Tr?id=566623520170033&ev=PageView&noscript=1

FINRA Bars Former Cetera Advisor Who Converted Client Funds

Posted on April 13th, 2022 at 1:31 PM
FINRA Bars Former Cetera Advisor Who Converted Client Funds

From the Desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law:

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has barred a former Cetera Financial advisor for allegedly converting $40,000 from her client accounts in order to purchase mutual fund shares for her son.


The former advisor, Marianne Smith, consented to the bar without admitting or denying FINRA’s findings, according to FINRA’s letter of acceptance, waiver and consent (“AWC”). Smith joined the industry in 1987 with American Express Financial Advisors before eventually transitioning to Cetera in 2016. However, Cetera filed a Uniform Termination Notice (Form U5) in June 2021 indicating that Smith was fired in connection with the firm’s investigation into Smith’s alleged conversion of client funds.


According to FINRA, Smith allegedly converted at least $45,100 from three older Cetera clients between February 2018 and April 2021. Between 2018 and 2021, three Cetera clients provided Smith 10 checks totaling $45,100 payable to a mutual fund company associated with Cetera. However, Smith instead used the client funds, “without their prior knowledge or consent, to purchase mutual fund shares for a family member of Smith”, according to FINRA. Nevertheless, the clients were fully reimbursed after Cetera discovered Smith’s misconduct, according to FINRA.


Eccleston Law LLC represents investors and financial advisors nationwide in securities, employment, regulatory and disciplinary matters.

 
 

Tags: eccleston law, finra, cetera

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next
Quotes Bigger

If the regulators are after you, and are trying to make a case against you, and you are going to contest their allegations against you, make sure you have the best securities industry defense lawyers, Eccleston Law Firm. My case was spun into a combination of penalties including fines, cash settlements, CE courses and suspension. They were the best I have seen in action. When all was said and done, they had done their magic, my situation was negotiated and settled with a simple "letter of caution" and a case closed without action. It is the most important legal business decision you will ever make, make it Eccleston Law.

Rick R.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

1781638769 Law
June 16, 2026
Cetera Hit With Class Action Lawsuit Over Cash Sweep Program

A proposed class action lawsuit has accused Cetera Financial Group and Cetera Investment Services of improperly profiting from customer cash held in the firms' FlexInsured Account Program, according to a report by ThinkAdvisor.

1781539717 Law
June 15, 2026
New York Insurance Agent Pleads Guilty to $50 Million Ponzi Scheme

A New York insurance agent and tax preparer has pleaded guilty to operating a Ponzi scheme that allegedly defrauded nearly 1,000 investors out of more than $50 million over several decades, according to a report by InvestmentNews.

1781279618 Law
June 12, 2026
FINRA Suspends Former LPL Broker Over Undisclosed Outside Business Activity

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has imposed a $5,000 fine and a 45-day suspension against former LPL Financial broker James R.