CFP Board Imposes an Interim Suspension on George M. Warner of Rowlett, Texas

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) announced that it has imposed an interim suspension of the CFP® certification against George M. Warner, which was effective as of April 5, 2021.

In April 2021, CFP Board issued an automatic interim suspension order suspending Mr. Warner’s right to use the CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, and certification marks. CFP Board imposed an automatic interim suspension after receiving evidence that Mr. Warner was permanently barred by the Financial Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA) from association with any FINRA member in any capacities on March 9, 2021, wherein FINRA made findings that Mr. Warner received a request to for the production of information and documents pursuant to FINRA Rule 8210 and refused to produce the information or documents requested. FINRA determined that Mr. Warner’s refusal to produce the information or documents as requested warranted a permanent bar under FINRA Rules 8210 and 2010. Under the automatic interim suspension order, Warner’s right to use the CFP® certification marks is suspended pending CFP Board's completed investigation and possible further disciplinary proceedings.

An interim suspension is a suspension of a CFP® professional’s Certification and Trademark License during the pendency of proceedings. A Respondent subject to an Interim Suspension Order must not use the CFP® certification marks or state or suggest that Respondent is a CFP® professional while the Interim Suspension Order is in effect. An Interim Suspension Order is a temporary sanction and does not preclude CFP Board from imposing a final sanction. An Interim Suspension Order will remain in place until the Disciplinary and Ethics Commission, if an appeal is filed, the Appeals Committee, issues a final order.

The basis for this decision also may be found on CFP Board’s website at https://www.cfp.net/verify-a-cfp-professional. At that website, the public may check on any individual’s CFP Board disciplinary history and CFP® certification status. The website also provides links to other sources of information about CFP® professionals that may be more recent or that may contain information that has not led to CFP Board discipline and does not appear on CFP Board’s website. That information may include customer disputes, disciplinary actions taken by a regulator or employer, certain criminal matters, and certain financial matters (such as bankruptcy proceedings and unpaid judgments or liens). For those who are subject to Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) or U.S. Securities and Enforcement Commission (SEC) oversight, the website includes links to FINRA’s BrokerCheck and the SEC’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure databases.

CFP Board’s enforcement process is a critical consumer protection. As part of their certification, CFP® professionals agree to abide by CFP Board’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct. CFP Board enforces its ethical standards by investigating alleged violations and, where there is probable cause to believe there are grounds for sanction, presenting a Complaint containing the alleged violations to the Commission pursuant to CFP Board’s Procedural Rules. If the Commission determines there are grounds for sanction, then it may impose a sanction ranging from a private censure to public censure to the suspension or revocation of the right to use the CFP® marks. CFP Board’s Procedural Rules set forth the process for investigating matters and imposing a sanction where violations have been found.