Cetera Advisor Networks Fined for Variable Annuity Supervisory Failures
Cetera Advisor Networks, LLC, headquartered in El Segundo, CA, submitted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent (AWC) to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for failing to adequately supervise the sales of variable annuities, specifically L-share variable annuities. Registered with FINRA since 1983, Cetera Advisor Networks currently has 3,048 registered representatives and 1,209 branch offices. FINRA found that from January 2013 to December 2014, Cetera Advisor Networks failed to establish, maintain, and enforce an adequate supervisory system to identify red flags related to the sale of L-share variable annuities. Additionally, FINRA found that Cetera Advisor Networks failed to provide its registered representatives with proper training and guidance on suitability considerations for these variable annuities. According to FINRA, the L-share annuities are a complex investment product that is only suitable for a narrow class of investors and that Cetera Advisor Networks allegedly failed to provide its registered representatives with appropriate guidance to discern this class of investor.
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