Why Background Checks Matter
Before doing business with any financial professional, verify their regulatory record. Even a high-ranking firm on this list may employ advisors with past disciplinary actions. The tools below are free and authoritative.
FINRA BrokerCheck
FINRA's free BrokerCheck tool lets you look up registration history, employment history and disclosuresincluding customer complaints, arbitrations and regulatory actionsof any FINRA-registered broker-dealer or individual broker.
- Search by firm name or individual name.
- Review the “Disclosure Events” section carefully.
- Download the PDF report for a complete record.
SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure (IAPD)
For registered investment advisers and their representatives, use the SEC's Investment Adviser Public Disclosure (IAPD) site. It pulls from Form ADV filings and shows firm ownership, services, fees, disciplinary history and more.
NASAA Investor Education
The North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) provides additional investor education resources and can help you locate your state securities regulator for state-registered advisors.
Summary Checklist
- Search the firm on FINRA BrokerCheck.
- Search the individual advisor on BrokerCheck.
- Check for any disclosure events or regulatory actions.
- For RIAs, also verify on SEC IAPD.
- Review the advisor's Form ADV Part 2 (the “brochure”) for fee schedules and conflicts of interest.
- Contact your state securities regulator for state-registered advisors.
Every firm profile on this site includes a direct link to the firm's BrokerCheck record. Use it.