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

You were most helpful with my FINRA deposition. You are a good lawyer and a good person.

Dan B.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

1793645928 Law
November 2, 2026
FINRA Finds Florida Broker Violated Regulation Best Interest in Variable Annuity Exchanges

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has found that a Florida-based registered representative violated Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI) by recommending that eight retired clients exchange their variable annuities.

1793380402 Law
October 30, 2026
Former LPL Broker Faces Federal Charges in Alleged $11 Million Ponzi Scheme

Federal prosecutors accuse former LPL Financial broker William B.

1793294906 Law
October 29, 2026
FINRA Bars Former LPL Financial Broker for Refusing to Cooperate With Investigation

?The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA?) barred Buddy Dean Mason, a former LPL Financial broker in Lakeland, Florida, after he refused to provide documents and information during an investigation into a customer complaint involving an alleged outside investment.