Former Cetera Advisor Wins $500,000 Arbitration Award Over Failed M&A Deal

Posted on May 3rd, 2023 at 1:13 PM
Former Cetera Advisor Wins $500,000 Arbitration Award Over Failed M&A Deal

From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law 

A Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration panel has awarded nearly $500,000 to a former Cetera Financial Group advisor, Betsy Jo Merritt, after an agreement to sell her branch fell through. 

The arbitration claim stemmed from Merritt’s agreement to sell her branch for $2.1 million to a then-Cetera financial advisor named Joseph Singleton. However, Janice and John Cartwright of Long Beach, California-based CLG Wealth Management allegedly undercut the deal and recruited two of Merritt’s advisors to their own firm. Cetera was initially a defendant in the case, but Merritt voluntarily dismissed the claims against Cetera as part of a November 2022 settlement.

Merritt and Singleton signed a binding letter in December 2015 outlining Merritt's intent to sell her branch, which received a $1.9 million valuation. John Cartwright allegedly recruited the two highest-producing advisors to CLG Wealth Management by promising a higher payout. Singleton departed Cetera by that fall as he “had seen the writing on the wall and knew there was no longer any reason to purchase Ms. Merritt’s business”, according to the award. Merritt and Singleton initially sought a total of $10.8 million in damages in their May 2018 FINRA arbitration filing.

 

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

 

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next

Fantastic news!!!!  Your professionalism, support and expertise were greatly appreciated.  You made a difficult situation much more bearable.

Marci M.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

February 4, 2026
Investor Redemptions Rise in Nontraded BDCs Amid Credit Concerns

Financial advisors and their clients have increased redemptions from nontraded business development companies (BDCs) following a series of high-profile corporate bankruptcies, according to InvestmentNews. The surge highlights growing investor concern about liquidity and credit exposure within these high-yield but often risky investment ...

February 3, 2026
FINRA Accuses Spartan Capital of Widespread Churning That Allegedly Harmed Customers

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has brought a disciplinary complaint against Spartan Capital Securities and several senior leaders of the New York City–based broker-dealer, alleging that the firm facilitated excessive trading that generated millions of dollars in revenue while causing substantial losses to customers.

February 2, 2026
California Investors Allege Unsuitable DST Recommendations in FINRA Arbitration

Two investors from the San Francisco Bay Area have filed a FINRA arbitration claim against brokerage firm Realized Financial and its financial advisors.