Harold Geller
Partner
Harold’s practice focuses on securities litigation, investor protection, and financial services disputes. With more than 30 years of experience, he represents retail investors, life insurance policyholders, and beneficiaries across Canada. He acts in cases involving investment losses, unsuitable financial advice, professional negligence, advisor misconduct, and denied insurance claims.
Harold regularly acts in disputes involving banks, investment dealers, portfolio managers, financial advisors, life insurance agents, agencies, and insurers. His work includes proceedings before the civil courts and the Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments (OBSI). Over the course of his career, Harold has assisted more than 1,500 Canadians in recovering losses.
Harold is frequently consulted by lawyers, regulators, financial professionals, and media organizations on issues affecting retail investors, seniors, and life insurance consumers. He is known for combining deep industry knowledge with practical legal strategy, allowing him to navigate highly technical financial matters while explaining complex issues clearly and effectively.
Harold has held numerous leadership and advisory roles relating to investor advocacy, consumer protection, and financial services regulation. He is currently a member of the Financial Planning Association of Canada’s Regulatory Committee, the Actuarial Profession Oversight Board (APOB), the APOB Public Interest Committee as Co-Chair, the APOB Nominating Committee, and the Dementia-Friendly Professional Advisory Board.
He previously served on the Ontario Securities Commission’s Investor Advisory Panel and Seniors Expert Advisory Committee, IIROC’s Arbitration Working Group, FSRAO’s Consumer Advisory Panel, and as Chair of OBSI’s Consumer and Investor Advisory Council. He has also served on executive committees of legal associations focused on elder law and life insurance law.
More About Harold
I believe good legal advice begins with clarity. Clients often come to me after a serious financial loss, unsure of what happened or what options are available to them. I see my role as helping them make sense of the situation, understand their choices, and decide on a practical path forward.
Ontario, 1993
- LLB, Dalhousie University, 1991
- BA (Hons), Queen’s University, 1987
- Canadian Bar Association
- Ontario Bar Association
- County of Carleton Law Association
- Financial Planning Association of Canada
- Actuarial Profession Oversight Board (APOB)
- Dementia-Friendly Professional Advisory Board
Publications and Media
- Globe and Mail – “Ontario revised regulatory proposals tighten definition of life and health MGAs” (July 21, 2026)
- Globe and Mail – “Silent Treatment” (May 1, 2026)
- Globe and Mail – “Private Funds Are Gating Withdrawals. Here’s What Investors Need to Know” (January 19, 2026)
- Globe and Mail – “Insurance Industry Stakeholders See Room for Improvement in Ontario’s Proposed Rule” (January 12, 2026)
- Advisor.ca – “Industry Divided on OSC’s Proposed ‘Long-Term Asset Funds’” (February 17, 2025)
- Academic Repository / Thesis Citation – The Financial Inclusion Illusion (January 1, 2025)
- Globe and Mail – “Industry Backlash Stalls Investor-Friendly Reforms – Again” (November 22, 2024)
- Investment Executive – “Avoid Being Sued Over KYP Shortfalls, Expert Tells IAFP Symposium” (September 30, 2024)
- Globe and Mail – “Morning Update: A Former Child Star’s $144-Million Real Estate Crash” (July 29, 2024)
- Social Media Post – “LinkedIn Post on CIRO Complaint Handling” (January 1, 2024)
- Globe and Mail – “Governments Limiting Non-Disclosure Agreements in Other Sectors, but Finance Is a Holdout” (August 1, 2023)
- Bar Association Feature – “Ontario Bar Association Insurance Law Section” (March 24, 2022)
- Globe and Mail – “Do Regulators Need to Prioritize Negligence Over Fraud?” (July 29, 2021)
- Globe and Mail – “It’s a Broken System: Investors Face Regulatory Nightmare After Adviser Misconduct” (March 24, 2021)
- Trade-Press Quote – Advisor.ca – “Ensure your client can afford policy premiums” (March 12, 2021)
- Trade-Press Quote – Investment Executive – “Protecting yourself from claims when clients are stressed” (January 1, 2020)
- Globe and Mail – “Four Pillars of Great Financial Advice” (September 10, 2019)
- Legal Magazine Quote – Canadian Lawyer – “Do-it-yourself regulation” (May 27, 2019)
- Advisor.ca – “Good Questions Equal Good Advice” (November 9, 2009)
- Advisor.ca – “LTD: Helping Claimants When They Are Most Vulnerable” (July 30, 2009)
- Advisor.ca – “Long-Term Disability Claims — The Individual Policy” (July 16, 2009)
- Advisor.ca – “Long-Term Disability Claims: Helping Clients and Their Group Members” (July 2, 2009)
- Advisor.ca – “Legally Speaking: Restrictive Covenants in Advisor Contracts” (June 1, 2009)
- Advisor.ca – “Avoiding Liability (Part 3): Your KYC Process and Other Tools” (April 7, 2009)
- Advisor.ca – “Legally Speaking: Avoiding Liability in Uncertain Times (Part 2)” (March 31, 2009)
- Advisor.ca – “Legally Speaking: Avoiding Liability in Uncertain Times (Part 1)” (March 24, 2009)
- Advisor.ca – “Legally Speaking: Botched Beneficiary Designations” (October 23, 2008)
- Advisor.ca – “Legally speaking: Volatility, prepared clients and opportunity” (September 11, 2008)
- Advisor.ca – “Legally speaking: Professional networks service and liability” (December 20, 2007)
- Advisor.ca – “Legally Speaking: Bank Insurance, Consumer Rights” (August 28, 2007)
- Advisor.ca – “Legally speaking: TPAs — helpful product or potential nightmare?” (May 6, 2007)
- Advisor.ca – “Legally Speaking: Goodwill undone” (March 14, 2007)
- Advisor.ca – “Can you prove your clients are informed?” (May 16, 2006)
- Advisor.ca – “Avoiding Litigation: Tips from the Experts” (May 19, 2005)
- Investment Executive (Al Emid) (April 4, 2005)
- Canadian Underwriter (January 1, 2005)
- Insurance-Portal – “When and how to fire a client” (November 19, 2005)
- Globe and Mail – “How to Sue Your Financial Adviser” (November 28, 2003)
Speaking Engagements, Podcasts and Presentations
- Finance Village Podcast – “Top Mistakes Financial Advisors Make: Ethics, Risk, and Compliance” (January 17, 2025)
- “The Difference Between Good and Bad Advice” (June 13, 2025)
- IAFP Symposium 2024 – Conference Speaker Bio (September 1, 2024)
- The National Group Benefits – “E&O Insurance for Advisors – Current and Evolving Issues” (June 2024)
- Bull Shift – The Podcast with John DeGoey (September 2023)
- Access to Justice Podcast – “What to Do When Financial Planning Goes Bad” (August 2023)
- Ontario Bar Association, Insurance Law Section – “FSRA’s Journey Towards Being Principles-Based and Outcomes-Focused” (June 2023)
- Academy of Financial Divorce Specialists – “Family Transitions Advanced Education” (June 2023)
- Presentation on Life Insurance Replacement Declaration Consultation to CSIRO (April 2023)
- 32nd Annual Institute of Family Law – “The Role of Life Insurance in Family Law” (April 2023)
- Rational Reminder Podcast – “I Sue Financial Advisors” (January 19, 2023)
- “Come From Away – Regional Court Perspectives” (January 9, 2023)
- “Life Insurance – Death Benefit and Investment Claims” (December 13, 2022)
- FPAC Educational Event – “Financial Planning: A Holistic Approach to Compliance” (December 7, 2022)
- IAFP Symposium 2022 – Conference Speaker Bio (October 1, 2022)
- IAFP Financial Planning – “The Standard for the Future Is Here Today” (October 1, 2022)
- “The Difference Between Good & Bad Advice with Harold Geller” (January 28, 2021)
Regulatory, Advisory and Professional Contributions
- Official Consultation Submission – “OBSI Independent Review Consultation” (March 31, 2026)
- Official Comment Letter – “OSC Comment Letter on CSA Consultation Paper 81-737” (February 17, 2025)
- Regulator Announcement – “FSRA Consumer Advisory Panel Announcement” (April 2, 2024)
- Official Comment Letter – “OSC Public Comment-Letter Portal for NI 31-103 Dispute-Resolution Reforms” (February 28, 2024)
- Regulator Announcement – “OSC Seniors Expert Advisory Committee 2024” (January 10, 2024)
- Annual Report Bio – “FSRA Consumer Advisory Panel Annual Report 2021” (February 28, 2022)
- Official Comment Letter – “FSRA Consultation on Life-Agent Reporting and Insurer Oversight” (November 3, 2021)
- Official List of Commenters – “CSA Notice of Amendments to NI 31-103” (July 15, 2021)
- Official Comment Letter – “IIROC Expert Investor Issues Panel Submission” (June 7, 2021)
- Regulator Announcement – “OSC Seniors Expert Advisory Committee 2021-2022” (June 2, 2021)
- Official Comment Letter – “IIROC Expert Investor Advisory Panel Submission” (May 10, 2021)
- Ombudsman Announcement – “OBSI CIAC Chair Announcement” (October 5, 2020)
- Ombudsman Announcement – “OBSI CIAC Member Announcement” (April 6, 2018)
- Parliamentary Brief – “House of Commons Standing Committee” (June 2, 2017)
- Official Ombudsman Comment Letter – “OBSI Independent Evaluation Response” (February 19, 2016)
- Official Comment Letter – “OSC Whistleblower Program Letter” (November 6, 2015)
- Official Comment Letter – “OSC Prospectus-Exemption Consultation Letter” (May 1, 2015)
- Professional Board Bio – “Canadian Institute of Certified Executor Advisor” (January 1, 2014)
- Official Ombudsman Comment – “OBSI Terms of Reference Comment” (June 12, 2013)