New Hampshire Investment Fraud Lawyers & FINRA Attorneys

Investment fraud lawyers serving New Hampshire investors

New Hampshire’s investor market is shaped by the state’s unique position as the Northeast’s most tax-favorable jurisdiction and its geographic relationship with the Boston metropolitan economy. The state’s absence of income and sales taxes has drawn a significant community of relocated Massachusetts and Connecticut professionals — executives, technology workers, and financial services professionals who maintain Boston-area employment while residing in southern New Hampshire communities including Nashua, Manchester, Bedford, Windham, and Derry. This community’s investment accounts, managed through Boston-area and national broker-dealer networks, face the same misconduct patterns generating FINRA arbitration claims throughout the New England market.

Manchester — New Hampshire’s largest city and its commercial center — has a diverse economy anchored by healthcare, financial services, technology, and manufacturing. Elliot Health System and Catholic Medical Center create a large healthcare professional investor community. The technology sector along the Manchester-Nashua corridor, anchored by significant BAE Systems defense operations in Nashua and a growing software and digital economy, has produced a corporate employee investor community with equity compensation exposure. The University of New Hampshire in Durham adds an academic investor demographic.

New Hampshire’s significant retirement community — particularly in the Lakes Region and along the Seacoast — creates specific investment fraud vulnerability. Retirees who relocated from Massachusetts and Connecticut bring transferred investment accounts that are targeted by brokers who recommend unsuitable product replacements at account transition. The state’s large population of small business owners whose accumulated business equity is being converted to investment assets at retirement face private placement fraud and unsuitable alternative investment recommendations through community business networks.

Investment fraud and misconduct claims we handle

• Unsuitable investment recommendations: recommendations inconsistent with the investor’s risk tolerance, financial situation, or objectives violate FINRA Rule 2111 and Regulation Best Interest.
• Broker fraud and misrepresentation: material misstatements and omissions in connection with investment recommendations are actionable under federal securities law and FINRA rules.
• Unauthorized trading: executing transactions without prior client authorization violates the account agreement and FINRA rules.
• Churning and excessive trading: excessive trading to generate commissions at the investor’s expense is a suitability violation.
• Overconcentration: failing to maintain adequate diversification in a single security, sector, or product.
• Variable annuity and product fraud: unsuitable recommendations of variable annuities, non-traded REITs, structured notes, leveraged ETFs, and private placements.
• Elder financial fraud: exploitation of elderly investors subject to enhanced liability under state and federal statutes.
• Failure to supervise: brokerage firms bear independent liability under FINRA Rule 3110 when supervisory failures allow broker misconduct to cause investor harm.

Suitability under New Hampshire Securities Law

A violation occurs when a broker or adviser recommends unsuitable investments, failing to consider the client’s unique circumstances. Such actions can lead to significant financial losses for the client and potential legal liability for the adviser. The New Hampshire suitability requirement is integral to protecting investors from inappropriate and potentially harmful investment strategies.

New Hampshire requires investment advisers to act in the best interests of their clients. Under New Hampshire Uniform Securities Act (RSA 421-B:3-301), advisers must not mislead or deceive clients regarding investment suitability. Ensuring recommendations align with clients’ financial goals and risk tolerance is critical.

Unauthorized Trading under New Hampshire Securities Law

New Hampshire Uniform Securities Act (RSA 421-B:3-301) also prohibits unauthorized trading. Brokers must secure client consent before executing any trades. Violations can result in criminal penalties, fines, and the potential loss of licensure.

Misrepresentations Under New Hampshire Securities Law

Similarly, under the New Hampshire Uniform Securities Act (RSA 421-B:3-301), it is unlawful for any person to misrepresent or omit material facts in connection with the sale of securities. New Hampshire investment fraud lawyers of Bakhtiari & Harrison investigate fraud claims. This includes false statements about the value or safety of an investment. Violations can lead to severe penalties, including fines and imprisonment.

New Hampshire’s New Hampshire Uniform Securities Act (RSA 421-B:3-301) also mandates full disclosure of all material information to investors. Failure to disclose can result in criminal and civil penalties, aiming to protect investors from fraud and deception.

Unfair Business Advantage under New Hampshire Securities Laws

In New Hampshire, similar protections are provided under the New Hampshire Consumer Protection Act (RSA 358-A), which prohibits deceptive acts and practices in the conduct of business, including securities trading. New Hampshire investment fraud lawyers of Bakhtiari & Harrison investigate claims of insider trading, market manipulation, and other unfair practices.

Understanding and adhering to these laws and regulations in New Hampshire is crucial for maintaining market integrity and protecting investors from fraud and malpractice.

Why choose Bakhtiari & Harrison as your New Hampshire investment fraud lawyers

• $250 million+ recovered. Four decades of results for investors in FINRA arbitration and securities litigation nationwide.
• Former FINRA NAMC Chairman. Ryan Bakhtiari served as Chairman of the FINRA National Arbitration and Mediation Committee from 2013 to 2017.
• Former Morgan Stanley in-house counsel. David Harrison spent years as Morgan Stanley Dean Witter in-house counsel and began his career as a Series 7-licensed representative at Shearson Lehman Brothers.
• Dedicated experience in FINRA arbitration. Selecting counsel with specific FINRA arbitration expertise is the single most important decision an investor claimant makes. Bakhtiari & Harrison’s practice is dedicated to investor-side FINRA arbitration and securities litigation.
• FINRA hearings near you. FINRA arbitration hearings are held at the venue nearest the claimant’s residence.
• Contingency fee representation. No recovery, no fee. Initial consultations are free.

Frequently asked questions — New Hampshire investment fraud lawyers

Can I represent myself in FINRA arbitration as a New Hampshire investor?

You are not required to have an attorney, but representing yourself against a brokerage firm’s dedicated FINRA defense team is a severe disadvantage. FINRA arbitration has specific procedural rules, discovery obligations, arbitrator selection processes, and hearing conventions requiring dedicated expertise. Bakhtiari & Harrison represents New Hampshire investor claimants on a contingency fee basis — there is no financial barrier to qualified representation.

My New Hampshire broker has left the firm — can I still bring a claim?

Yes. A broker’s departure from the firm does not eliminate the employing firm’s FINRA Rule 3110 supervisory liability for misconduct during their employment. Claims are filed against both the individual broker and the firm. The firm remains fully liable for its supervisory failures regardless of whether the broker still works there, has moved to another firm, or has left the industry entirely.

How long does a FINRA arbitration case take for a New Hampshire investor?

Standard FINRA arbitration cases take 12 to 18 months from filing the Statement of Claim through the award. Cases with larger damages, multiple parties, or complex products sometimes take longer. FINRA’s simplified arbitration — for claims under $50,000 — resolves more quickly. Bakhtiari & Harrison manages every procedural step throughout the process.

Should I check my New Hampshire broker on FINRA BrokerCheck?

Yes. BrokerCheck at brokercheck.finra.org is free and shows a broker’s complete registration history, all employment, and every disclosed customer complaint, regulatory action, and criminal proceeding. Prior complaints involving similar conduct strengthen your claim and may support a pattern-of-misconduct argument. Bakhtiari & Harrison reviews BrokerCheck records in every initial case evaluation.

Contact our New Hampshire investment fraud lawyers — free consultation

Contact Bakhtiari & Harrison for a free, confidential consultation. Our FINRA attorneys evaluate every potential New Hampshire investor claim at no charge. Contact us today.

Investor cases are handled on a contingency fee basis — no recovery, no fee.

Call: (800) 382-7969 | Contact Us