Check Out Brokers and Advisers

Federal or state securities laws require brokers, advisers, and their firms to be licensed or registered, and to make important information public. But it's up to you to find that information and use it to protect your investment dollars. The good news is that this information is easy to get, and one phone call may save you from sending your money to a con artist, a bad broker, or disreputable firm.

Before you invest, check and see if the broker, investment adviser or investment adviser representative has had run-ins with regulators or other investors. You also should check to see whether they are registered or licensed.

You can learn how to check out your broker or adviser by reading Check Out Brokers and Advisers.