Blog
Updated MoneyGuide Pro and eMoney Report Guidance
Do you use MoneyGuide Pro or eMoney for client-facing reports? Great News! Cetera recently clarified the Ad Review requirements when using these reports. For MoneyGuide Pro, you only have to submit the cover page that lists the...
Read MoreSignature Guarantee Guidelines
Cetera recently updated their Signature Guarantee Guidelines. For example, it is not permitted to Signature Guarantee the signature of a beneficiary who is not currently a Cetera client, will not become a client of Cetera, and will...
Read MoreActive LinkedIn Profiles
Cetera has specific guidelines regarding “interactive” social media sites, including LinkedIn.What does “interactive” mean?If you post any content, comment on other user’s content, or “like” other user’s content, then the profile is...
Read MoreJump AI Tool - Compliance Reminders
Jump is a leading AI meeting assistant for financial advisors, automating everything from meeting prep to follow-up tasks. Jump integrates with Redtail, Outlook, and Wealthbox.Jump features to take note of:You must get verbal approval...
Read MoreFINRA Discipline Real-World Examples
April 2026 FINRA Real-World Discipline ExamplesIf you ever wonder whether all the rules and policies really matter, they DO! Let's look at some recent FINRA enforcement cases.:Annuity Replacements: An individual was fined $5,000 and...
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Low-Priced Securities
If the Cetera AML Team identifies a low priced or restricted security, the financial professional will receive an email notification indicating that the AML Team has identified a holding that requires action. The financial professional...
Read MoreFINRA Discipline Real-World Examples
If you ever wonder whether all the rules and policies really matter, they DO! Let's look at some recent FINRA enforcement cases.:Reporting Cash Transactions: An individual was fined $5,000 and suspended for 12 months for failing to...
Read MoreNew Cetera Learning Center Challenges
If you need documentation of a certain course completed prior to the update, please email the Learning Center team at learningcenter@cetera.com. An example situation might be needing documentation of completing the social media...
Read MoreRegistered Rep Out of the Office for an Extended Period
Are you going to be out of the office and unavailable to your clients for an extended period of time? Perhaps you and your family on going on vacation or you will be recovering from surgery and unavailable to take phone calls or check...
Read MoreWar, Markets, and Investment Implications
el launched a major coordinated military offensive against Iran, calling it Operation Epic Fury. The strikes targeted a wide range of Iranian military and leadership sites, and Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was...
Read MoreROTH: SEP and SIMPLE IRAs
There has been a lot of conversation around the topic of SEP and SIMPLE IRAs allowing Roth contributions. Let’s start with some basic background information on both types of Plans.Overall basics of a SEP IRAOfficially named a...
Read MoreFINRA Discipline Real World Examples
If you ever wonder whether all the rules and policies really matter, they DO! Let's look at some recent FINRA enforcement cases:Improperly shared photos of confidential data: An individual was fined $5,0000 and suspended for one month...
Read MoreCFP Competency Standards updates
Do you currently hold the CFP designation? Or are you considering obtain the CFP designation in the near future? The Board of Directors of CFP Board recently announced it has approved updates to the Competency Standards that underpin...
Read MoreEmployer Retirement Plans Compliance Calendars
The editable Word versions of the Prosperity Advisors Employer Retirement Plan Compliance Calendars are available via the below links. Feel free to adopt/rebrand these items and share them with your clients.Be sure to submit to Cetera...
Read MoreProsperity Network OSJ "Wins"
The Prosperity Network OSJ does more than supervise, we also advocate for you. Below is a list of situations that our Prosperity Network Compliance team was able to successfully advocate and use our sphere of influence to make a...
Read MoreOBA Submissions and Reminders
Outside Business Activities can be confusing! Here are some tips to help navigate OBAs and know when and how to submit them to Cetera Advisors.Common scenarios that REQUIRE an OBA submission:Holding a fiduciary role such as trustee,...
Read MoreFINRA Discipline Real-World Examples
If you ever wonder whether all the rules and policies really matter, they DO! Let's look at some recent FINRA enforcement cases.:Unsuitable trading in Class A mutual fund shares: An individual was barred for engaging in a pattern of...
Read MoreElectronic Signature Reminders
It is not permitted for you or your client to sign forms electronically using any other method other than Adviceworks-Docusign. All documents signed electronically by the client must be accompanied with the “eSignature Certificate of...
Read MoreFINRA Discipline Real-World Examples
December 2025 FINRA Real-World Discipline ExamplesIf you ever wonder whether all the rules and policies really matter, they DO! Let's look at some recent FINRA enforcement cases.:Unapproved Outside Business Activity: An individual was...
Read MoreMandatory Roth Catch-Up Contribution Provisional Requirement
Final Regulations issued in September of this year have confirmed a new upcoming requirement under the SECURE 2.0 Act.Under this provision, employees who earned more than $150,000 in 2025 FICA wages (found in box 3 of form W-2) and are...
Read More2026 401(k) and IRA Limits
The IRS has raised the contribution limits for 401(k)s and IRAs for the year 2026. Depending on what type of Plan you have, please review the summary information and the link to the IRS website below. If you have any questions, please...
Read MoreUpdated Artificial Intelligence Policies
Cetera has approved a number of Artificial Intelligence (AI) products. Please go to AdviceWorks > Support > Solutions, Services and Discounts to see a list of approved solutions. It is important to confirm if there are...
Read MoreWhy Advisory Fees May Stop Billing
Why Advisory Fees May Stop Billing — What Advisors Need to Know Advisory billing is often assumed to be automatic and uninterrupted, but in reality, several factors can cause fees to stop billing or paying out—sometimes without the...
Read MoreMarijuana-Related Business Income
Over the last decade, many states have passed laws allowing for the medical and/or recreational use of marijuana/cannabis; however, marijuana remains restricted as a Schedule I drug at the federal level. This has presented challenges...
Read MoreNovember 2025 FINRA Discipline Real-World Examples
Insufficient funds in advisor’s bank account to cover transfer: An individual was fined $5,000 and suspended for two years for making payments totaling approximately $180,000 from funds credited to his brokerage account as a result of...
Read MoreCARs Reminders
Consolidated Account Reports ("CARs") are any document, report, or communication that is sent, delivered or otherwise made available to a client, in any format, which combines a full or partial list of financial assets across multiple...
Read MoreMyRepChat - Cannot Share Login or Password
Cetera Supervision recently informed us that each MyRepChat user must have their own unique login. It is not permitted to use someone else’s MyRepChat login. The good news is that Cetera provides MyRepChat Essential, SMS-Only, for 2...
Read MoreHandling a Client Complaint
It is important to immediately report potential grievances to the Prosperity Network OSJ. This includes both written and verbal potential grievances. There are possible fines and possible loss of E&O coverage when a potential...
Read MoreFINRA Discipline Real-World Examples
October 2025 FINRA Real-World Discipline Examples If you ever wonder whether all the rules and policies really matter, they DO! Let's look at some recent FINRA enforcement cases.: Use of Discretion and Texting from personal cell phone:...
Read MoreCetera Client Report Template Requirements
All client report templates require Pre-Approval AND Qualified Client process We were recently advised by Cetera Ad Review management that all report templates (even if from approved vendors such as eMoney, Asset Map, MoneyGuidePro,...
Read MoreQualified Clients and Hypothetical Performance
It is important to review the disclosures listed on any report or document prior to providing the document to a client. If there are disclosures such as “Financial Professional Use Only”, “Broker-Dealer Use Only”, “Agent Use Only”, etc...
Read MoreConsent to Share
A client may ask you to provide information to a third party. Common requests include providing a 1099 to their tax preparer or providing account information to a mortgage lender. Prior to providing financial information to a third...
Read MoreYear-End Requirements
It is hard to believe that we are already in the 4th Quarter of 2025! We want to remind everyone there are several requirements due by October 31, 2025. Non-Registered Associated Persons requirements due by 10/31/2025 ECM Annual...
Read MoreSeptember 2025 FINRA Discipline Real-World Examples
September 2025 FINRA Real-World Discipline Examples If you ever wonder whether all the rules and policies really matter, they DO! Let's look at some recent FINRA enforcement cases.: Trades after death: An individual was fined $10,000...
Read MoreCetera Retirement Plans Team Update
The Cetera Retirement Plans Team is discontinuing their email address. This means that all inquiries for that team need to be submitted via the AdviceWorks support center: In addition, any forms that were previously submitted to the...
Read MoreNEW Form CRS
The Form CRS was recently updated. You may have noticed the Cetera Advisors Form CRS was recently updated. We wanted to take the opportunity to remind you to always use the most current Form CRS. If you have any old copies of the Form...
Read MorePartner with the Employer Retirement Plans Team
Have you ever been asked about starting a retirement plan by a business owner, or wondered how to serve clients who already have one? Maybe you’ve wanted to grow in this space but weren’t sure where to start. That’s exactly why...
Read MoreAugust 2025 FINRA Real-World Discipline Examples
If you ever wonder whether all the rules and policies really matter, they DO! Let's look at some recent FINRA enforcement cases.: · Business credit card related: An individual was named a respondent in a FINRA complaint alleging he...
Read MoreNational 401(k) Day
Joe Pelle with Prosperity’s ERP team has written an article on National 401(k) Day. Joe is graciously providing this article as a courtesy of the Prosperity Advisors’ client practice. We hope you will find this letter beneficial in...
Read MoreCetera Life Events Team
The Cetera Life Events Team assists with death claims, estate and trust complicated accounts, death puts, transfers after death, and much more. Their goal is to simplify the process for advisors and their clients, ensuring they...
Read MoreNext Generation PFP Programs
Bringing in the Next Generation to Your Independent Advisor Office Bringing new talent into an independent practice isn’t just about succession planning—it’s about keeping your business future-focused and energized. Younger advisors...
Read MoreOSJ Audit Recap
The Prosperity Network OSJ had our annual audit in May 2025. The audit lasted two weeks and included a team of 5 auditors. The OSJ responded to 807 requests for information from the audit team. There were only 6 audit findings for the...
Read MoreGifts and Gift Logs
Gift and Gift Log Guidance All associated persons (non-registered and registered persons) must submit and log gifts given or received from clients, prospective clients, or sponsors on the Pinpoint Gift Log. Please see the following...
Read MoreJuly 2025 FINRA Discipline Real-World Examples
July 2025 FINRA Real-World Discipline Examples If you ever wonder whether all the rules and policies really matter, they DO! Let's look at some recent FINRA enforcement cases: U4 not updated: An individual was fined $7,500 and...
Read MoreNRA vs. RA Guidance
Non-Registered Associated Persons (also known as Non-Registered Fingerprinted Persons NRF) If you do not have a series 7 or series 6 registration, you are considered a Non-Registered Person. Non-Registered persons may NOT engage in any...
Read MoreNew Branch and State Registrations
If you are a registered person and either move to a new state or purchase a home (even a second home) in another state, the following steps must be followed: Submit the new address or address change in the L&R tool in AdviceWorks. At...
Read MoreJune 2025 FINRA Discipline Real-World Examples
If you ever wonder whether all the rules and policies really matter, they DO! Let's look at some recent FINRA enforcement cases: Annuity related: An individual was fined $10,000, suspended for 1 year, and ordered to pay deferred...
Read MoreSOCIAL MEDIA GUIDE
Social media can be a valuable tool for your business. But, it is vital that you use it in a compliant way. Cetera has a complete social media guide available in Pinpoint. We recommend you read that guide thoroughly to ensure you are...
Read MoreTRAVEL ABROAD
An advisor traveling abroad for a vacation (temporary basis): MUST contact Cetera before the trip to notify them. To access Cetera systems (e.g. AdviceWorks) or Cetera-hosted email, you must notify Cetera and receive approval and...
Read MoreOFF-CHANNEL COMMUNICATIONS
Off-Channel Communications continues to be a regulatory focus. Firms are being fined hundreds of millions of dollars for violations. Individual financial professionals are being fined as well.Texting outside of Cetera’s approved...
Read MoreJUMP AI TOOL
Have you heard about the brand-new, approved AI meeting assistant for financial advisors? Cetera has approved the use of Jump! Jump is a leading AI meeting assistant for financial advisors, automating everything from meeting prep to...
Read MoreMay 2025 FINRA Discipline Real-World Examples
If you ever wonder whether all the rules and policies really matter, they DO! Let's look at some recent FINRA enforcement cases: Client Data related: An individual was fined $20,000 and suspended for 6 months for downloading from his...
Read MoreEmail Encryption
A recent Cetera AdvisorNews article provided a compliance update regarding emails with personally identifiable information (PII). Beginning 3/31/2025, emails with PII will be automatically encrypted. This is an extra layer of...
Read MoreBlacking Out Sensitive Information
Potential Scenario: After completing the required Consent to Share Information form a client asks you to email his 1099 to his CPA. The client asks, “Will you black out the account number on the 1099 prior to emailing to my CPA? This...
Read MoreBlank or Partially Blank Signed Forms
It is not permitted to request a client sign a blank or partially blank form. Any alterations to a form already signed by the client requires the client to initial the changes. This includes adding information or correcting information...
Read MoreEnd-of-Life Support for Windows 10 Pro: Time to Upgrade!
Microsoft has officially announced that support for Windows 10 Pro will end on October 14, 2025. After this date, the operating system will no longer receive security updates, bug fixes, or technical support. While your device will...
Read MoreApril 2025 FINRA Discipline Real-World Examples
If you ever wonder whether all the rules and policies really matter, they DO! Let's look at some recent FINRA enforcement cases: OBA related: Individual was fined $5,000 and suspended for three months for engaging in an OBA without...
Read MoreRefer a Colleague and Earn Up to $100,000
Do you know a financial professional currently affiliated with Commonwealth? With the recent news of Commonwealth’s acquisition by LPL, now is a great time to reach out and introduce them to Cetera and Prosperity Network of Advisors....
Read MoreQ2 2025 Prosperity Market Outlook
We want to share with you the Q2 2025 Market Commentary that Prosperity Advisors shared with its clients. The commentary was authored by Prosperity Advisor’s Chief Investment Officer, Brett Jergens, CFA®, CFP®. If you would like to...
Read MoreNEW Simplified "Fire the Client" Process
Cetera recently updated their procedures on how to remove a client from your book of business. Previously, you had to send several letters via certified or trackable mail, wait a period of 60 days, and request that the accounts be made...
Read MoreNEW Trade Correction Form
Trading has introduced a new Trade Correction Submission Form CET 965 to streamline and enhance efficiencies in handling trade corrections. This new form is designed to ensure trade corrections are processed accurately and promptly...
Read MoreFINRA Discipline Real-World Examples
If you ever wonder whether all the rules and policies really matter, the DO! Let's look at some recent FINRA enforcement cases. Listed below are some real-world examples of FINRA discipline from FINRA’s March 2025 disciplinary actions...
Read MoreConsent to Share Authorization Form
Do you share client information with a third party such as the client's spouse, CPA, or attorney? If so, a NEW Cetera form is required instead of a Letter of Instruction. The Consent To Share Information Form CA 975 is a new form that...
Read MorePolicy Change for Non-Cetera Personal Brokerage Accounts
Cetera recently announced a policy change regarding personal brokerage accounts held away from Cetera. As of February 17, 2025, all new personal brokerage accounts that are being opened must be opened exclusively with electronic dealers.
Read MoreRetirement Savings Lost and Found Database
We hope you have found our recent "In the Loop" communications of benefit. As a recap, "In the Loop" is our OSJ-dedicated communication initiative for any and all things we believe are meaningful for your practice. Examples of...
Read MoreEmployer Retirement Plan Compliance Calendars
Attached are two handy employer retirement plan (ERP) fiduciary compliance calendars, courtesy of Prosperity Advisors' client practice. We hope you will find these beneficial in working and communicating with your ERP clients. While...
Read MoreTax Facts Quick Reference
Here is a handy "Tax Facts" quick reference guide created and used by Prosperity Advisors' client practice. Please use this PDF version of the document internally only; it has Prosperity Advisors' branding on it. 2025 Tax and...
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