Checking Out a Brokerage Firm, Individual Broker, Investment Adviser Firm, or Individual Investment Adviser

Information concerning brokerage firms and individual brokers is publicly available online through FINRA’s Broker Check program or by calling toll-free at (800) 289-9999. Information about certain investment adviser firms is available through the SEC’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure (IAPD) Program. You may also obtain information about brokerage firms, individual brokers, and investment adviser firms, as well as information on individual investment advisers, through your state securities regulator. You can find out how to get in touch with your state securities regulator through the North American Securities Administrators Association, Inc.'s Web site.

FINRA’s BrokerCheck Program

Information on individual brokers. BrokerCheck provides the following information on individual brokers: current employer; employment history for the past 10 years; other businesses outside of employment with the brokerage firm; approved licenses and registrations and qualification exams passed; criminal felony charges and convictions; investment-related misdemeanor charges and convictions; disciplinary actions and investigations by regulators; investment-related civil court actions and proceedings; consumer-initiated complaints, arbitration proceedings and civil law suits; unsatisfied judgments and liens, and bankruptcy proceedings; and employment terminations following alleged misconduct or failure to supervise subordinates.

The SEC’s IAPD Program

The IAPD Program provides information about both SEC- and state-registered investment adviser firms. The SEC typically regulates investment advisers that have in excess of $25 million in assets under management. Investment advisers that do not meet this threshold generally are regulated by the states. Through the IAPD, you can (1) search for an investment adviser firm, (2) check the adviser’s registration status, (3) view the adviser’s current disclosures made through its Form ADV filing, (4) link to a state regulator’s website, and (5) link to the FINRA BrokerCheck website for information about broker-dealers and stockbrokers.

Investment adviser firms that have not registered with the SEC electronically will not appear on the IAPD page. If you do not see a firm listed through IAPD and you want to check the firm’s registration status, you should contact the SEC at (202) 551-6825 or contact the appropriate state securities authority through http://www.nasaa.org.

Information on individual investment advisers is currently available through state securities regulators.