Financial Negligence Claims

Recover Losses from Poor Financial Advice and Investment Mismanagement

Financial Negligence Solicitors in Dublin

When you trust a financial advisor, broker, or wealth manager with your money, you expect them to provide competent, suitable advice that serves your best interests. Financial negligence occurs when these professionals fail to meet their duty of care, resulting in significant financial losses to you.

At Gary Matthews Solicitors, we understand the devastating impact that poor financial advice can have on your life savings, retirement plans, and financial security. Our experienced solicitors specialize in financial negligence claims and work to recover your losses from negligent financial professionals.

Financial Negligence Expertise

  • No Win, No Fee: No upfront legal costs
  • Financial Experts: Access to independent financial analysts
  • Complex Cases: Experience with intricate financial products
  • Maximum Recovery: Fight for full compensation
  • Regulated Firms: Claims against FCA/CBI regulated advisors
  • 24/7 Available: Contact us anytime

Types of Financial Negligence Claims

Investment Advice Negligence

Poor advice leading to unsuitable investments, excessive risk, or failure to diversify your portfolio appropriately.

Pension Mis-Selling

Inappropriate pension transfers, unsuitable pension products, or failure to explain fees and risks adequately.

Mortgage Advice Negligence

Unsuitable mortgage products, failure to explain terms, or advice that led to financial difficulty.

Insurance Mis-Selling

Inappropriate insurance products, inadequate cover, or failure to disclose material terms and exclusions.

Tax Planning Negligence

Poor tax advice resulting in unexpected tax liabilities, penalties, or lost tax relief opportunities.

Corporate Finance Negligence

Poor advice on business transactions, mergers, acquisitions, or corporate restructuring.

Common Examples of Financial Negligence

Investment-Related Negligence

  • Recommending high-risk investments unsuitable for your circumstances
  • Failing to properly assess your risk tolerance
  • Not diversifying your portfolio adequately
  • Churning (excessive trading to generate commissions)
  • Failing to monitor investments and rebalance
  • Not explaining fees, charges, and risks
  • Conflict of interest (recommending products they profit from)

Pension-Related Negligence

  • Advising you to transfer out of final salary pensions inappropriately
  • Recommending unsuitable pension products with high fees
  • Failing to explain the benefits you're giving up
  • Not considering your retirement needs and goals
  • SIPP (Self-Invested Personal Pension) mis-selling
  • Inappropriate annuity purchases
  • Pension liberation/early access schemes

Proving Financial Negligence

To succeed in a financial negligence claim, we must demonstrate:

  1. Duty of Care: The advisor owed you a professional duty of care
  2. Breach: They failed to meet the required standard of a competent financial advisor
  3. Causation: The negligent advice directly caused your financial losses
  4. Loss: You suffered quantifiable financial damages

We work with independent financial experts who review your case and provide professional opinions on whether the advice met regulatory standards and industry best practices.

Key Evidence Required

  • All correspondence with the financial advisor
  • Fact-find documents and suitability reports
  • Investment or pension statements
  • Product literature and key features documents
  • Records of meetings and advice given
  • Evidence of your financial circumstances at the time
  • Documentation of losses incurred

Financial Negligence Compensation

What You Can Recover

The aim of compensation is to put you back in the financial position you would have been in had the negligent advice not been given. This typically includes:

  • Capital Losses: The difference between what you invested and what you received back
  • Lost Investment Returns: The returns you would have earned with proper advice
  • Pension Benefits Lost: The value of pension benefits given up through transfers
  • Excessive Fees: Unnecessary charges paid on unsuitable products
  • Tax Liabilities: Unexpected tax charges resulting from the advice
  • Interest on Losses: Compensatory interest on money lost
  • Consequential Losses: Other financial impacts flowing from the negligence
  • Distress and Inconvenience: Compensation for upset caused (in appropriate cases)

Regulatory Complaints vs. Legal Claims

You may have two routes to seek redress:

  • Financial Services Ombudsman: Free complaints service with compensation limits (currently €500,000 for investment complaints). No legal costs risk.
  • Court Claims: No compensation limits, but involves legal proceedings. We assess which route is best for your specific situation.

Time Limits for Financial Negligence Claims

Statute of Limitations: Generally 6 years from the date of the negligent advice, or 3 years from when you discovered (or should have discovered) the negligence.

Ombudsman Time Limits: Complaints to the Financial Services Ombudsman must usually be made within 6 years of the event or 3 years from when you became aware of the problem.

Don't Delay: Time limits in financial negligence cases can be complex. Contact us promptly to ensure your claim is protected.

Our Approach to Financial Negligence Claims

Thorough Investigation

We meticulously review all financial documentation and advice given to identify breaches of duty.

Expert Analysis

Independent financial experts assess whether the advice met regulatory standards and was suitable for you.

Loss Calculation

We accurately calculate your losses, comparing your actual position with where you should be.

Strategic Negotiation

We negotiate firmly with insurers and firms to secure full compensation for your losses.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I received negligent financial advice?

If you've suffered significant financial losses and the advice doesn't seem to match your circumstances, risk tolerance, or financial goals, you may have been mis-sold. Contact us for a free assessment.

What if the financial advisor's firm has closed?

Most financial advisors are required to have professional indemnity insurance. Even if the firm has closed, claims can usually be pursued against their insurer or through the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

Can I claim for investment losses in a market downturn?

Not all investment losses are due to negligence—markets fluctuate. However, if you were advised to take risks unsuitable for your circumstances, or weren't properly warned of risks, you may have a claim.

Should I complain to the Ombudsman or pursue a legal claim?

It depends on your situation. The Ombudsman is free but has compensation limits. Court claims have no limits but involve legal costs (covered by our no win, no fee arrangement). We'll advise on the best route for you.

How long do financial negligence claims take?

Ombudsman complaints typically take 12-18 months. Court claims may take 2-3 years depending on complexity. We work efficiently to resolve your claim as quickly as possible.

What if I signed documents saying I understood the risks?

Signing risk warnings doesn't necessarily prevent a claim. If the advice was unsuitable for your circumstances or the risks weren't properly explained, you may still have a valid claim.

Recover Your Financial Losses

If you've suffered losses due to poor financial advice, contact us today for a free case assessment.