11. Governing Law

11.1 Applicable Law

These Terms of Service, the WealthGuard Privacy Policy, and all related agreements, disclosures, and communications between you and WealthGuard shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, United States, without regard to its conflict of law principles. Where applicable, federal laws of the United States, including but not limited to securities, banking, and consumer protection regulations, shall supersede or supplement state law as permitted by statute.

11.2 Dispute Resolution & Arbitration

Except as expressly provided below, any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms, the Services, or the relationship between you and WealthGuard shall be resolved through binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association ("AAA") in accordance with its Commercial Arbitration Rules and the Supplementary Procedures for Consumer Related Disputes. The arbitration shall be conducted by a single arbitrator and held in New York County, New York, unless both parties mutually agree in writing to an alternative venue or process.

• Investment Disputes: Claims arising from investment advisory services, portfolio management, or brokerage transactions shall be submitted to FINRA Dispute Resolution, in accordance with FINRA's rules and regulations.
• Small Claims Court: Either party may bring an individual action in small claims court, provided the dispute falls within the monetary jurisdiction of such court.
• Equitable Relief: Nothing herein shall preclude either party from seeking injunctive or other equitable relief in a court of competent jurisdiction to protect intellectual property rights, trade secrets, or confidential information.

11.3 Venue & Forum Selection

To the extent that arbitration is not required or elected under Section 11.2, you and WealthGuard agree that the state and federal courts located in New York County, New York, shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any legal action or proceeding arising out of or relating to these Terms. Both parties hereby irrevocably consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts and waive any objection to venue or forum non conveniens.

11.4 Regulatory Compliance & Financial Authorities

WealthGuard operates as a registered financial services provider and complies with applicable regulations enforced by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and relevant state securities and money transmitter regulators. Nothing in this Governing Law section shall limit, restrict, or waive any rights or remedies available to you under federal securities laws, state consumer finance statutes, or applicable financial regulatory frameworks.

In the event of a conflict between these Terms and mandatory regulatory requirements, the applicable regulatory provision shall control to the extent of such conflict.

11.5 Severability & Waiver

If any provision of this Governing Law section or the applicable Terms is held by a court or arbitral tribunal to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect. To the extent any provision is deemed overly broad, it shall be modified only to the minimum extent necessary to render it enforceable, preserving its original intent.

Failure by WealthGuard to enforce any right or provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision. No waiver shall be effective unless expressly stated in writing and signed by an authorized representative of WealthGuard.

11.6 Amendments to Governing Law

WealthGuard reserves the right to modify, amend, or update this Governing Law section in accordance with changes in applicable regulations, jurisdictional requirements, or operational policies. Material changes will be communicated via email to the address associated with your account and posted to our Legal Center with an updated "Last Modified" date. Your continued use of the Services following such amendments constitutes acceptance of the revised governing law provisions.