Ann Jones Bowman (CRD # 5118902, Registered Representative, Hickory, North Carolina) submitted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent in which she was fined $5,000 and suspended from association with any FINRA member in any capacity for one year. The fine must be paid either immediately upon Bowman’s reassociation with a FINRA member firm following her suspension, or prior to the filing of any application or request for relief from any statutory disqualification, whichever is earlier. Without admitting or denying the findings, Bowman consented to the described sanctions and to the entry of findings that she accepted cash and checks totaling $11,078.20 from public customers to purchase fixed annuities and invest in 529 plans. The findings stated that Bowman failed to forward the customers’ funds to her member firm and, instead, converted the cash to cashier’s checks. The finding stated that Bowman misplaced both the cashiers checks and the checks, thereby improperly using customer funds.

The suspension is in effect from January 5, 2009, through January 4, 2010. (FINRA Case # 2008012199201)