Tuesday, June 18, 2019

What Broker-Dealer Financial Services are and Why They Matter to Your Investment


Broker-dealer financial services  are engagements in effecting transactions in securities on behalf of others or own account. The name broker-dealer denotes two relationships. Under the broker relationship, a person or an entity acts in an agency capacity.  In this case, the broker-dealer helps a customer by facilitating buying or selling of a security. The facilitator has no money at risk and only attempts to match up a buyer and a seller.

On the other hand, under the dealer relationship, the dealer is a principal in the transaction. He/she literally buys or sells securities. A broker-dealer works under extensive regulations. There is a requirement for disclosure in writing whenever acting as a dealer. They can only act in one capacity at each trading and not in both capacities. Some broker-dealers will call themselves registered broker-dealers.

Is a broker-dealer the same as a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA)? A broker-dealer is completely different from  RIA.  RIA provides advice, make recommendations or issue reports and analysis on securities. Note that, there is no involvement in buying and selling. Broker-Dealer financial services are bound by a low standard of conduct towards customers. They need to justify recommendations based upon suitability.


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