If your cousin asks you what he should do with the $300 he got in Christmas card money, you can feel free to give him advice without registering with any federal agencies. However, if your cousin happened to collect $30 million in Christmas card money, you might have to start filling out some paperwork before issuing any investment suggestions.
An investment advisor that reaches a certain size needs to register as a Federal Covered Advisor with the SEC. The designation comes into play when the advisor manages or advises more than $30 million in assets, or fulfills a few other potential size tests (like providing advisory services in at least 15 states).
The logic? If you're that big of a swinging...advisor, then you need to follow the hoop-jumping rules of the entire nation, not just your state.
What time is it? Series 7 time.
Related or Semi-related Video
Finance: What's the difference between a...23 Views
Finance a la shmoop what's the difference between a financial adviser
and a financial planner? well here's the Venn diagram of a financial adviser in a [Venn diagram appears]
financial planner and yes you can see that the financial planner is kind of a
subset of the advisor but well you know pours better coffee in other words all
financial planners are financial advisors but not all financial advisors
are financial planners okay so the financial planner what do they do they
plan financially what does that mean? while the planner looks at your budget
your rent your insurance your likely taxes and a whole bunch of other little [Financial planner duties appear]
detailing things that you could probably do entirely on your own if you thought
about it for five minutes but whatever trauma happened to you and [Man with injuries laying on couch]
your childhood rendered you somehow incapable of doing so and you called in
Mommy financial planner who held your hand and help you fill out whatever
forms establish whatever goals and create whatever programs you needed to
create whether you're an individual pediatrician, a small business or
something bigger well financial planners come in a bunch
of certificated flavors like certified financial planner yeah that's a big
catchy one and then there's corollary sidebar ones like chartered financial
consultant and for the really heavy hitter investment planning people well
there's a chartered financial analyst levels one two and three which is the
full contact x-rated version of being a hardcore financial planner so then [Types of financial planner appear]
what's a financial advisor or FA? or FAH as the Dolphins like to call them well
essentially they are your investment whisperer
they sit on your left shoulder and your right shoulder whispering about greed [Angel financial planner whispering on mans shoulder]
and fear and have nothing to do with that scene in Animal House and if you
don't know what we're talking about go ask your parents right now hit pause go
ask them.... greatest college movie in history thank you
specifically a financial advisor is typically a broker in one form or
another who directly helps execute purchases and sales of securities while
knowing a thing or three about estate and tax planning, insurance and other
financial adventures like the joys of owning real estate so a FA must have a
series 65 license or more the good ones have all passed the series
seven exam which is the granddaddy and a few are also CPAs i.e hardcore
accountants if you like not just counting beans but swimming in them well [Man jumps into pool of beans]
then these are both probably good gigs for you
Up Next
What is an investment advisor? Well, as a registered Shmoop advisor, we'd advise that you watch this video.