Find a Financial Professional

Choosing a financial professional requires trust, so make sure they meet high ethical standards and have the right experience. Many specialize in specific areas, so do your own research to confirm they can handle your needs, whether it's college savings or something else.

Professionals in our directory focus on college savings and claim 529 expertise, but it's still your responsibility to evaluate them. You can easily check their background—brokers and advisors must be licensed and disclose key information, which is available in public directories to help you make informed decisions.

• Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has a tool called BrokerCheck that you can use to look up a brokerage firm or individual registered representative. If an advisor holds a securities license, or has within the past 10 years, you can view his or her employment history and any disciplinary action or customer disputes.
• Many advisors must also register with the federal Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and submit a Form ADV, which discloses all previous employers and educational background, as well as any client, regulatory, or criminal incidents. The Investment Adviser Public Disclosure (IAPD) is the directory that you can use to access this information.
• Your state securities regulator will also have information on the brokers in your area, and may even have more comprehensive details pertaining to investor complaints than can be found on the IAPD or BrokerCheck, so this is another good place to include in your search for a financial professional. Contact information for your state securities regulator can be found at the North American Securities Administrators Association.