Acknowledgments.

Introduction.

Part One: My NASD Arbitration from Start to Finish.

Chapter 1 Sweating Bullets.

Chapter 2 24: The Day That Almost Never Ended.

Chapter 3 Expert Witness Unmasked: An Offer to Settle—I Finally Get to Testify.

Chapter 4 Cross-Examination—It Was War.

Chapter 5 Closing Arguments—And a Decision.

Part Two: Five Black-Belt Principles to Protect and Grow Your Financial Services Practice.

Chapter 6 The Cycle of Life.

Chapter 7 To Protect and Grow.

Chapter 8 Humility: The White-Belt Attitude.

Chapter 9 Integrity: Look in the Mirror.

Chapter 10 Duality: Yin and Yang.

Chapter 11 Awareness: The Third Eye.

Chapter 12 Dedication: Kaizen.

Part Three: How to Prevail in an NASD Arbitration Hearing.

Chapter 13 What’s the Cost?

Chapter 14 Case Studies.

Chapter 15 The Lawyer’s Perspective: How to Prepare and Try an NASD Arbitration Case—by James W.Weller, Esq.

Chapter 16 How to Prepare for NASD Arbitration.

Chapter 17 Preparing to Testify and Managing Your Case to Conclusion.

Appendices.

Appendix A NASD Arbitration Case Flow.

Appendix B NASD Arbitration Trends.

Appendix C Errors-and-Omissions Insurance.

Appendix D Technology Tools.

Index.

About the Authors.

While many in his position would shy away from discussing this experience, Hine, with the help of John Brubaker, decided to share his story and provide you with invaluable instructional and motivational information regarding the costly and time-consuming NASD arbitration process; how you can grow your financial services practice; minimize the chances of an investor complaint; and properly respond to one, if necessary.

NASD Arbitration Solution presents an entirely new approach to the subject of compliance. It combines courtroom drama, vivid anecdotes, analogies, humor, philosophy, and practical "how to" advice to create the definitive one-stop resource for Registered Representatives on one of the most talked about subjects in the financial services industry. A page-turning work on a subject often regarded by representatives as tedious, it may become the only book on NASD compliance you will ever want to read from cover to cover.

The threat of an investor complaint hangs over the head of every Registered Representative every day in the business. Despite the fact that NASD arbitration can become a career-defining, or even career-ending event, many Registered Representatives are unaware of exposures they may have in their current practice and how this system actually works. While concerns surrounding NASD arbitration continue to grow, there is still a lack of solid, clear, and helpful information on this most vital of topics. That's why Thomas Hine, with the help of John Brubaker, decided to write NASD Arbitration Solution.

While those who've faced NASD arbitration usually avoid discussing their experiences because of the taboo nature of the subject, financial professional and 4th degree black belt Thomas Hine has not. Throughout these pages, he shares the lessons learned from his twenty-one month NASD arbitration ordeal and reveals how he relied on five simple but powerful principles—which were part of his more than twenty years of martial arts training—to build and protect his wealth advisory practice along the way. This definitive resource brings NASD compliance issues to life as never before and shows you how to simultaneously protect and grow a financial services practice, and, if necessary, deal with a well-intentioned system that has become increasingly hostile and adversarial.

Divided into three comprehensive parts—My NASD Arbitration from Start to Finish, Five Black Belt Principles to Protect and Grow Your Financial Services Practice, and How to Prevail in an NASD Arbitration Hearing—this book:

• Completely details Hine's journey through arbitration, from pre-hearing preparation, testifying under oath, and cross-examination to closing arguments and the arbitration panel's dramatic final decision

• Clarifies each of the five "Black Belt" principles used by Hine and demonstrates how you can apply them in the development of a prosperous, ethically sound, client-focused financial services practice

• Provides those who are brought into NASD arbitration with expert knowledge, a clear step-by-step plan of action, and easy-to-use tools to effectively defend themselves

• Gives an insider's view of NASD arbitration from a top practicing attorney

• And much more

Increasingly complex financial products, the implementation of stricter regulations, and the speed of real time business pose serious risks to even the most seasoned of Registered Representatives. To navigate this tough terrain, discover an approach based on the universal principles of humility, integrity, duality, awareness, and dedication—and use it to strengthen your practice and, if necessary, overcome the challenges that are an inevitable part of the arduous NASD arbitration process.