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

Former CFA Institute Executive Charged in $5 Million Embezzlement Scheme

Posted on July 16th, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Former CFA Institute Executive Charged in $5 Million Embezzlement Scheme

From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law

Michael J. Collins, the former chief marketing officer of the CFA Institute, has been accused of embezzling nearly $5 million from the financial education organization through a long-running fraud scheme designed to fund a lavish personal lifestyle. As reported by ThinkAdvisor, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office announced the charges following Collins’ arrest on an eight-count indictment.

Prosecutors allege Collins exploited his executive position at the CFA Institute between 2016 and 2022 by creating and secretly controlling sham consulting firms. He then directed contracts to these entities and submitted fraudulent invoices for services that were never performed. According to ThinkAdvisor, the indictment further claims Collins executed a similar scheme after joining Boundless Learning, a former educational subsidiary of Pearson Plc, where he worked from 2022 to 2024.

Authorities say Collins built a façade of legitimacy around these fake companies by registering websites, emails, phone numbers, and bank accounts. He allegedly exchanged emails with these fabricated firms and forwarded them to internal contacts to conceal the deception.

Collins, 61, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

 

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

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next
Quotes Bigger

This was the best of all possible outcomes and I cannot thank you and the team enough.

Michael S.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

1792523173 Law
October 20, 2026
FINRA Orders American Portfolios to Pay $1.6 Million Over Unit Investment Trust Supervision Failures

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has ordered American Portfolios, the broker-dealer later absorbed into Osaic, to pay more than $1.6 million in restitution and fines over failures to supervise financial advisors who repeatedly recommended that customers sell unit investment trusts (UITs) before maturity.

1792432258 Law
October 19, 2026
FINRA Bars Former LPL Broker Over Alleged $1.7 Million Customer Theft

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has barred former LPL Financial broker Rudy Anguiano after finding that he converted more than $1.7 million from two customers, according to AdvisorHub.

1792164960 Law
October 16, 2026
Ameriprise and Broker Ordered to Pay Edward Jones Nearly $4.8 Million in Trade Secrets Dispute

Ameriprise Financial and broker Cory J.