Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteCheck the regulator’s official register for the country where the adviser operates, then verify both the adviser’s identity and the firm’s permission to provide the service you are considering. A matching entry confirms only specific regulatory facts; it does not prove that an investment is suitable, safe, or likely to make money. The right register depends on your country and the type of advice or investment service being offered.
Start with the country and the service
There is no single global register for financial advisers. Depending on the jurisdiction and activity, a provider may be listed as an investment adviser, broker, representative, appointed representative, or another type of professional. A register that covers one category may not cover another.
Identify where the firm is regulated and what it is offering: for example, investment advice, brokerage, or advice about a particular financial product. Then use the relevant regulator’s own lookup tool. The examples below cover the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia; they do not cover every country.
United Kingdom: check the firm’s permissions and the person’s role
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Open the Financial Conduct Authority’s Firm Checker and guidance on checking a firm or individual. Check the firm and confirm that its permissions cover the specific service being offered. A firm’s presence on a register does not mean it is authorised for every regulated service.
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Where relevant, check the individual and inspect the Financial Services Register entry. It is the official record for firms and individuals and can show historical regulatory information, including disciplinary or regulatory actions.
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Compare the firm reference number and the website, address, and phone number you were given with the details on the FCA’s own listing. Navigate to the FCA independently rather than following an unsolicited link or calling a number supplied in an unexpected message.
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If the adviser is an appointed representative, identify the principal firm and ask it to confirm the representative’s permitted activities and relevant protections. Not every individual working at a financial firm needs FCA approval, so an individual’s absence from the register alone does not establish that the firm is unauthorised; check the firm and the person’s role.
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Review the FCA Warning List and the firm’s record where relevant. If the status or permissions are unclear, the firm has been revoked or is no longer authorised, or contact details do not match, do not proceed until the FCA or responsible principal confirms the position through independently verified contact details.
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The FCA warns that clone firms copy legitimate firms’ identities. A similar name or matching reference number is not enough if the website or contact details differ. Its consumer guidance, last updated 22 September 2026, says that using an authorised firm with the correct permissions greatly reduces risk of harm but does not remove all risk. Complaint or compensation routes depend on the firm, activity, and circumstances; a register entry by itself does not establish that protection applies.
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United States: use IAPD for advisers and BrokerCheck for brokers
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For an investment adviser, use the SEC and state regulator’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure (IAPD) search. It covers SEC- and state-registered firms and individuals. Check the registration status and review the adviser’s Form ADV and disclosures.
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For a broker or brokerage firm, use FINRA BrokerCheck through the SEC’s Ask and Check guidance. Investor.gov says BrokerCheck redirects to IAPD when appropriate for advisory records. Check both the person and the firm, and contact the relevant state securities regulator for additional information when appropriate.
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Read the adviser’s Form ADV Part 2 brochure and, when applicable, relationship summary. Review services, fees, conflicts, business practices, background, and disciplinary disclosures. Ask about any reported disciplinary events and their resolution, and whether limits apply to the products the adviser may recommend.
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If the service involves futures, check NFA BASIC for relevant registration and disciplinary information. Choose the lookup based on the activity rather than assuming IAPD covers every financial professional.
SIPC protection concerns eligible customer property when a member brokerage firm fails; it does not insure losses caused by market declines. SIPC membership and adviser registration are not guarantees against investment loss.
Australia: check the Financial Advisers Register and other registers as needed
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Use ASIC’s Financial Advisers Register, published on Moneysmart, to check relevant providers who give personal advice to retail clients on relevant financial products. The entry can show registration status, qualifications and training, work history, and the products the adviser can advise on.
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Do not assume the register covers every person giving financial advice. Its scope excludes, for example, general advice, advice only to wholesale clients, and personal advice about products outside the register’s defined scope. Depending on the adviser’s role, also check the AFS Licensees Register or Authorised Representatives Register.
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If an entry is missing, inconsistent, or unclear, confirm the adviser’s current relationship and authority directly with the licensee using contact information you obtained independently. ASIC says licensees must update register information within 30 business days after specified changes, so an entry may not immediately reflect a later change.
What to compare before choosing an adviser
If you are considering more than one adviser, use the same checks for each so that you are comparing like with like. A regulator’s entry can help establish regulatory status and scope, but it does not determine whether a particular recommendation suits your circumstances.
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Status and scope: Is the registration or authorisation current, and does the permission cover the service or products being offered?
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Responsible firm: Which firm, licensee, or principal is responsible for the advice?
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Background: What do the available work history, qualifications, training, and disciplinary, regulatory, or customer disclosures show?
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Services and limits: What services can the adviser provide, and are there restrictions on the products they can recommend?
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Fees and conflicts: How is the adviser paid, what fees will you owe, and what conflicts of interest are disclosed?
Read the engagement documents before signing and ask the adviser to explain anything you do not understand. In the United States, use the Form ADV brochure and applicable relationship summary as part of that review.
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Pause if the identity, permission, or approach raises concerns
Unexpected contact, pressure to act quickly, promises of extraordinary returns, requests for secrecy, or appeals to claimed authority instead of a verifiable record are reasons to stop and check independently. The FCA’s scam guidance highlights these warning signs.
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Do not transfer money or sign an agreement while a material mismatch remains unresolved.
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Use the regulator’s listing to verify the firm’s real website, address, phone number, and reference number; do not rely on details in an unsolicited message.
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If permissions do not match or the adviser’s authority is unclear, contact the regulator or responsible firm using independently verified details. Report suspected unauthorised activity to the relevant regulator.
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