Who are the Real Investment Advisors?

Who are the Real Investment Advisors? The special story in the recent issue gave me a good outlook on registered investment advisors. Could you please provide guidance on how to recognise registered investment advisors? - Atul Thakur

Editor Responds: We appreciate your kind words of encouragement. To identify a registered investment advisor (RIA) in the Indian markets, there are several steps you can follow. Firstly, you can check the registration status of an advisor with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the regulatory authority for investment advisors in India. SEBI maintains a database of registered advisors on its website. By searching their registration list, you can verify if an advisor is authorized to operate in India. Secondly, SEBI also maintains a directory of registered investment advisors on its website. This directory provides information about advisors, including their registration number, contact details, and location. You can search for advisors based on their name, location, or registration number to find a suitable RIA. Additionally, if an investment advisor offers mutual fund advice, they should have an AMFI Registration Number (ARN). You can verify the validity of an advisor’s ARN by visiting the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) website. By following these steps and conducting due diligence, you can ensure that the investment advisor you choose is registered and regulated by SEBI, providing you with a level of trust and confidence in their services. Keep writing to us with your queries.