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

FINRA Suspends Financial Advisor for Outsourcing Continuing Education Requirements

Posted on August 13th, 2025 at 1:50 PM
FINRA Suspends Financial Advisor for Outsourcing Continuing Education Requirements

From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has suspended advisor Francis G. Smith for one month and fined him $5,000 after finding he had someone else complete required continuing education (CE) coursework on his behalf.

According to a FINRA Acceptance, Waiver and Consent (AWC), Smith allegedly directed another individual to complete 18 hours of New York state insurance CE credits for him in February 2023. He then certified to the state that he had personally completed the coursework, which was necessary to maintain his insurance license.

According to AdvisorHub, FINRA cited Smith for violating Rule 2010, which requires brokers to uphold high standards of commercial honor and just and equitable principles of trade. Smith accepted the sanctions without admitting or denying the findings.

Smith’s conduct mirrors a broader pattern of enforcement by FINRA. The regulator recently sanctioned dozens of advisors for similar violations tied to outsourcing CE requirements, often issuing identical penalties of a $5,000 fine and a one-month suspension. As reported by AdvisorHub, those cases typically trace back to CE courses mandated by the State of New York.

 

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

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law, finra

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next
Quotes Bigger

If you find yourself in trouble with the regulators, call Eccleston Law, you won't regret it.

Rick R.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

1787342003 Law
August 21, 2026
Rising Market Leverage Raises Concerns About Financial Stability Despite Low Volatility

The leverage that has helped drive the U.S.

1787244289 Law
August 20, 2026
FinCEN Imposes Record $125 Million Penalty on UBS Financial Services

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has imposed a $125 million civil money penalty against UBS Financial Services Inc.

1787157891 Law
August 19, 2026
Former UBS Financial Advisor Suspended and Fined Over Unauthorized Trading Allegations

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) suspended a former UBS Wealth Management USA broker for three months and fined him $10,000 after finding that he executed hundreds of trades in two customers' accounts without the required written authorization.