Where or to whom do you turn if you want to check up on your present or future securities dealer or agent? If you are about to entrust some of your funds with an individual or securities firm, it is worth your while to do a background check. It may save you both money and future aggravation.

 Central Registration Depository System 

The Central Registration Depository system ("CRD") is a source that you can turn to for this kind of information. The CRD is a computerized database that holds licensing and registration information on over 600,000 agents (also called registered representatives) and over 6,000 dealers and brokerage firms throughout the country. Every state securities regulator can access the CRD database.

In most cases, a dealer, agent, or any other person who wants to sell securities (for example, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, etc.) must be licensed or registered to do so. Therefore, these individuals' records will be maintained on the CRD.  

The CRD will tell you about your dealer's or your agent's past, including:

• Employment history for the past 10 years 

• Securities examination scores

• Licensing or registration status

• Disciplinary history

Information Available 

As an investor, you can request a public report of background information on any dealer, agent, or brokerage firm. Depending on the state jurisdiction, this report can be obtained either free of charge or for a nominal fee. In addition to employment and examination history, the CRD report will contain the following types of disciplinary history, if applicable:

Final disciplinary actions (relating to securities or commodities businesses)  that have been taken by federal, state, and foreign securities regulators as  well as self-regulatory organizations such as the National Association of  Securities Dealers Regulation.

Civil judgments and arbitration decisions in securities and commodities  disputes involving public customers.

Criminal convictions or indictments against registered or licensed brokerage  firms and their associated persons.

Settlements of $10,000 or more among the parties to arbitrations, civil suits,  and customer complaints involving securities or commodities transactions.

Employment terminations after allegations were made involving violations of investment-related statutes or rules, fraud, theft, or failure to supervise  investment-related activities.

Bankruptcies filed within the last 10 years and outstanding liens and  judgments.

Pending disciplinary actions taken by industry regulators that relate to  securities or commodities business.

Pending arbitrations and civil proceedings involving securities or commodities  transactions.

Pending written complaints alleging sales practice violations and compensatory  damages of $5,000 or more.

How to Request a CRD Report

In order to obtain a CRD report; simply call your local state securities regulator. As a matter of practice, dealers, agents, and brokerage firms are not advised of your request. If you need to find out how to contact your state securities regulator, you can call the North American Securities Administrators Association at (202) 737-0900. Also, you can access their Internet website at www.nasaa.org and click on "Find Regulator."

You can also contact the National Association of Securities Dealers Regulation ("NASDR") at (800) 289-9999 or visit its Internet website at www.nasdr.com. However, the NASDR does not report certain types of information that may be available through your state securities regulator.  This information is easy to obtain and the securities regulators want you to make informed decisions prior to investing your hard-earned dollars. A vast majority of dealers, agents, and brokerage firms are honest and reputable.  However, like many professions, there are those individuals and firms who are not. One phone call may save you from sending your money to a bad dealer or agent or a disreputable brokerage firm.

This article, which applies to all jurisdictions, was provided by the State Securities Board of Texas.  You can print out a copy by visiting  http://www.ssb.state.tx.us/InvestorInformation/CheckBroker.html