Former LPL Advisor Suspended for Beneficiary Designation Violations

Posted on July 17th, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Former LPL Advisor Suspended for Beneficiary Designation Violations

From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law

A former LPL Financial advisor has agreed to an eight-month suspension and a $5,000 fine after the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) found he improperly named his immediate family members as beneficiaries on a client’s accounts without firm approval.

According to ThinkAdvisor, Paul X. Nannicelli spent 30 years registered as a broker with LPL and 24 years as an investment adviser. Nannicelli signed a FINRA Acceptance, Waiver and Consent (AWC) letter, resolving the allegations without admitting or denying FINRA’s findings.

According to the regulator, from September 2020 through August 2023, Nannicelli circumvented LPL’s firm policies, which prohibit registered representatives and their immediate family members from being named beneficiaries on client accounts without firm consent. During this period, Nannicelli assisted an unrelated customer in designating his wife as the primary beneficiary and his four children as contingent beneficiaries on six separate accounts. The forms listed them as “family friends” to avoid detection.

Further compounding the misconduct, FINRA stated that Nannicelli later certified on an internal LPL compliance questionnaire that he was unaware of any such beneficiary designations involving his immediate family.

ThinkAdvisor reports that LPL initially submitted a Form U-5 in August 2023 reflecting Nannicelli’s voluntary departure from the firm. Three months later, the firm amended the filing to disclose an internal review prompted by a customer complaint alleging his family members had been improperly added as beneficiaries.

By assisting in these unauthorized beneficiary changes, Nannicelli violated FINRA Rule 2010, which requires members to observe high standards of commercial honor and just and equitable principles of trade.

 

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

I learned two important things working with Eccleston Law. First, I made a friend and ally with Jim and Steph for life. Secondly, and this is a crucial life lesson - if you need counsel, then seek out the very best. Jim was referred to me by a most trusted source. I've never had to hire an attorney for anything. Now, I know the value of hiring an important partner. Meticulous, thorough and detailed in preparation is the best way to describe Jim. Brilliant too, I might add. Bottom line, I would highly highly recommend Jim and Stephany for your legal needs. One of the best life decisions I've ever made.

Howard S.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

October 30, 2025
SEC Sues Former Franchise Group CEO Over $350 Million Hedge Fund Fraud

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a lawsuit against Brian Kahn, former CEO of Franchise Group Inc., alleging he defrauded investors of more than $350 million in a multi-year investment adviser fraud tied to the collapse of Prophecy Asset Management (Prophecy).

October 29, 2025
FINRA Foundation Study Reveals Alarming Investor Susceptibility to Fraudulent Offers

The FINRA Investor Education Foundation (FINRA Foundation) has released preliminary findings from its upcoming report, Investors in the United States: A Report of the National Financial Capability Study.

October 28, 2025
UBS Seeks Court Order Against $1.4 Billion Florida Advisory Team Over Client Solicitation Allegations

UBS Wealth Management USA has filed a lawsuit and requested a temporary restraining order (TRO) against a $1.4 billion advisory team that recently departed to join Elevation Point, a West Palm Beach-based registered investment advisor launched just 15 months ago.