Authority and scope
Sections ↑Registers and permission checks
Sections ↑Check the provider and its disclosures
| Question | Reference and action |
|---|---|
| Firm and professional | Search the legal firm and the individual separately, using their names or CRD identifiers. Similar names are not enough to establish a match.Source 1Source 2 |
| Registration and history | Open the detailed report and read the registration, employment and disclosure sections. A disclosure needs its outcome and context; a settled or denied allegation is not automatically an adverse finding.Source 1Source 2 |
| Service boundary | A brokerage registration does not establish that every website using a brand is genuine or that every product is covered. Match the customer agreement, firm record and service provider.Source 2 |
BrokerCheck covers both brokerage and investment-adviser background information, but the categories and regulators are not interchangeable. Read the detailed report as well as the summary: FINRA’s release notes explain that qualification-exam information remains in the detailed PDF. A securities registration does not establish that the same legal company is registered for every retail forex activity.[7][8][1]
Check the exact legal entity, permissions, current status and scope in the official record. A brand connection in our coverage does not establish authorisation.
Complaints and redress
Sections ↑Choose the appropriate route
| Question | Reference and action |
|---|---|
| Concern about conduct | Use FINRA’s investor-complaint process and provide the firm, account issue and relevant records. A regulator investigating conduct is different from a tribunal deciding a damages claim.Source 3 |
| Request for compensation | Consider the separately documented arbitration or mediation route and its eligibility, fees, procedures and deadlines. A complaint submission does not automatically open an arbitration case.Source 4Source 3 |
| Failure of a carrying broker | Check SIPC membership and the actual custody arrangement separately. SIPC concerns missing customer property in qualifying member liquidations, not reimbursement of ordinary market losses.Source 5 |
Preserve a usable record
| Question | Reference and action |
|---|---|
| Evidence file | Keep dated statements, confirmations, the agreement and correspondence. Identify the disputed transaction or instruction and the remedy sought rather than relying only on the brand name.Source 3 |
| Current information | Use the live report and current process instructions when acting. This directory guide is not an official register or an individual determination of eligibility.Source 1Source 4 |
FINRA Rule 12206 generally makes a claim ineligible for arbitration once six years have elapsed from the event or occurrence giving rise to it; the panel decides eligibility questions. This is not a six-year extension of every legal deadline. Applicable statutes of limitation can be shorter, and the rule contains separate provisions concerning claims filed in court and court-directed arbitration.[6]
To seek a monetary remedy, use the arbitration or mediation route linked in this profile and preserve a statement of claim, the agreement, relevant statements and the damages calculation. Submitting a regulatory conduct complaint does not itself file an arbitration claim or settle its eligibility clock.[4][6]
Compensation and firm failure
Sections ↑SIPC protects qualifying missing cash and securities at a failed SIPC-member brokerage, up to USD 500,000 including a USD 250,000 cash limit. This concerns the custody function; it does not reimburse falling prices, unsuitable recommendations or bad advice. Cash held for securities transactions is treated differently from cash connected with commodity trades.[5]
SIPC boundaries relevant to FX customers
| Subject | What it means |
|---|---|
| Foreign-exchange trades | SIPC expressly excludes foreign-exchange trades. A securities-broker group’s membership does not insure a separate forex account.Source 5 |
| Commodity futures | Generally excluded, subject to the specified special portfolio-margining exception.Source 5 |
| Non-US investor | US citizenship or residency is not required for otherwise eligible protection at a member firm.Source 5 |
| Crypto assets | Only assets meeting SIPA’s security definition qualify; unregistered investment contracts and other nonqualifying crypto assets are excluded.Source 5 |
Report misconduct, scams or a clone
Sections ↑This profile has not yet established the applicable procedure, receiving body and eligibility for this task. Consult the authority’s official resources and check your firm, product and circumstances before acting.
Contacts & official resources
Sections ↑FINRA arbitration time-limit rule
- Responsible body
- Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
- Scope
- The event-based six-year eligibility rule and its separate interaction with court limitation periods.
- Resource availability
- Available
- Checked
- Source 6
About BrokerCheck
- Responsible body
- Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
- Scope
- Free broker/adviser background and registration reports.
- Resource availability
- Available
- Checked
- Source 7
BrokerCheck release notes
- Responsible body
- Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
- Scope
- Summary and detailed-report presentation; qualification examinations remain in detailed PDF.
- Resource availability
- Available
- Checked
- Source 8
What SIPC protects
- Responsible body
- Securities Investor Protection Corporation
- Scope
- USD500,000 total including USD250,000 cash; custody function, forex/futures and market-loss exclusions.
- Resource availability
- Available
- Checked
- Source 5
Resource availability describes the documented route. It does not establish eligibility, authorisation or compensation coverage.
Sources & further reading
- BrokerCheck: firm and individual records FINRA · Accessed 13 Oct 2026
- Using BrokerCheck US Securities and Exchange Commission · Accessed 13 Oct 2026
- File an investor complaint FINRA · Accessed 13 Oct 2026
- Arbitration and mediation FINRA · Accessed 13 Oct 2026
- What SIPC protects Securities Investor Protection Corporation · Accessed 15 Oct 2026
- FINRA Rule 12206: arbitration eligibility and time limitations Financial Industry Regulatory Authority · Accessed 13 Oct 2026
- About BrokerCheck Financial Industry Regulatory Authority · Accessed 15 Oct 2026
- BrokerCheck release notes Financial Industry Regulatory Authority · Accessed 15 Oct 2026
A documented resource is not a finding of eligibility or compensation coverage. Consult the named body and current official terms for your firm, product and circumstances.
Report an error or submit an update
Covered broker profiles
Profiles connected to this authority in our coverage. This is not a complete official register or a list of approved brokers; see each entity’s dated status.
Acorns
A detailed U.S. profile of Acorns Invest, Later, Early and banking services, including Bronze, Silver and Gold subscriptions, portfolio structures, Round-Ups, conditional retirement and child-account matches, transfers, ancillary charges, legal entities and protection boundaries.
- Operating status
- Active
- Headquarters
- Irvine, California, United States
- Sources checked
- 15 Oct 2026
Ally Invest
A permanent U.S. profile separating Ally’s self-directed brokerage, two Robo portfolio designs and Personal Advice service, with current transaction charges, margin tiers, funding, withdrawal fees and legal roles.
- Operating status
- Active
- Headquarters
- Charlotte, North Carolina, United States — brokerage and advisory subsidiaries of Ally Financial
- Sources checked
- 10 Oct 2026
Alpaca
A permanent U.S. reference to Alpaca’s direct Trading API, embedded Broker API, zero-commission schedule, margin, data plans, overnight access, SIPC/excess coverage and the separate technology, brokerage and crypto companies.
- Operating status
- Active
- Headquarters
- San Mateo, California, United States — distributed global workforce
- Sources checked
- 13 Oct 2026
Betterment
A detailed U.S. profile of Betterment’s managed, self-directed, retirement and cash products, including the $5 monthly versus percentage pricing test, Premium advice, securities lending, transfers, withdrawals, sweep-bank protection and the legal roles of Betterment, Apex and program banks.
- Operating status
- Active
- Headquarters
- New York, United States
- Sources checked
- 15 Oct 2026
Cash App Investing
A detailed U.S. profile of Cash App Investing’s self-directed stock service, US$1 minimum orders, fractional ownership, Family Investing, Apex and DriveWealth carrying-account differences, zero-balance cash transfers, regulatory charges and account restrictions.
- Operating status
- Active
- Headquarters
- United States — mobile brokerage subsidiary of Block, Inc.
- Sources checked
- 15 Oct 2026
CenterPoint Securities
CenterPoint Securities is an active-trading service of Clear Street LLC. The profile separates its USD 30,000 specialist account, activity/equity benefit tiers, execution and borrow costs, platform subscriptions, withdrawal holds and emergency dealing from other Clear Street products and historical carrying arrangements.
- Operating status
- Active
- Sources checked
- 15 Oct 2026
Charles Schwab
A permanent U.S. profile of Schwab brokerage and retirement accounts, product-specific commissions, thinkorswim platforms, extended-hours access, retail forex, futures and current group scale.
- Operating status
- Active
- Headquarters
- Westlake, Texas, United States — parent group and principal brokerage operations
- Sources checked
- 15 Oct 2026
Citi Self Invest
A detailed U.S. reference to Citi Self Invest’s self-directed brokerage route, current online pricing, eligible securities, fractional ownership, cash-offer conditions, account funding, legal entity and the boundary between brokerage protection and bank deposits.
- Operating status
- Active
- Headquarters
- New York, United States — Citigroup Global Markets Inc. brokerage operation
- Sources checked
- 15 Oct 2026
E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley
A permanent U.S. profile of E*TRADE securities and retirement accounts, options and futures pricing, the Power E*TRADE Pro rollout, legacy-platform migration and the linked crypto relationship.
- Operating status
- Active
- Headquarters
- United States — E*TRADE brand within Morgan Stanley; account services use separate companies
- Sources checked
- 9 Oct 2026
Fidelity
A permanent U.S. profile of Fidelity brokerage and IRA routes, domestic commissions, current margin rates, fractional orders, Trader+ platforms and direct international-market fees.
- Operating status
- Active
- Headquarters
- Boston, Massachusetts, United States — Fidelity group; brokerage supplied by Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC
- Sources checked
- 9 Oct 2026
Firstrade
A permanent profile of Firstrade’s U.S. self-directed service, online and assisted charges, current margin tiers, regulatory fees, overnight trading, service fees, international applications and legal protection route.
- Operating status
- Active
- Headquarters
- Flushing, New York, United States
- Sources checked
- 15 Oct 2026
Hatch Invest New Zealand
A detailed New Zealand profile of Hatch’s US brokerage service through DriveWealth, including one-off and Auto-invest pricing, Kids accounts, FX charges, order controls, FDIC cash sweep, SIPC boundaries, transfers, tax reporting and support.
- Operating status
- Active
- Headquarters
- Wellington, New Zealand
- Sources checked
- 29 Oct 2026