Our firm is investigating Cetera Wealth Services, LLC broker and Cetera Investment Advisers LLC investment adviser representative Kristina Wadman Oswald (CRD# 1751719) of Collinsville, Connecticut for potential investment-related misconduct involving an alleged failure to process a beneficiary change before a client’s death.
Financial Advisor’s Career History
According to the BrokerCheck report, Kristina Wadman Oswald has been in the securities industry since 1987. She is currently registered as a broker with Cetera Wealth Services, LLC and as an investment adviser representative with Cetera Investment Advisers LLC, both from the 101 River Rd 2nd Fl, Collinsville, Connecticut office. Her current registrations began on September 3, 2013 with Cetera Wealth Services and June 29, 2023 with Cetera Investment Advisers. Her prior registrations include Cetera Advisor Networks LLC from September 2013 through June 2023, Tower Square Securities, Inc. as an investment adviser representative from June 1998 through September 2013, and Tower Square Securities, Inc. as a broker from November 1987 through September 2013. The report also reflects that she passed the Series 24, Series 7, Series 63, and Series 65 examinations.
Kristina Wadman Oswald Fraud Allegations and Investor Complaints Explained
FINRA BrokerCheck reflects one disclosed customer dispute for Kristina Wadman Oswald, and that matter is listed as pending. The complaint was received on March 25, 2026. According to the report, the executor of a client’s estate alleged that the financial professional failed to process a change of beneficiary before the client died. The product type identified in the disclosure is a mutual fund. The matter is reported as a written customer complaint, not an arbitration, CFTC reparation, or civil litigation. FINRA’s report also shows an “Alleged Damages” field of $0.00, while separately stating in the damages explanation field that the complaint involves alleged damages of “$5,000 or more.” FINRA’s summary matrix shows one pending customer dispute and no final customer dispute disclosures in the report. Because the matter is pending, these are allegations that have not been adjudicated.
Disclosure Summary
- Disclosure type: Customer dispute.
- Status: Pending.
- Date complaint received: March 25, 2026.
- Employing firm at the time of the alleged conduct: Cetera Wealth Services, LLC.
- Allegation: The executor of the client’s estate alleged that a beneficiary change was not processed before the client’s death.
- Product type: Mutual fund.
- Disposition: Still pending; no settlement amount or individual contribution amount is listed in the report.
To obtain a copy of Kristina Wadman Oswald’s FINRA BrokerCheck report, visit this link.
Robert Wayne Pearce Is Committed to Recovering Your Investment Losses
FINRA Rule 2090 and Know Your Customer
FINRA Rule 2090 requires member firms to use reasonable diligence to know, and retain, the essential facts concerning every customer and the authority of each person acting on the customer’s behalf. In a case involving an alleged failure to process a beneficiary change before a client’s death, Rule 2090 is relevant because beneficiary designations and authority over account instructions are core customer-account facts. If a broker or firm failed to properly obtain, understand, confirm, or act on those instructions, that failure may implicate the duty to know and retain essential customer information.
FINRA Rule 3110 and Supervision
FINRA Rule 3110 requires each member firm to establish and maintain a supervisory system reasonably designed to achieve compliance with securities laws and FINRA rules. In the context of this complaint, Rule 3110 matters because firms are expected to have supervisory procedures for handling account maintenance requests, beneficiary updates, and written customer instructions. If a requested change was not processed, investigators often examine whether the firm’s supervisory controls, escalation procedures, and review systems were adequate.
FINRA Rule 4511 and Books and Records
FINRA Rule 4511 requires firms to make and preserve books and records required under FINRA rules, the Exchange Act, and applicable SEC rules. That rule can become important in a dispute over whether a beneficiary change request was submitted, received, documented, or processed correctly. In a matter like this, account forms, correspondence, internal notes, timestamps, and workflow records may all be central to determining what instructions were given and whether they were properly handled.
The Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. is a nationally recognized securities law firm representing investors in FINRA arbitration and investment fraud cases on a contingency fee basis. Robert Wayne Pearce, the founding attorney, has more than 45 years of experience recovering millions for victims of broker misconduct and investment fraud. He previously defended major brokerage firms and now uses that insight to protect investors nationwide. To discuss your case directly with Mr. Pearce, call (800) 732-2889 or email pearce@rwpearce.com for a free consultation.