Does CD Valet screen, vet or endorse the advisors listed in the Financial Advisor Marketplace ?
CD Valet is an advertising and directory platform for the Financial Advisor Marketplace, not a screening, due-diligence, or endorsement service. Before an advisor is added, we confirm that the advisor (or the advisor's firm) shows an active registration status with the applicable regulator—
FINRA BrokerCheck, the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Investment Adviser Public Disclosure (IAPD), or the relevant state securities regulator—at the time of listing. That confirmation is limited to registration status. It is not a review of an advisor's conduct history, business practices, credentials, insurance coverage, or client reviews, and it is not a recommendation, ranking, or endorsement of any advisor by CD Valet.
Is CD Valet a registered investment adviser or broker-dealer, and does it give investment advice ?
CD Valet is not registered as an investment adviser or broker-dealer, and no information on CD Valet is investment, legal, or tax advice. Each advisor listed in the Financial Advisor Marketplace is independently registered as an investment adviser, or as an investment adviser representative of a registered firm, either with the SEC or with the securities regulator of the applicable state and is solely responsible for the advice and services provided. Fiduciary duties, if any, extend from the advisor and the firm to the consumer—not from CD Valet.
Is CD Valet compensated by the advisors listed on the marketplace ?
Yes. CD Valet is compensated by participating advisors through a flat monthly subscription fee. This fee is the same regardless of whether, or how often, a consumer views, contacts, or hires an advisor. It is not a per-lead fee, a per-account fee, and it is not based on an assets-under-management model.
How can I independently check an advisor's background myself ?
First search for the advisor's name and firm on
FINRA BrokerCheck. If the individual or firm is also a registered broker, search on the SEC
Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website. Both are free, public resources. These sources reflect an advisor's current regulatory status and disciplinary history, if any, and are updated most frequently. To review an advisor's record, 1. Check that the registration is active (not pending, revoked, or inactive); 2. See how long the individual has been registered and whether there has been frequent movement between firms; and 3. Read any disclosures (if present) — customer disputes, regulatory actions, terminations, or financial matters.
What's the most important information to have before hiring a financial advisor?
Before you engage an advisor, be sure you receive two documents that an advisor is required to give you. The first is Form ADV Part 2A, which describes in depth how the advisor is paid, the services offered, and conflicts of interest. The second is Form CRS, which is a concise, two-page or less high-level overview of services, fees, standards of conduct, and disciplinary history, if applicable.
What questions should I ask when considering hiring an advisor ?
People interviewing a financial advisor commonly ask these questions:
- Are you a fiduciary for all the advice given? How exactly are you paid and by whom (fees, commissions, or both) ?
- What would the all-in cost be for me, including any underlying fund or platform fees on top of the advisor fee ?
- Do you or your firm receive any other compensation tied to products or investments you may recommend to me ?
These insights from CD Valet are intended to be educational and are not personalized advice. They are meant to help you conduct better research, not to tell you which advisor to choose.
