The Globe and Mail reports in its Tuesday edition that in 2017, the Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments decided that a 37-year-old widow was owed compensation for financial losses she had suffered at the hands of her financial adviser. The Globe's Irene Galea and Tim Shufelt write that the OBSI investigated and found that her adviser had taken inappropriate risks with her money. It also found that overtrading in her accounts had resulted in excessive commissions and that the investment firm she dealt with should have to repay her $225,000 in losses. The adviser's firm offered its client just $40,000. She "reluctantly accepted" the lower offer, believing she had "no realistic alternative" way of recouping her savings, OBSI said in a report on the matter. As part of the settlement process, she had to pledge confidentiality. Because of this, the name of the firm and the identity of the adviser remained secret. Nobody in Canada tracks how often these NDAs, or non-disclosure agreements, are used. However, lawyers who represent investors agree that they are widespread in financial dispute settlements. Experts say that complainants often sign without legal advice, or out of necessity, not desire or willingness.