You had a plan. Maybe it was saving for a comfortable retirement, building wealth for your kids, or just securing some financial breathing room. You turned to your stockbroker for guidance, expecting recommendations that fit your life and goals. Instead, you got pitched something like Vinovest—a wine investment scheme—or other alternative investments that sounded exciting but turned into illiquid investments. Now, your money’s stuck, shrinking, or vanished, and you’re left asking: What went wrong? Can I fix this?
Your Dream Was Real—Until It Wasn’t
You’re not the only one. Countless investors have been let down by stockbrokers pushing illiquid investments that didn’t match their needs. At Bakhtiari & Harrison, we’ve seen this heartbreak play out too often: honest people misled into risky, hard-to-sell assets, watching their hopes crumble. But here’s the silver lining: you can fight back. There’s a way to reclaim what you’ve lost, and we’re here to walk you through it.
What’s Robbing You: The Trap of Unsuitable Investments
Let’s call it what it is: unsuitable investments—especially alternative investments like Vinovest or other illiquid options—shoved your way by stockbrokers who didn’t prioritize you. These aren’t just unlucky picks; they’re choices that never should’ve landed in your portfolio.
Consider Vinovest. It was sold as a golden ticket—invest in fine wine, diversify your assets, enjoy steady returns. But the reality? It’s an illiquid investment, locking your money in a market you can’t easily exit. Wine prices swing with trends, storage fees eat into gains, and what was billed as a smart move turns into a burden. For too many, it’s a sinking ship, pulling their finances under instead of lifting them up.
Then there’s the broader wave of illiquid investments—private real estate deals, non-traded REITs, or oddball private placements—often hyped by smaller brokerage firms. These promise big rewards but leave you trapped, unable to cash out when you need to. The pattern is clear: they were recommended without fully considering your situation, goals, or how much risk you could handle. That’s not an oversight—it’s a betrayal, and it’s something we see all the time as FINRA attorneys and investment fraud lawyers.
Why It Stings: Your Broker Let You Down
Stockbrokers aren’t just there to sell you something; they’re held to a higher standard. Under rules set by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), many are fiduciaries, meaning they must put your interests first. When they suggested Vinovest or other illiquid investments, they should’ve asked: How old are you? What’s your income? How much experience do you have investing? Can you afford to tie up your money for years? Did they warn you about the pitfalls—like how tough it is to sell a wine portfolio or a private equity stake when times get tough?
For too many, those questions never came. Instead, some brokers—especially at third-tier firms—chased fat commissions over your future. Vinovest might’ve dazzled them with its alternative investment pitch—high fees for them, high stakes for you. Illiquid investments often dangle the carrot of big returns to hide their downsides, but when they flop or freeze your funds, you’re the one paying the price. That’s not just bad judgment; it’s a failure of duty, something we at Bakhtiari & Harrison tackle head-on as investment fraud lawyers.
You’re the One Who Can Change This
This is where you step into the spotlight. You’re not just someone who got burned—you’re someone who can take charge. You’ve already started by noticing the red flags. Maybe your account balances don’t line up with what your broker promised. Maybe you’ve tried to unload Vinovest or another illiquid investment and hit a dead end. That gut feeling, that drive to dig deeper, makes you the hero here. And every hero deserves a guide to win the fight.
We’re Here to Help You Win: Bakhtiari & Harrison
At Bakhtiari & Harrison, we’ve stood beside investors like you—people who trusted their stockbrokers, only to lose out on unsuitable alternative investments or illiquid messes. We’re not here to throw complicated terms at you or make you feel small. We’re here to hear your story, figure out what went wrong, and use our years of experience in FINRA arbitration and investment fraud cases to help you get your money back.
We’ve seen the playbook: brokers downplaying risks, chasing high-commission products, or skipping the part where they explain how illiquid investments like Vinovest could tie up your cash for years. We’ve also seen the damage—retirees locked out of their savings, families scrambling to recover, folks blindsided by losses they didn’t sign up for. Our job is to flip that script. As FINRA attorneys and investment fraud lawyers, we know the rules brokers are bound by—and how to make them answer when they break them.
Your Roadmap to Recovery: Three Simple Steps
You don’t have to sort this out solo. Here’s a straightforward plan to take back control and chase the recovery you’re owed:
Step 1: Share What Happened
Pick up the phone and call us at Bakhtiari & Harrison, or head to bhseclaw.com and fill out our contact form for a free consultation. Tell us your story—how your broker sold you on Vinovest or another illiquid investment, what they guaranteed, and how it’s turned out. Grab any paperwork you’ve got: statements, emails, or sales pitches. We’ll listen, no judgment, and figure out if your broker’s advice crossed the line under FINRA rules. It’s a no-cost, no-risk first step that could set everything in motion.
Step 2: Let Us Build Your Fight
If we spot a case, we’ll dive in. Our team will investigate your broker’s moves—did they break FINRA Rule 2111 on suitability? Did they fudge the risks of alternative investments or illiquid assets? We’ll pull together the proof, from your investment profile to industry norms, showing why this wasn’t right for you. We handle cases across the country, often through FINRA arbitration—a process built to settle disputes like yours fast. You won’t be alone; we’ll steer you through it.
Step 3: Go After What’s Yours
With your case ready, we’ll take it to bat. In FINRA arbitration, we’ll tell your story to a panel that can order your broker or firm to pay back your losses—sometimes with interest or fees tacked on. For Vinovest or other illiquid investments, we’ll show how the recommendation went off the rails, aiming for every penny you deserve. If arbitration isn’t the best route, we’ll look at other options, like court filings, to boost your shot at recovery. Our mission? Get your money back and hold those brokers accountable.
What’s at Risk: The Cost of Standing Still
Waiting has a price. Illiquid investments like Vinovest or private deals don’t just bounce back—they can stagnate or lose even more ground, especially in 2025’s uncertain economy with higher rates and jittery markets. Every day you hold off, you’re losing time to reclaim your funds. FINRA gives you six years from the investment date to file, but evidence slips away—documents disappear, details fade. Wait too long, and your chance could vanish.
Beyond that, doing nothing lets brokers walk free. They pocket commissions while you shoulder the loss. That’s not fair. Acting now isn’t just about your wallet—it’s about taking back your dignity and shielding others from the same mess.
Picture the Win: A Future You Deserve
Think about this: a FINRA arbitration ruling in your favor, your losses returned, your financial stability back on track. Feel the weight lift, knowing your broker faced the music and your voice counted. At Bakhtiari & Harrison, we’ve made that happen for clients. One investor, roped into a non-traded REIT—an illiquid investment pitched as “safe”—recovered over $200,000 after we proved the broker ignored his low-risk needs. Another, saddled with a private equity dud, got nearly all his $150,000 back when we showed the advice was careless.
Your win could be next. Recovery won’t undo the past, but it can reshape your tomorrow—whether that’s funding a dream, retiring with peace, or just regaining trust in your finances. It’s not a sure thing—every situation’s different—but it’s a fight worth starting.
Take the First Step Today: Reach Out Now
You’ve carried this burden long enough. If Vinovest or another illiquid investment has hit you hard, don’t wait another minute. As FINRA attorneys and investment fraud lawyers, we’re ready to hear you out, review your case, and push for what’s rightfully yours—no upfront fees, no pressure, just a shot at making things right.
Alternative investments and illiquid assets don’t get to write your ending. Let’s take back the pen together. Reach out today—your comeback starts here, contact us.