Can You Really Get Your Money Back After Investment Fraud? Here’s What You Need to Know About Haselkorn & Thibaut
TL;DR: If a broker, financial advisor, or brokerage firm caused you to lose money through fraud, misconduct, or negligence, you have legal options — and a specialized firm like Haselkorn and Thibaut Law Firm can help you pursue recovery through FINRA arbitration, often with no upfront cost.
Summary: Investment fraud is more common than most people realize. Brokers who churn accounts, make unauthorized trades, push unsuitable investments, or simply lie about returns can be held legally accountable. Haselkorn & Thibaut (InvestmentFraudLawyers.com) is a nationally recognized firm that has represented over 1,600 investors, recovered millions of dollars in losses, and maintained a remarkable track record — all while operating on a “No Recovery, No Fee” basis. This article breaks down how the firm works, what types of fraud they handle, and what investors can realistically expect from the legal process.
If you have watched your savings disappear in an account managed by a broker you trusted, you are not alone — and you are not without recourse. The truth is that most investment losses tied to fraud, misrepresentation, or broker negligence are recoverable through FINRA arbitration, a legal process specifically designed for investor disputes. What makes the difference between recovering your money and walking away with nothing is the quality of representation you choose. That is exactly where Haselkorn and Thibaut Law Firm has built its entire reputation — fighting exclusively for investors, not against them.
Who Are Haselkorn & Thibaut?
Haselkorn & Thibaut, P.A. operates under the domain InvestmentFraudLawyers.com and is headquartered in Palm Beach, Florida, with offices spanning New York, Arizona, Texas, and North Carolina — giving the firm a true national reach. What makes the firm genuinely unique is its founding attorneys’ background: before becoming investment fraud lawyers, they were licensed securities brokers and spent their early legal careers defending major broker-dealers. That insider knowledge of how Wall Street firms operate, what compliance departments look for, and how brokerage firms build their defenses gives Haselkorn & Thibaut an uncommon strategic edge when advocating for victims.
Over the past 50-plus years of combined legal practice, the firm has handled thousands of securities cases in FINRA, NASD, and NYSE arbitration, as well as in state and federal court. They represent individual investors, trusts, corporations, pension plans, charitable organizations, and institutional entities. Whether you are a retiree whose broker pushed you into high-risk products or a business that suffered losses from a fraudulent scheme, the firm’s experience covers the full spectrum of securities disputes.
What Types of Investment Fraud Do They Handle?
Not every broker mistake is fraud — but many are. The firm handles a wide range of securities violations and misconduct, including:
- Ponzi and pyramid schemes — where early investors are paid using funds from new investors, with no real underlying profit
- Unauthorized trading — when a broker executes trades without your knowledge or consent
- Misrepresentation and omission — when advisors lie about or withhold material facts about an investment’s risk or nature
- Churning — excessive trading in your account designed to generate commissions rather than grow your wealth
- Unsuitability — recommending investments that are inappropriate for your age, income, or risk tolerance
- Failure to supervise — when a brokerage firm’s management negligently allows broker misconduct to continue unchecked
- Elder financial exploitation — a growing category involving the targeting of elderly investors with deceptive or high-pressure tactics
Each of these violations represents a breach of the legal and regulatory duties brokers and their firms owe to clients. When proven, they create a legal basis for financial recovery — and this is precisely the terrain where Haselkorn and Thibaut Law Firm is most experienced.
How the Recovery Process Works
Most investment fraud cases in the United States are resolved through FINRA arbitration rather than traditional lawsuits, because most brokerage contracts require it. The process, while structured, is less formal than a courtroom trial — and for investors with strong cases, it can result in a full monetary award.
Here is what the process typically looks like when working with the firm:
- Free case evaluation — You call or contact the firm, share your situation, and attorneys assess whether you have a viable claim at no cost to you
- Evidence gathering — Account statements, trade confirmations, communications, and any written recommendations are collected and organized
- Statement of Claim filed — Attorneys draft and file a formal claim with FINRA detailing the violations and damages
- Discovery and negotiation — Both sides exchange evidence; many cases settle before reaching a full hearing
- Arbitration hearing — If no settlement is reached, the case goes before a FINRA arbitration panel where attorneys present your case, cross-examine the broker, and argue for maximum recovery
- Award and enforcement — A successful arbitration results in a binding monetary award that the brokerage firm must pay
FINRA allows investors to file claims for acts that occurred within the past six years, so time matters. Acting quickly also preserves evidence and prevents additional losses.
Why the “No Recovery, No Fee” Model Matters
One of the most significant barriers to pursuing investment fraud claims is cost. Legal fees for complex financial litigation can easily run into tens of thousands of dollars — a cruel irony for someone who has already lost money. Haselkorn & Thibaut addresses this directly with a contingency fee model: if they do not win or recover money for you, you pay nothing.
This structure does more than reduce financial risk for clients — it aligns the firm’s incentives directly with yours. The attorneys only get paid when you get paid, which means they selectively take cases they genuinely believe they can win, and they fight harder because their compensation depends on the outcome. The firm’s reported success rate — ranging between 95% and 98% — reflects this disciplined, results-focused approach.
What Sets This Firm Apart From General Practice Attorneys
Investment securities law is not general practice law. The regulatory framework governing FINRA arbitration, broker-dealer compliance obligations, SEC rules, and the evidentiary standards in securities disputes requires deep, specialized knowledge that a generalist attorney simply does not have. Haselkorn & Thibaut brings not just legal training but actual industry experience — they have worked inside brokerage firms, understand how compliance departments operate, and know the defensive arguments that Wall Street lawyers will raise.
This is not a firm that will hand your case off to a paralegal. They operate with the resources of a large firm while maintaining boutique-level, personalized client service — meaning your case gets individual attention at every stage.
Key Takeaways
- Investment losses caused by broker fraud, misconduct, or negligence are legally recoverable — you have rights as an investor, and FINRA arbitration is the primary path to compensation
- Haselkorn and Thibaut Law Firm operates on a No Recovery, No Fee basis, meaning you face zero financial risk to start your case
- The firm brings over 50 years of combined experience, insider knowledge of brokerage defense strategies, and a 95–98% success rate to every case they accept
- Common fraud types — including Ponzi schemes, unauthorized trading, churning, and elder exploitation — all fall within the firm’s area of practice
- FINRA claims must generally be filed within six years of the wrongful act, so delaying a consultation can cost you your legal right to recover
- Free consultations are available by calling 1-888-885-7162 or visiting InvestmentFraudLawyers.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Not all investment losses are fraud — markets do go down. However, if your broker made trades you did not authorize, recommended products that were clearly unsuitable for your financial situation, misrepresented an investment’s risks, or charged excessive fees to generate commissions, those are not just “bad luck” — they are violations of regulatory rules. An investment fraud attorney can review your account statements and communications to identify whether specific misconduct occurred. A free case evaluation will give you a clear, honest answer without any commitment.
The vast majority of investment fraud cases do not end up in traditional court. Instead, they are resolved through FINRA arbitration — a structured but less formal process than a courtroom trial. Many cases are settled during the negotiation or mediation phase before an arbitration hearing even takes place. Timeline varies by case complexity, but disputes can often be resolved within 12 to 18 months. Your attorney will guide you through each phase and keep you informed throughout.
Yes. Large brokerage firms have powerful legal teams, but they are not undefeatable — especially when you have attorneys who have worked on their side and understand their strategies. Haselkorn & Thibaut’s experience defending major broker-dealers early in their careers is now used to anticipate and counter those exact defenses. The firm has recovered millions against some of the largest firms on Wall Street, and the contingency fee model means you get the same level of aggressive representation regardless of how big your opponent is.