FINRA BrokerCheck: Who Qualifies and What You Get
Use this free tool to check the professional background and disciplinary history of financial advisors before you invest.
FINRA BrokerCheck is a free online tool designed to provide public access to the professional history and registration status of financial professionals.
Who it's for
This service is intended for any investor who is currently vetting a financial professional. It is a resource for individuals who want to perform due diligence before committing their capital to a specific advisor or firm. If you are looking to understand the professional standing of someone managing your investments, this tool is designed for you.
What you get
When you use this tool, you gain access to a professional's background information and their disciplinary history. Specifically, you can view the licenses held by the individual or firm, their employment history, and any recorded regulatory or legal actions that may have occurred during their career. This information is provided to help you make informed decisions about which financial professional to trust with your wealth.
What it costs you
There is no cost to use this service. It is a free online search provided to the public to ensure transparency in the financial industry.
The catch to know
It is important to remember that this database does not contain every financial professional in the country. Not all financial advisors are required to be registered with FINRA. Therefore, if you cannot find a specific person in the database, it does not automatically mean they are unregulated; it may simply mean they fall outside the specific registration requirements of this particular organization.
How to apply
- Go to the official BrokerCheck website.
- Type the name of the individual professional or the firm you are researching into the search bar.
- Review the detailed report provided, paying close attention to the section regarding disciplinary history and current licenses.
- Use these findings to determine if the professional meets your personal standards for vetting and advisor vetting.