How AdvisorIQ works
A clearer way to research financial advisors
AdvisorIQ turns public regulatory records into a search and comparison tool. It is built for people who want to understand the basics before talking to an advisor, without joining a lead list or trusting a paid directory.
What a financial advisor can do
A financial advisor may help with investment management, retirement planning, tax-aware planning, estate coordination, education funding, insurance questions, charitable giving, or business owner planning. Not every advisor does every one of those things.
The useful first question is practical: does this advisor work with people like me, on problems like mine, in a way I can understand and afford?
Where the information comes from
AdvisorIQ uses public data from the SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure system, often called IAPD. Firm records are based on Form ADV filings. Advisor records include public registration information connected to those firms.
Each advisor and firm profile includes a direct IAPD link. Use it to verify the record, read the official filing, and check for updates. Public filings can lag, and a firm-level fact may not describe every advisor at that firm.
How to use AdvisorIQ
- 1
Search broadly
Start with a city, state, fee model, firm size, years registered, designations, client count, or disclosure filter. You do not need to know an advisor's name.
- 2
Read the record
Open an advisor or firm profile to see public registration details, affiliated firm information, reported clients, fees, and disclosures.
- 3
Verify the source
Use the IAPD button on each profile to open the official SEC record. AdvisorIQ is a research layer, not the legal source of record.
- 4
Save and compare
Save advisors you want to revisit, then compare them side by side. This helps turn a long search into a focused shortlist.
- 5
Prepare questions
Use the public record to ask better first-meeting questions about fees, services, clients served, disclosures, custody, and who would work with you.
Common terms, explained
- RIA
- Registered Investment Adviser. A firm or person registered to give investment advice for compensation.
- SEC
- The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. It oversees many investment advisers and publishes adviser records.
- IAPD
- Investment Adviser Public Disclosure. This is the SEC site where public adviser and firm records can be verified.
- CRD
- Central Registration Depository number. It is a public identifier used for adviser and firm records.
- Form ADV
- The regulatory filing investment adviser firms use to describe their business, fees, ownership, clients, and disciplinary history.
- AUM
- Assets under management. This is the amount of client money a firm reports managing. Bigger is not automatically better.
- Disclosures
- Reported regulatory, legal, or disciplinary events. A disclosure is not the whole story, but it is always worth reading.
- Designations
- Professional credentials such as CFP, CFA, CPA, ChFC, or AIF. Each has different training, exams, and standards.
Questions worth asking before you hire
These questions work with any advisor. Each one includes why it matters.
- 1
How do you get paid?
Why ask this: You want a clear, simple answer. Some advisors charge a flat or hourly fee; others take a percentage of your money or earn commissions for selling certain products. Knowing how they're paid tells you whether their advice might be nudged by what earns them more.
- 2
Will you always have to put my interests first, in writing?
Why ask this: An advisor who must legally act in your best interest is called a "fiduciary." Not all advisors are held to that standard all the time, so it's fair to ask them to say yes plainly.
- 3
What exactly would you help me with?
Why ask this: Some advisors only manage investments. Others also help with budgeting, taxes, retirement, insurance, or passing money to family. Make sure they cover what you actually need.
- 4
Have you worked with people in a situation like mine?
Why ask this: An advisor used to clients with your income, age, or goals is more likely to understand your situation and give advice that fits.
- 5
Is there anything on your record I should know about?
Why ask this: Advisors have to report certain customer complaints or legal issues, and you can see them on their profile here. It is reasonable to ask them to explain anything that shows up.
- 6
Where is my money actually kept, and how do I check it?
Why ask this: Your money should sit at a separate, well-known institution (called a "custodian"), not with the advisor personally. You should be able to log in and see it anytime.
- 7
What happens if I want to stop working with you?
Why ask this: A trustworthy advisor makes leaving easy, with no surprise fees or pressure. Ask before you sign anything.
What AdvisorIQ does not do
AdvisorIQ does not recommend, rank, endorse, or certify advisors. Advisors do not pay for placement, ranking, visibility, or profile access. The search results are meant to help you inspect public facts and decide who deserves a closer look.
A good match is personal. Proximity, services, fees, client focus, communication style, and trust all matter. Public records can narrow the field, but they cannot replace a careful conversation.
Your information
Browsing does not require an account. Searching and viewing any advisor or firm profile never asks for your email, phone number, or address.
An account is optional and exists for one purpose: to save and compare the advisors you choose. Signing in uses your email only to verify it is you. We never use it for marketing, and your information is never shared or sold.
Why this site exists
Many advisor directories show only advertisers, lead buyers, or firms that opt in. That makes it hard to know what is missing. AdvisorIQ starts from public regulatory data so the first step is wider and more transparent.
The goal is simple: help people find a reasonable shortlist, understand what they are reading, and verify the facts before sharing personal financial details.