Selecting Your Investment Professional

Before you engage an investment professional, make sure you know more than just their name and professional credential:

1. Use FINRA BrokerCheck to make sure that the investment professionals and their firms are properly registered.
2. Talk with several professionals. Ask about their:
   • Registrations or licenses
   • Areas of specialization
   • Products and services
   • Investment experience
   • Professional credentials
3. Understand how you will pay them for their services. Investment professionals are typically paid in one (or more than one) of the following ways:
   • An hourly fee
   • A flat fee
   • A commission on the investment products they sell you
   • A percentage of the value of the assets they manage for you
   • A combination of fees and commissions.

For more information, see FINRA’s Working With Your Investment Professional. Also see our more detailed section on Choosing an Investment Professional.