Recent Answers to Financial Services Law Questions

Gary S.

Answered Jun 25, 2025

Generally no, a lender cannot unilaterally change the terms of a loan agreement without the borrower's consent. Loan agreements are binding contracts, and any modification to the terms (such as interest rate, repayment schedule, or collateral requirements) typically requires both parties to agree to the change. However, depending on the agreement's terms and the type of loan, there are some nuanced exceptions. Some loan agreements permit changes without borrower consent, such as variable rate provisions, default provisions (allowing changes if borrower is in default), or loan servicing clauses (ex. payment instructions can usually be modified unilaterally). However, in each case, these rights to modify the terms must be clearly stated in the loan agreement, and if the agreement is silent, the lender cannot change the terms without the consent of the borrower. The information provided in this response is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is formed by this communication. For advice specific to your situation, please seek legal counsel.

Jonathan W.

Answered Sep 10, 2024

Generally speaking and without seeing the contract, there are usually two ways to get out of contract - (i) under the terms of the agreement or (ii) breaching the contract. First, without a breach of the agreement to determine whether you can do this you need to review the contract to see if there are service levels, promised returns, or other commitments that the IA is not meeting. Then you need to look at the section on termination in the contract and see if their failure to fulfill their obligations is covered and what the process is for termination, i.e. is there a breach cure period, is there a dispute resolution provisions, any penalty/fee for early termination and what are the notice provisions. The other way is to Breach the contract which would be stopping performing your obligations under it which I would assume without seeing it are likely just payment of fees. The potential consequences of breaching a contract could include lawsuits, financial penalties, and damage to your reputation. Also before resorting to breaching the contract, I would suggest exploring negotiation with the Investment Advisor as they may be willing to amend the terms or agree to an early termination. I will also add, in any event, you should be keeping a detailed record of all communications with the Investment Advisor, especially if there are performance issues or disputes. This documentation can be crucial if legal action becomes necessary.