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How do I check if an advisor is registered?

Practical steps to check filings and search advisors on Best Investors.

The short answer

Search the person or firm by name on Best Investors Search. Open the matching firm or individual profile and note the CRD number if the page shows one. Then verify that same CRD on SEC IAPD. If the person is a broker or dual-registered, also check FINRA BrokerCheck.

Best Investors is not the SEC. It republishes public IAPD feeds as searchable profiles. Treat IAPD as the official filing when the two pages disagree.

What to do

  1. Go to Search and enter the advisor or firm name. Use a full legal name when you have it. Add a city or zip if the name is common.
  2. Open the matching firm or individual profile. Confirm the office address and firm name before you trust the match.
  3. Find the CRD number on the profile when it is shown. Write it down. Do not rely on a similar name alone.
  4. Open IAPD and search by that exact CRD. Confirm the name, firm, and registration status on the government page.
  5. Read how the firm is registered. Larger advisers often register with the SEC. Smaller advisers often register with one or more states. Both paths can be valid.
  6. If the person is a broker or dual-registered, also search the same CRD or name on BrokerCheck. See Best Investors vs BrokerCheck.
  7. On the Best Investors firm page, skim Form ADV answers and Item 11. Use the Form ADV guide when an item code is unclear. Download the brochure or Form CRS from IAPD if you need the official PDF.

What to look for on Best Investors

Name match. Results can include similar spellings and common last names. Match the firm legal name, doing-business-as name, and office city before you proceed.

Firm vs individual page. A firm page shows organization-level Form ADV Part 1A answers. An individual page shows the investment adviser representative from the IAPD individuals feed. Use both when you can: the person and the firm they work for.

CRD number. When the profile shows a CRD, that is the ID you carry to IAPD (and to BrokerCheck when relevant). Same CRD, same record. Different CRD means you have the wrong person or firm.

SEC vs state registration. Firm ADV answers (including Item 2) show whether the firm claims SEC or state registration. SEC registration is not a quality score. State registration is not a warning label. It is a regulatory path tied to size and business model. See Best Investors vs SEC IAPD.

Pro badge and sort order. Pro listings cost $9.99/month and sort first in search and directories. That is advertising. It is not proof of registration quality or a regulator endorsement.

Claim badge. A claimed listing means someone on the firm side manages the page. It does not replace IAPD verification.

Item 11 and other ADV fields. Disclosures and AUM figures are self-reported on Form ADV. A clean panel is not a guarantee. A disclosure is not automatic disqualification. Read the text, then confirm on IAPD.

Common mistakes

  • Trusting a website, LinkedIn title, or business card without a CRD check on IAPD.
  • Matching on a common name and skipping the CRD.
  • Checking only Best Investors and never opening IAPD.
  • Checking only IAPD for a dual-registered person and skipping BrokerCheck.
  • Treating Pro sort or a claimed badge as a registration or quality score.
  • Assuming "SEC-registered" always means better than "state-registered."
  • Treating self-reported AUM or a blank Item 11 as proof of skill or honesty.

Related questions

Is Best Investors the same as SEC IAPD?

No. IAPD is the official public disclosure system for investment adviser filings. Best Investors downloads those public feeds and republishes them as firm, advisor, and office pages. Use this site to find and read a profile. Use IAPD to verify the CRD and download the government file. Details: Best Investors vs SEC IAPD.

When do I also need BrokerCheck?

Use BrokerCheck when the person is a broker, a registered representative, or dual-registered (adviser and broker). Best Investors covers investment advisers from IAPD feeds. It does not replace BrokerCheck for broker records. Open the same CRD on BrokerCheck when that role applies. See Best Investors vs BrokerCheck.

What is the difference between SEC and state registration?

SEC registration usually applies to larger advisers (often at or above regulatory AUM thresholds in Form ADV Item 2). State registration usually applies to smaller advisers under state securities regulators. Both can be lawful. Confirm which path the firm reports on Form ADV, then verify the same status on IAPD.

How do I find a fiduciary advisor near me?

Use Search with your zip or city, then open nearby firm and advisor profiles. Registration is only the first filter. Read services, compensation, and Item 11 on the firm ADV panel, and confirm the CRD on IAPD. See How do I find a fiduciary advisor near me?.

Why might Best Investors disagree with IAPD?

Feed timing. Pages update after ingest jobs run. IAPD can show a new filing before Best Investors rebuilds the profile. Similar names can also map to different CRDs. When in doubt, trust the IAPD record for the CRD you checked.

Limits

Best Investors is not a regulator and not legal or investment advice. A profile here is not a government endorsement.

Form ADV answers are self-reported by the adviser. Best Investors does not audit AUM, rewrite Item 11 narratives, or certify that a person is fit to hire.

Pro placement ($9.99/month) can put a paid listing above a closer unpaid listing. Distance still drives the geographic fetch. Pro is advertising, not a registration status.

Coverage comes from public IAPD feeds for SEC firms, state firms, and individuals. The directory can lag a feed cycle. Brokers who are not investment advisers may not appear here. Always finish with IAPD, and with BrokerCheck when the broker role applies.

Sources

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