Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsCheck the adviser in the official regulator register for the country where they operate, then confirm that the firm and person are permitted to provide the specific service being offered. A name appearing in a register is only a limited regulatory check—not proof that an investment is safe, suitable, or likely to make money.
Start with the country and the service
There is no single worldwide register for financial advisers. The right search depends on where the adviser operates and what they are offering: investment advice, brokerage, futures services, or another financial activity. A database may cover firms but not every role or type of advice. Use the examples below for the United Kingdom, United States, or Australia; if you are elsewhere, find the official regulator for that jurisdiction rather than relying on one of these registers.
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Before searching, get the adviser’s full name, firm name, firm reference or licence number, and the contact details they gave you. Identify the service and products they say they can provide. Then navigate to the regulator’s website yourself instead of following a link in an unsolicited message.
Which official register should you use?
| Where | Check | What it can tell you |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | FCA Firm Checker and Financial Services Register | Firm authorisation and service permissions; individual and historical regulatory information where applicable. |
| United States | SEC Investor.gov’s adviser guidance, which directs users to IAPD; FINRA BrokerCheck for brokers and brokerage firms | Adviser and firm registration records, Form ADV and disclosures; broker background and disciplinary information. The tools’ coverage depends on the professional’s activity. |
| Australia | ASIC Financial Advisers Register on Moneysmart; check other ASIC registers where relevant | For covered advisers, registration status, qualifications and training, work history, and products they can advise on. |
How to verify a UK adviser or firm
- Open the FCA’s Firm Checker independently and search for the firm. Confirm that the listing is for the same business, not merely one with a similar name.
- Check that the firm is authorised and that its permissions cover the particular service being offered. A firm’s appearance in the register does not mean it is authorised for every regulated service.
- Use the Financial Services Register to check the individual where relevant and review the firm’s history, including disciplinary or regulatory actions. Not every individual working at a financial firm needs FCA approval, so an absent individual entry by itself does not prove the firm is unauthorised. Consider the person’s role and verify the firm.
- If the provider is an appointed representative, identify its principal firm. Ask the principal—using contact details independently confirmed from an official listing—to confirm the representative’s permitted activities and which protections may apply.
- Compare the firm reference number, telephone number, website, and address supplied to you with the FCA listing. Check the FCA Warning List and relevant disciplinary information before proceeding.
How to verify a US investment adviser or broker
- For an investment adviser, use Investor.gov’s investment adviser guidance to access Investment Adviser Public Disclosure (IAPD). IAPD includes SEC- and state-registered firms and individuals.
- Search for both the adviser and the firm. Review registration status, background, business practices, fees, conflicts, and disciplinary disclosures. Read the adviser’s Form ADV Part 2 brochure and, where applicable, the relationship summary.
- For a broker or brokerage firm, use FINRA BrokerCheck. Investor.gov says BrokerCheck redirects users to IAPD when advisory records are needed. Check the relevant state securities regulator for additional information when appropriate.
- If the offer involves futures, check NFA BASIC for relevant registration and disciplinary information. Do not assume IAPD covers every kind of financial professional.
- Ask the adviser to explain any disciplinary event and its resolution, the services and products they can recommend, fees, and conflicts of interest.
Investor.gov explains that SIPC protection concerns eligible customer property if a member brokerage firm fails; it does not cover investment losses caused by market declines. SIPC membership or adviser registration is not a guarantee against losing money. See Investor.gov’s Ask and Check guidance.
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How to verify an Australian adviser
- Search the ASIC Financial Advisers Register, published on Moneysmart. For advisers within its scope, review registration status, qualifications and training, work history, and the financial products they can advise on.
- Check the AFS Licensees Register or Authorised Representatives Register as well when the person’s role calls for it. The Financial Advisers Register does not include everyone who gives financial advice: examples outside its scope include general advice, advice only to wholesale clients, and personal advice on products outside the register’s defined coverage.
- If an entry is missing, inconsistent, or unclear, confirm the current relationship and authority with the licensee using contact information you obtained independently. ASIC says licensees must update information within 30 business days after specified changes, so a register entry may not reflect a later change immediately.
What to inspect in the record
Do not stop at a search-result match. Open the record and compare the details that matter to the service you are considering:
- Status and permissions: Is the registration or authorisation current, and does it cover the advice, service, or products being offered?
- Responsible firm: Which firm or principal is responsible for the person’s advice?
- Identity and history: Do the name, role, and employment history make sense? Are there disciplinary, regulatory, or customer disclosures to understand?
- Qualifications and scope: What qualifications or designations are listed, and what products may the adviser advise on?
- Fees and conflicts: How is the adviser paid, what fees apply, and what conflicts may influence a recommendation?
If comparing advisers, check the same categories for each one. A regulatory record does not establish that a particular recommendation is suitable for you; read the engagement documents and ask questions about fees, services, and conflicts before signing.
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What to do if the adviser is missing or details do not match
A missing result can have different explanations: you may be searching the wrong register, the person may appear under a different role, or the relevant activity may fall outside that register’s scope. It is not a reason to assume the provider is safe or unsafe without resolving the discrepancy. Do not hand over money or sign until you have verified the firm, the person’s role, and the required permission with the regulator or responsible principal.
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- If the person’s entry is absent but the firm is listed, ask the firm or principal to confirm the person’s role and authority using contact details from an official source.
- If permissions do not match, the firm is revoked or no longer authorised, or contact details conflict, pause. Contact the regulator or principal through independently verified details and report suspected unauthorised activity to the relevant regulator.
Watch for impersonation and pressure
Scammers can copy the identity of a legitimate firm. A familiar name or a convincing-looking website is not enough. The FCA advises consumers to be wary of unexpected contact, pressure to act quickly, extraordinary return promises, requests for secrecy, or appeals to claimed authority. See its guidance on protecting yourself from scams.
Compare the actual website, phone number, address, and reference number with the regulator’s own listing. Do not call a number or use a link supplied in an unsolicited message to verify that same message; find the official register independently and use the details published there.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What a positive register result does—and does not—mean
The Financial Conduct Authority’s consumer guidance, last updated 22 September 2026, says: “Using an authorised firm, with the correct permissions, will greatly reduce the risk of harm. It won’t remove all risk.” Access to compensation or complaint routes depends on the firm, activity, and circumstances; a listing alone does not establish that you are covered. Registration also does not tell you whether an investment is suitable or will perform well.
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