且如果委員會認為案件瑣碎，將會產生法律和其他成本。
How To Handle A Serious Dispute With Your Broker
By Michael Schmidt | Updated November 08, 2015
Investors often look to professionals to help them navigate the markets and provide a certain level of service, but there are times when they may feel that an account is being mishandled. As tempting as it may be to find someone to blame for monetary losses, they are often the result of market conditions and investors must be prepared for such risks. However, arbitration or other avenues may be warranted if evidence suggests that a broker recommended an unsuitable investment, committed fraud, or charged excessive commissions by "churning" the account. In this article, we'll help you to decide whether your account has been mishandled and if you do need to act on the complaint. (To learn more, see Paying Your Investment Advisor - Fees Or Commissions?)
Your First Steps
If you feel that your broker has not acted in your best interest, try to exhaust all possible remedies with the investment company. After quantifying the loss, schedule a meeting with the primary contact at the investment firm to have an extensive discussion, and listen to the broker's side of the story. If this process does not yield adequate information, escalate the complaint to the next level of management until some type of resolution is reached. This may include various outcomes, including simply waiting for the markets to improve to ending all discussions and proceeding with legal action.
If the dispute is with a broker, you probably already agreed to settle through arbitration when you began working with the firm. In this case, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), formerly the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), would handle the arbitration process from start to finish. The group's dispute resolution forum helps resolve matters between investors and securities firms, as well as industry-related issues between individual registered representatives and their firms. (To learn more, see Broker Gone Bad? What To Do If You Have A Complaint and When A Dispute With Your Broker Calls For Arbitration.)
If You Need Legal Representation
As with any potentially lucrative legal proceeding, many legal advisors offer free consultations. Consulting an attorney opens up an outside perspective and can help confirm the appropriate forum for resolving a dispute. This is a good time to begin building a short list of potential litigators, should the need arise. If an arbitration path is appropriate, the list will shrink, as more attorneys handle court cases than arbitration.
While the entire process is simplified in order for any one who has a grievance to file a claim and proceed, the majority of customers pursue their claims in conjunction with a legal team that includes at least one attorney and an expert witness. It is also a good time to set reasonable expectations with potential outcomes and time frames. Do not count on large settlements that include punitive damages, as such generous judgments are rarely rendered. Be prepared to wait months or even years before the arbitration date is set. Depending on the size of the claim and the legal participants, anticipate that arbitration that is not completed in the originally scheduled time frame may be postponed to accommodate participant and panel members' schedules.
The Arbitration Process
If arbitration appears to be the best course of action, visit the FINRA website and search pending cases with the investment firm or registered representative in question. The listing will provide a summary and itemization of any pending or closed cases against the firm and its representative or advisor. It will not, however, include every issue or any cases that expunged the record as part of the settlement.
If the search is for a registered investment advisor (RIA) rather than someone who works for a brokerage firm, you will be redirected to the Securities And Exchange Commission (SEC) website, or possibly to a state-sponsored site if the advisor is state licensed. If the search is for a registered representative or a brokerage firm, FINRA's BrokerCheck program will search data from the Central Registration Depository (CRD) registration and licensing database, which gathers data reported on industry registration and licensing forms. BrokerCheck reports professional background information on currently registered brokers, registered securities firms and previously registered parties. One section provides vital information regarding events reported at the CRD, which is required by the securities industry registration and licensing process. Any number of financial disclosures can be listed here, including bankruptcies or unpaid liens. The listing might also contain formal investigations, customer disputes, disciplinary actions and criminal charges or convictions.
Filing a Complaint
If you determine that the portfolio was mishandled, the next step is to file a complaint. FINRA suggests doing so as soon as possible to avoid a delay in arbitration or mediation. Mediation, which can serve as a supplement or replacement for arbitration depending on the outcome, is a voluntary process in which both parties can settle their disputes in a non-binding format. For most claims under $25,000, the process is resolved primarily through written statements filed by each party to FINRA. At any point the claimant, respondent, or arbitrator may request a hearing. These smaller cases can be assigned to a single arbitrator and may settle fairly quickly.
Claim amounts greater than $25,000 are usually assigned to a three-person arbitration panel. Because they typically settle in-person and involve more formalities, they tend to take longer. FINRA offers a complete online claim filing process, and this is where most investors get bogged down. While FINRA has streamlined the process for the layman to follow, it is still a legal proceeding with required documents such as the "statement of claim". Many frustrated investors will pursue the services of an attorney at this point.
Evaluate Your Progress
This stage of the process is a good time to step back, evaluate your progress, and set time frames and expectations. Keep in mind, however, that the relationship between you and the representative or advisor has changed. While customers sometimes stay with the company against which they have filed claims, most do not. Depending on the claim or loss, they have probably moved to another firm, liquidated their holdings or made other arrangements. The process from this point on becomes a legal proceeding, although it is slightly less formal than a typical court proceeding; you should view this process as a resolution-in-progress.
The Bottom Line
FINRA provides a framework for licensing, registration, education, monitoring and policing of the brokerage community to ensure the public receives the best service. While the vast majority of financial service professionals provide excellent service, some accounts are mishandled and FINRA has the process available for anyone to pursue what he or she believes is a valid claim. It is important to remember that all decisions made by either the sole arbitrator or the combined panel are binding and that the judgments are enforceable, as they would be in a court. Finally, consider that while the investor has every right to pursue a claim, doing so carries costs such as filing fees, arbitration and/or mediation fees, and if the panel decides a case is frivolous, legal and other costs will apply.
本文翻譯由兄弟財經提供
文章來源：http://www.investopedia.com/articles/basics/08/mishandled-accounts.asp