How to Check a Financial Advisor Is Registered in Canada
To check a Canadian financial advisor, search their name and firm on the CSA's National Registration Search at aretheyregistered.ca. Then check CIRO's AdvisorReport if they work for an investment dealer, and look for disciplinary history. In Ontario and Quebec, also confirm their planner title with FSRA or the AMF.
- Anyone selling securities or giving investment advice must be registered with a securities regulator unless they have an exemption, according to the OSC's investor site.
- The CSA's National Registration Search covers every province and territory. It shows the firm, category and provinces.
- CIRO's AdvisorReport adds approval categories, past firms, courses and disciplinary disclosures, but only for advisors at investment dealers, not mutual fund dealers.
- Also check the CSA Disciplined List and the cease trade orders database on SEDAR+, as the CSA recommends.
- If something goes wrong, OBSI can recommend up to $350,000 per complaint. Its recommendations are not binding.
This guide is part of Hands-Off Investing, in the Investing category. Pair it with questions to ask a financial advisor, so you check both the person and the deal.
Why does registration matter?
Registration means a regulator has checked the person's proficiency and the firm's capital, insurance and compliance systems, and can discipline them. The CSA's "Are They Registered?" page says securities professionals must register in each province or territory where they do business, and regulators only register firms and individuals that are properly qualified. It also warns that being registered does not mean a given investment suits you.
Unregistered people offering investments is one of the most common signs of fraud. If someone says they are "licensed" but you cannot find them, stop there.
Which tool do you use?
| Tool | Who it covers | What it shows |
|---|---|---|
| CSA National Registration Search | Individuals and firms registered with any provincial or territorial securities regulator | Registration category, firm, provinces, and any terms or conditions |
| CIRO AdvisorReport | Advisors currently approved at a CIRO-regulated investment dealer (not mutual fund dealer registrants) | Approval categories, provinces, terms, past firms, courses and exams, disciplinary disclosures |
| CIRO disciplinary case search | Current and former CIRO-regulated advisors and firms | Enforcement decisions, which CIRO says are never removed |
| CSA Disciplined List and SEDAR+ cease trade orders | Individuals and companies sanctioned by securities regulators | Bans, sanctions and cease trade orders |
| AMF registers (Quebec) | Firms and individuals authorized in Quebec, including insurance representatives | Authorization, training requirements, and whether someone has been barred |
| FSRA (Ontario) | People using "Financial Planner" or "Financial Advisor" titles in Ontario | Whether their credential comes from an FSRA-approved body |
How do you run the check?
Full legal name, firm name, and the province they work from. Ask for them by email so you have them in writing.
Search the individual, then the firm. Note the category and the provinces listed.
CIRO's tips: enter the last name exactly, watch for spelling variants such as Lee and Li, and leave the firm blank if you are unsure.
The CSA suggests the Disciplined List, cease trade orders on SEDAR+, and a plain web search for complaints or court cases.
In Ontario, ask which FSRA-approved credential they hold. In Quebec, check the AMF register.
CIRO recommends typing the firm's web address yourself rather than clicking a link someone sent. Call the firm's main number to confirm the person works there.
How do you read the results?
The registration category tells you what the person can do. The firm category tells you what the firm can sell. These are the categories you will see most often.
| You see | What it generally means | Question to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Dealing representative, mutual fund dealer | Can sell mutual funds through that dealer | "Can you offer ETFs or only mutual funds?" |
| Dealing representative, investment dealer | Can trade a broad range of securities, such as stocks, bonds and ETFs, through that dealer | "Is my account fee-based or commission?" |
| Advising representative, portfolio manager | Can manage portfolios with discretion, without asking before each trade | "What is the minimum account and the fee schedule?" |
| Dealing representative, exempt market dealer | Sells prospectus-exempt products, such as private placements | "What are the risks and how would I sell this later?" |
| Terms and conditions on registration | The regulator placed limits, such as supervision | "Why are there conditions on your registration?" |
- No result at all, or the name matches but the firm does not.
- They are not registered in your province.
- A disciplinary record they did not mention.
- They want you to send money to anyone other than the registered firm.
Tom gets a call offering a "guaranteed 12%" private investment. The caller emails a document with a securities regulator logo. Tom searches the caller's name and company on aretheyregistered.ca: no result. He finds the company on no CIRO list. He stops, does not send money, and reports it to the BC Securities Commission. Tom and the offer are illustrative, but the steps are the ones the CSA recommends.
What about provincial titles?
Registration is about what someone can sell or advise on. Titles are separate, and only some provinces regulate them:
- Ontario: "Financial Planner" and "Financial Advisor" require a credential from an FSRA-approved body. FSRA says the transition period ended March 28, 2026.
- Quebec: the AMF says the planner title requires the Institut de planification financière diploma and an AMF certificate. The AMF registers also show insurance representatives and anyone barred from practising.
- Other provinces and territories: this guide has not confirmed a title-protection regime in force. A title alone tells you little, so rely on the registration search and the actual credential.
What do impersonation scams look like?
The CSA's current warning is about false documents that use CSA branding to promise investors funds. Regulators do not send letters promising you money, and they do not ask for fees to release funds. CIRO's fraud page adds three points worth repeating:
- Check registration before you give anyone your personal information or your money.
- A company that says it is regulated by CIRO may not be. Check CIRO's own list.
- Reach a dealer's website by typing the address yourself, and check that the address is exactly right. Lookalike sites copy real firms.
| What you are told | What to do |
|---|---|
| "We're with the securities commission and can release your funds for a fee." | Hang up. Call the regulator using the number on its official website. |
| "I'm registered, here's my licence number." | Search the name and firm yourself on aretheyregistered.ca. |
| "Send the money to my personal account or a crypto wallet." | Do not. Registered firms take deposits into accounts in your name. |
| "Here's a link to log in to your new account." | Type the firm's address yourself instead of clicking. |
What if something goes wrong?
Complain in writing to the firm first. If you are not satisfied, OBSI is the free ombudsman for investment complaints. Its FAQ sets out the timelines below.
Complaint timelines, in days (OBSI, reviewed October 23, 2026)
From the OBSI FAQ: investment firms have 90 days to respond (60 for Quebec residents, extendable to 90 in exceptional cases). You have 180 calendar days after the firm's final written response to go to OBSI. OBSI aims to finish investment investigations within 120 days of assignment.
OBSI can recommend up to $350,000 for a single complaint, across all accounts. Its recommendations are not binding, but OBSI publishes refusals. If you think rules were broken, you can also report to your securities regulator, which can discipline the advisor but normally does not recover money.
Checklist
- Exact name, firm and province in writing
- National Registration Search match for person and firm
- CIRO AdvisorReport checked, if at an investment dealer
- Disciplined List, SEDAR+ cease trade orders and a web search done
- Title confirmed with FSRA (Ontario) or the AMF (Quebec)
- Money sent only to the registered firm, never to a person
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if a financial advisor is registered in Canada?
Search the CSA's National Registration Search at aretheyregistered.ca. It covers registrants in every province and territory and shows their category and firm.
What is CIRO AdvisorReport?
CIRO's search tool for advisors at CIRO-regulated investment dealers. It shows approval categories, provinces, past firms, courses and disciplinary disclosures. CIRO says it does not cover mutual fund dealer registrants.
Why can't I find my advisor on CIRO?
They may be at a mutual fund dealer, a portfolio manager or an exempt market dealer, which AdvisorReport does not cover. Use the National Registration Search instead.
Does registration mean an investment is safe?
No. The CSA says registration does not mean an investment suits you. It means the person and firm meet regulatory standards and can be disciplined.
Are insurance agents on the National Registration Search?
Not for their insurance licence. Insurance licensing is provincial. In Quebec, the AMF registers include insurance representatives; elsewhere, check your provincial insurance regulator.
What should I do if someone is not registered?
Do not invest or share account details. Contact your provincial or territorial securities regulator, as the CSA recommends.
How much can OBSI recover for me?
OBSI can recommend up to $350,000 for a single complaint, across all accounts involved. Firms are not legally bound to follow it, but refusals are made public.
Sources
- CSA: Are They Registered? (last updated January 13, 2026), reviewed October 23, 2026
- CIRO: Search for an AdvisorReport and Know Your Advisor: Advisor Report, reviewed October 23, 2026
- OBSI: Frequently asked questions, reviewed October 23, 2026
- FSRA: Financial Planner title transition reminder, reviewed October 23, 2026
- AMF: Financial planning and AMF registers, reviewed October 23, 2026
- GetSmarterAboutMoney (OSC): 8 questions to ask an advisor, reviewed October 23, 2026
Related reading
- Questions to ask a financial advisor
- Total cost reporting in Canada
- Robo-advisor vs financial advisor
Checked them out? Now check the questions.
Use our list of questions, with the answers that should worry you.
Questions to ask an advisor
