What is going on with the search results for my name?

Certain highly organized plaintiff attorneys have devised insidious mass marketing tactics in an attempt to solicit investors as clients. These attorneys typically earn up to 40% of any settlement and brokerage houses are often compelled to settle claims due to the high cost of defense. These solicitations can take the form of paid ads triggered from my name (George Terlizzi) or can be cleverly disguised as news releases. These web pages make it appear as though what is being said is from an independent source or a result of an “investigation” when they are, in reality, solicitations.

This seems unethical on the part of the attorneys, how is this permitted?

Unlike any other profession (CPAs, physicians, attorneys) regulated financial professionals are able to be attacked in this way and the plaintiff attorneys can claim anything they wish, not being held to any standard of truthfulness whatsoever with respect to their claims. Often clients are told they are taking action against the investment company or the brokerage firm, not anything that will affect the broker personally, when in fact these actions affect the broker primarily.

Why don’t the brokers fight back and clear their name?

Brokers would love to go through an even handed process that would give them a chance to illustrate their level of professionalism and strict adherence to professional norms in the execution of their duties. However, understandably, their firms have to weigh the cost of defense, often into six figures, and thus routinely settle these cases without input from the brokers who have been maligned.

Don’t investors accept risk when investing? If so, how can they sue their brokers?

Most investors who are drawn in by these attorneys think they are suing the investment company itself. While it’s true brokers cannot be sued for performance, this would make it impossible to offer investment advice, these attorneys twist investor unhappiness regarding performance into sales practice wrongdoing claims. Most often, the attorneys claim that the broker did not conduct due diligence or provided the investor with investments that were somehow unsuitable.

How does this work in other professions?

As an example, if one wishes to bring a medical malpractice suit against a physician in North Carolina they must first convince a certified expert witness that they actually have a case. This is why abuse of medical malpractice claims is not the existential threat it once was for physicians and their insurance carriers.

Isn’t it infuriating to have your name itself publicly corrupted by this process?

Yes, exactly! Unfortunately the rules governing my behavior do not allow me to express myself with greater candor. That said, I’m sure you can imagine it’s not fun to literally purchase ads from Google for this purpose.

How can I learn more about you and your firm?

I’m proud of the firm I have built together with my amazing team. 

About George Terlizzi

George Terlizzi has worked in business for more than twenty-five years as an entrepreneur, consultant, dealmaker, and executive for early and mid-­stage companies. He has substantial concentrations in finance, technology, consulting and numerous forms of transaction work. George has worked to build new companies, grow existing businesses, form strategic relationships and most often puts energy to new ways of doing things.

George dropped out of Northwestern University to found his first technology business, which grew under his leadership to more than $30M in revenue and was acquired by a public company in 1996. After effectuating the sale of the company, George Terlizzi served as a senior executive in the new firm where revenues exceeded $100M.

Following the sale of his company, and his brief “retirement”, George Terlizzi worked in mergers and acquisitions where he brokered the sale of private businesses ranging in value from $2-­20M, while also serving as a trusted advisor to small business leaders working to grow, fund and eventually exit their businesses.

Today George advises wealth Clients individually, leads the Advisory team and sets the strategic vision for SouthPark Capital. Throughout the industry George Terlizzi is a sought after speaker at national events as well as a confidant and mentor to those who lead successful financial practices of their own.

George’s insatiable curiosity, action oriented approach and broad ranging interests are invaluable to those he advises. Clients often remark on the relevance of his real world, first person experience and the unique insights he brings to their financial puzzles. George makes his home in Charlotte, NC, with his wife Robin, their daughter Sarah, and Lucy Cupcake, their Golden Retriever.

Call George Terlizzi: (704) 325-9406

Email George Terlizzi: george@southparkcapital.com

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