Cetera fined $125,000 over privacy issues

Cetera fined $125,000 over privacy issues
Finra also censured the firm in connection with privacy breaches that occurred during transfers of new clients.
JUN 30, 2021

Cetera Advisor Networks will pay a $125,000 fine and accept a censure from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc. in connection with customer privacy breaches.

In a letter of acceptance, waiver and consent, Finra said that between October 2019 and July 2020, Cetera used a third-party vendor to help with brokers transitioning to the firm and failed to take steps to verify whether the reps or their former broker-dealers had notified customers about the disclosure of their nonpublic personal information to the vendor.

In all, 26 recruited representatives took nonpublic personal customer information from their broker-dealers and disclosed it to the vendor. By doing this, Finra said, Cetera caused the other broker-dealers to violate Regulation S-P.

Restarting firm culture post-pandemic

Latest News

AssetMark's Talk Tracks AI gives advisors a script for client calls
AssetMark's Talk Tracks AI gives advisors a script for client calls

The new AI feature generates instant client portfolio talking points, slashing meeting prep time for advisors.

Behind the Great Wealth Transfer: Citizens bets on business owners
Behind the Great Wealth Transfer: Citizens bets on business owners

As Citizens expands its advisory footprint, the bank is also going after wealth trapped inside business ownership

Forbes and Shook pull the plug on rankings, events, in 2026
Forbes and Shook pull the plug on rankings, events, in 2026

The Forbes rankings are highly sought after by some advisors and firms for marketing purposes.

Advisor moves: Cresset enters Boca Raton with $4 billion UBS team addition
Advisor moves: Cresset enters Boca Raton with $4 billion UBS team addition

Meanwhile, an advisor tuck-in from Edward Jones expands Kestra's Washington, D.C.-area presence, and Janney deepens its Connecticut footprint with an experienced Wells Fargo advisor.

Kovack Financial Network launches private succession platform for advisors
Kovack Financial Network launches private succession platform for advisors

KFN Succession Center pairs advisors weighing retirement with buyers, as next-gen affordability keeps eroding industry-wide.

SPONSORED Direct indexing webinar targets tax-loss harvesting amid market swings

Northern Trust’s Ken Lassner shows advisors how to convert volatility into after-tax portfolio gains

SPONSORED Who builds the income when the pension disappears?

Dan Biagini of American Equity says the steady decline of pensions, longer lifespans and a reset in interest rates are rewriting how advisors build retirement income