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What is a registered investment adviser (RIA)?

A registered investment adviser is a firm registered with the SEC or a state securities regulator to give investment advice. RIAs owe clients a fiduciary duty under the Investment Advisers Act, must disclose conflicts of interest in a public filing called Form ADV, and typically use an independent custodian to hold client assets.

What registration actually requires

Registering is not a rubber stamp. An RIA files a Form ADV describing how it is paid, what conflicts exist, who runs it, and any disciplinary history, then keeps that filing current. The document is public, free, and searchable. It is the closest thing the industry has to reading the label before you buy.

RIA versus broker-dealer

Investment adviser representatives at an RIA are held to a fiduciary standard. Registered representatives at a broker-dealer have historically worked under a different standard, and their compensation can depend on which products you buy. Some people are registered on both sides at once, which is legal and also the reason the question is worth asking directly rather than assuming.

Where your money actually sits

A well-structured RIA never holds your money. Your accounts stay in your name at a third-party custodian, and the adviser has permission to manage and to bill agreed fees, not to move funds to themselves. That separation between the person advising and the institution holding is a meaningful safeguard, and it is worth confirming for any firm you consider.

How to look up any firm

Every registered firm and individual can be searched on the SEC's Investment Adviser Public Disclosure site and on FINRA BrokerCheck. You can see registrations, the current Form ADV, and any disclosures in a couple of minutes. Look up any adviser you are considering, including us.

How this works at Hunt Wealth

Hunt Wealth Planning is an independent RIA, so we act as a fiduciary at all times and our compensation is the fee you pay us. Client accounts are custodied at Altruist in your name, and our Form ADV is available on request and through the SEC's public database.

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