Investigate Before You Invest
While the vast majority of the stockbrokers, brokerage firms, investment advisers and investment adviser firms are honest and reputable, it pays to remember that just like many other professions, there are those individuals and firms who are not.
State and federal laws require brokers, advisers and firms to be registered or licensed. Canadian securities laws require anyone trading securities, or in the business of advising clients on securities, as well as the company they work for to be registered with their provincial or territorial securities commission, unless a registration exemption applies.
State securities regulators should be the first call for an investor before you turn over any money to a broker or investment adviser. You can access extensive employment, disciplinary, and registration information about your stockbroker or investment adviser through your state securities regulator.
Resources for U.S. Investors
Resources for Canadian Investors
The National Registration Search is a web-based tool that provides information about individuals and firms registered with securities regulatory authorities in Canada.
Registration information from the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) is not included in the national registration search, but is available through the OSC Registrant List.
Visit the Canadian Securities Administrator’s Registration page for more information on registration in Canada.
