SEBI Registered Financial Advisor: How to Verify and Choose

A genuine SEBI-registered financial advisor—formally called a “Registered Investment Adviser” (RIA)—is easy to spot once you know where to look. Type the advisor’s name or registration number into SEBI’s online intermediary portal, hit “search,” and the record appears with status, expiry date, and certificate number. Total time: under two minutes, zero guesswork. If the name doesn’t show up or the status reads “suspended,” walk away; unregistered tipsters can legally shrug off your losses, while RIAs operate under a fiduciary duty enforced by India’s markets regulator.

This article does two things. First, it gives you a step-by-step guide—screenshots, links, and pro tips—to verify any advisor’s SEBI credentials and complaint history. Second, it offers a clear framework for choosing the right professional for your specific goals, budget, and risk appetite. The stakes are high, but the process is simple; let’s make sure your money is guarded by regulation, not hype.

What “SEBI Registered Financial Advisor” Really Means

Plenty of professionals call themselves “financial advisors,” but in the eyes of the law only a SEBI‐Registered Investment Adviser (RIA) is obligated to put your interest first. Registration isn’t a vanity badge—it determines what advice can be given, how fees are charged, and what protections you enjoy as a client.

Definition and Legal Framework

Under the SEBI (Investment Advisers) Regulations, 2013,

"investment advice" means advice relating to investing in, purchasing, selling or dealing in securities or investment products, and includes financial planning."

Anyone who provides such advice for consideration must register with SEBI. RIAs fall into three registration categories:

Individual (Proprietor) – a single qualified person.
Partnership/LLP – small teams sharing liability.
Corporate (Company) – larger advisory firms with a board and compliance officer.

Key amendments in 2016 and 2020 tightened the regime by:

Capping fees and banning “dual-hat” roles (simultaneous advisory and commission sales).
Mandating annual compliance audits and detailed disclosures.

In short, when marketing material says “SEBI registered financial advisor,” you should be seeing an INA-series license number backed by fiduciary duty—not a distributor’s ARN code.

Eligibility Criteria for Registration

To qualify, an applicant must clear four regulatory hurdles:

Education & Certification
- Post-graduate in finance/economics/commerce, or
- Professional designations such as CFP, CFA, CA, or
- Equivalent qualification plus
- Pass NISM Series-XA & Series-XB (IA Level 1 & 2) every three years.
Experience
- Minimum 5 years in financial services for individuals.
- For firms, the “principal officer” and all persons giving advice need the same background.
Net-Worth Requirement
- ₹5 lakh for individuals.
- ₹50 lakh for non-individual entities.
Fit & Proper Test
- Clean regulatory record, no fraud convictions, and sound financial standing.

Until each box is ticked, SEBI will not issue the coveted INA license.

Services a SEBI-Registered Advisor Can and Cannot Offer

Permitted services

Goal-based financial planning and asset-allocation guidance.
Personalized investment recommendations across mutual funds, stocks, bonds, ETFs.
Periodic portfolio reviews, rebalancing suggestions, and risk-profiling reports.

Prohibited or restricted activities

Earning commissions or referral fees on the very products they recommend.
Promising guaranteed returns (“15 % assured”) or offering stock-tip telegram groups.
Executing trades for a fee unless separately licensed as a broker or PMS.
Bundling insurance or PMS products without explicit written disclosure and client consent.

Example: An RIA may advise you to buy a direct-plan index fund and charge a transparent fixed fee. A distributor, by contrast, can sell the same fund’s regular plan and quietly pocket a 1 % trail commission—without the fiduciary obligation. The difference is regulation, not semantics.

Why SEBI Registration Protects You

A license is more than a piece of paper—it is a legally enforceable promise that the person giving you advice follows rules designed to keep your money safe. Just as a doctor must be registered with the Medical Council of India before prescribing medicines, anyone offering paid investment advice must hold an INA‐series registration from SEBI. The regulator can audit, fine, or even jail violators, giving you a powerful safety net that no unregistered “market guru” can match.

Fiduciary Duty and Transparency

“Fiduciary” simply means the advisor is duty-bound to put your interests ahead of everything else, including their own paycheck. SEBI turns that moral principle into hard rules:

Written disclosure of every fee, conflict, and affiliation—before you sign.
Client agreement that details scope, liabilities, and grievance steps.
Quarterly statements showing portfolio performance and the exact rupee fee charged.
Secure record-keeping of advice, risk-profiling answers, and emails for five years.

If a SEBI registered financial advisor fails any of these, you have documented proof to seek redressal.

SEBI’s Oversight and Penalties

RIAs face an annual compliance audit and unannounced inspections. Officers peek into:

Client agreements and fee ledgers
Risk-profiling questionnaires
Marketing material for misleading claims

Penalties bite hard. Recent orders have:

Suspended licenses for six months for selling commission-laden products.
Imposed ₹25-lakh fines and disgorgement of ill-gotten fees.
Barred an unregistered Telegram tipster from markets for five years.

The takeaway: regulation has teeth, and SEBI uses them.

Spotting Scams: Common Red Flags

Run if you encounter any of these:

Guaranteed “3× in 30 days” stock tips
No visible INA0000XXXX number or a number that fails SEBI portal search
A single lump-sum “lifetime membership” well above SEBI’s fee caps
Screenshots of huge profits on social media but zero written disclosures
Pressure to pay via personal UPI IDs instead of a bank account in the firm’s name

Treat these signals as flashing red lights and keep your wallet closed.

How to Verify an Advisor’s SEBI Registration

You don’t need a finance degree—or even a desktop computer—to check whether someone is a bona-fide SEBI registered financial advisor. A smartphone, two URLs, and about 120 seconds are enough. Follow the four mini-checks below and you will never fall for a fake “market wizard” again.

Step-by-Step Search on SEBI Intermediary Portal

Open sebi.gov.in and tap the hamburger menu (☰)
Choose Intermediaries/MIIs ➜ Recognised Intermediaries
In the drop-down, select Investment Adviser
Enter one of the following and hit Search
- Registration number (INA0000XXXX)
- Full or partial name
- City/State

The result grid shows:

INA No. – unique license code
Registration Date – when the license started
Status – Registered / Suspended / Cancelled / Expired
Validity – last day the license is active

Tip: Screenshots load faster than PDFs; save one for your records.

Decoding the Registration Certificate

Every active advisor receives a physical certificate that must be:

Displayed prominently at the office and on the website/app
Issued on SEBI letterhead with a hologram or QR code
Showing Name, INA No., Issue Date, Valid up to

Ask the advisor for a PDF copy and cross-check the details against the portal. Mismatched dates or a blurred SEBI seal are instant disqualifiers.

Checking Complaint History on SCORES

Even good advisors receive the odd grievance; you want to know how they handled it.

Go to scores.gov.in ➜ View Complaint Status
Select Intermediary and type the IA’s name or INA number
Note the columns Total Complaints, Resolved, Pending

A handful of resolved issues is normal; multiple “pending” tickets signal trouble. SEBI also publishes “action taken” orders—scroll through if numbers look high.

Confirming Ongoing Compliance

Verification shouldn’t end at the license. Before signing the client agreement, request:

Latest Compliance-audit summary (SEBI mandates one every year)
Valid NISM XA & XB certificates for the actual person who will advise you
A fee schedule that respects SEBI caps (≤ 2.5 % AUA or ₹1.25 lakh/yr)
Written declaration of no product commissions

Finally, revisit the SEBI portal once a year. If the status ever changes to “Suspended” or “Expired,” pause further payments and ask for clarification in writing. A five-minute annual ritual can save your life savings.

Choosing the Right Advisor for Your Goals

Verification tells you that an advisor is legal; suitability tells you whether they’re the right strategic partner for the next decade of your life. The sweet spot lies where regulatory safety meets personal fit—goal alignment, communication style, and cost structure. Use the framework below to move from “Is this person a SEBI registered financial advisor?” to “Is this the advisor who will help me retire at 55 and fund my child’s college?”

Mapping Your Financial Goals and Risk Profile

Start by writing down the exact rupee targets and timelines that keep you up at night—or get you excited. Typical checkpoints include:

Building a ₹3 crore retirement corpus in 25 years
Funding a ₹25 lakh postgraduate degree in 10 years
Saving for a ₹60 lakh down payment within 5 years
Generating stable income for aging parents

A genuine advisor will administer SEBI’s mandatory risk-profiling questionnaire covering age, income, liabilities, investment horizon, and behavioral tolerance for volatility. Provide candid answers; exaggerating your risk appetite only invites a portfolio you may abandon during the first 20 % market drawdown.

Comparing Service Models

Pick a model that matches the complexity of your finances—not your neighbor’s.

Model	Cost*	Personalization	Convenience
Comprehensive (all-round planning)	Medium–High	Deep dive into every goal	Requires detailed data sharing
Niche (tax/retirement only)	Low–Medium	Focused on one area	Faster delivery, narrower scope
Subscription (monthly/quarterly)	Predictable	Ongoing tweaks	Auto-debits; easy to cancel
Project-based (one-off plan)	One-time fee	Snapshot advice	No follow-up unless you rehire
Digital-only (robo)	Lowest	Algorithmic	24 × 7 access, DIY changes

*Within SEBI caps: ≤ 2.5 % AUA or ₹1.25 lakh per year.

Match the model to your life stage: a young salaried professional may thrive with a low-cost robo, whereas a business owner juggling ESOPs and real estate may need a comprehensive human touch.

Evaluating Credentials and Expertise

Beyond the mandatory NISM certificates, look for:

Advanced designations: CFP, CFA, CA, FRM
Post-graduate degrees in finance or economics
Published articles, podcasts, or research papers demonstrating thought leadership
Track record: years in practice, number of active clients, and client types (HNIs, NRIs, salaried)

Request anonymized sample plans to gauge the depth of analysis and clarity of recommendations.

Communication, Tech, and Reporting Standards

Great advice fails if you can’t understand or access it in real time. Probe:

Meeting cadence: quarterly check-ins or on-demand?
Channels: secure portal, encrypted email, WhatsApp, weekend calls.
Portfolio dashboards: live performance vs benchmarks, asset-allocation pie charts, tax-lot details.
Service SLA: written response within 24 hours; 48 hours for complex queries.
Data security: two-factor authentication, end-to-end encryption, and strict privacy policies.

If the advisor’s systems feel clunky during the courtship phase, expect worse after you’ve transferred money. Insist on a demo of the client portal before signing the engagement letter.

Understanding Fees and Potential Conflicts

Verifying a license keeps outright fraud at bay; scrutinizing the fee arrangement keeps subtler conflicts from eroding your returns. Every rupee an advisor earns should be transparent, predictable, and aligned with your interests. Before you sign the client agreement, insist on knowing exactly how the firm gets paid and what incentives sit behind each recommendation.

SEBI-Prescribed Fee Caps and Modes

SEBI allows only two billing methods for a registered investment adviser:

Mode	Maximum Charge	Billing Cycle
Assets Under Advice (AUA)	≤ 2.5 % per annum	Quarterly in arrears
Fixed Fee	≤ ₹1,25,000 per client per year	Quarterly in advance or arrears

Important fine print:

Goods & Services Tax (18 %) is extra and must be mentioned separately on the invoice.
No “lifetime” packages, entry loads, or performance bonuses are permitted.
Advisors must issue a fee receipt within 15 days of collection.

Fee-Only vs Commission-Based Models

A fee-only SEBI registered financial advisor earns zero from product manufacturers and therefore has no incentive to push high-expense schemes. Contrast that with a mutual-fund distributor who may receive a 1 % trail on regular-plan assets—paid for by you via higher expense ratios. Over long horizons, that difference compounds far more than most people suspect.

Hidden Costs and How to Detect Them

Watch for stealth charges that slip past the official fee schedule:

“Platform” or “research” subscriptions bundled at checkout
Frequent portfolio churn generating brokerage and STT
Cross-selling insurance or PMS on which the advisor quietly pockets referral fees
Mark-ups on bond placement or structured product issuance

Detection tactics: compare the ISINs you hold with direct-plan expense ratios, ask for a consolidated “Total Cost of Ownership” sheet, and look for repeated fund switches without a documented rationale.

Using a Fee Calculator to Compare Advisors

A quick spreadsheet or online calculator makes the trade-offs stark. Assume:

Portfolio size: ₹25,00,000
Expected return (direct plan): 11 % p.a.
Tenure: 10 years
Advisor A: 1 % trail commission (embedded)
Advisor B: ₹30,000 fixed annual fee (plus 18 % GST)

Corpus_A = 25,00,000 × (1 + 0.11 – 0.01)^10
Corpus_B = [25,00,000 × (1 + 0.11)^10] – Σ(30,000 × 1.18 × (1 + 0.11)^(10 – n))

The math shows Advisor B leaves you with roughly ₹6–7 lakh extra after a decade—enough for a full year of college tuition or an early loan repayment. Run your own numbers; seeing the compounding drag in black and white makes the “cheap” commission model look anything but.

In short, a transparent, SEBI-compliant fee structure is your best hedge against advice that quietly costs more than it earns.

Due Diligence Checklist & Questions to Ask

Verification on the SEBI portal confirms legality; due diligence confirms quality. Before you sign the client agreement—or part with a single rupee—run through the following checklist. It takes less than an hour and can protect decades of savings.

Documents to Request Before Sign-Up

SEBI Registration Certificate (INA0000xxxx) and Form C disclosure
Draft client agreement outlining scope, fees, and grievance steps
Latest compliance-audit summary (not older than 12 months)
Valid NISM XA & XB certificates for everyone who will advise you
Risk-profiling questionnaire sample and policy on data privacy
Itemized fee schedule with GST breakup and billing cycle

Keep soft copies in a dedicated folder; they become vital if disputes arise.

15 Must-Ask Questions (With Ideal Answers)

How are you compensated?
- Ideal: “Only the fee shown in the agreement; no commissions.”
- Red flag: “Manufacturers pay us, so advice is free for you.”
Do you receive any third-party incentives?
- Ideal: “Zero.”
- Red flag: “Sometimes, but it doesn’t affect advice.”
What happens if you change firms?
- Ideal: “Engagement terminates or transfers only with written consent.”
- Red flag: “We’ll figure it out later.”
How will you tailor advice to my risk profile?
- Ideal: “We use a SEBI-mandated questionnaire, then map assets.”
- Red flag: “Based on market view, we’ll tell you what to buy.”
What is your investment philosophy?
- Ideal: “Asset-allocation first, low-cost products, long-term focus.”
- Red flag: “Timing markets for quick gains.”
How often will we review the plan?
- Ideal: “Quarterly, plus on-demand calls.”
- Red flag: “Whenever you ask.”
Can I see an anonymized sample plan?
- Ideal: “Sure, here’s one.”
- Red flag: “Confidential—can’t share.”
What tech and security measures do you use?
- Ideal: “2FA, encrypted portal.”
- Red flag: “Email is fine.”
Turn-around time for queries?
- Ideal: “Within 24 hours.”
- Red flag: “Depends on workload.”
Do you ever guarantee returns?
- Ideal: “Never.”
- Red flag: “12 % is assured.”
Are you also a distributor or broker?
- Ideal: “No, we’re fee-only.”
- Red flag: “Yes, but we keep roles separate.”
How do you document advice?
- Ideal: “Written reports stored for five years.”
- Red flag: “Mostly phone calls.”
What is your complaints record on SCORES?
- Ideal: “Zero or all resolved.”
- Red flag: “Not sure.”
Can I exit anytime and get pro-rata refund?
- Ideal: “Yes.”
- Red flag: “Fees are non-refundable.”
Will you disclose all costs beyond your fee?
- Ideal: “Yes, in a TCO sheet.”
- Red flag: “Costs are negligible—don’t worry.”

Red Flag Responses

Promises of “double-money” or specific percentage guarantees
Reluctance to provide documents in writing or insistence on verbal agreements
Pressure tactics: “Offer valid only if you pay today.”
Personal payment channels (UPI to a private account) instead of the firm’s bank
Evasive answers when asked about SEBI audits or complaint history

If even one of these surfaces, hit pause, re-verify, and consider interviewing another advisor.

Your Rights and Grievance Mechanisms

Hiring a SEBI‐registered financial advisor places clear, enforceable obligations on the professional—and equally clear rights in your hands. Knowing these rights is non-negotiable; it lets you spot non-compliance early and escalate issues before portfolio damage snowballs.

Mandatory Documents and Disclosures

A compliant advisor must deliver, in writing and before they collect the first rupee of fees:

Signed client agreement spelling out scope, fee model, and liability limits
Your completed risk-profiling report and the resulting asset-allocation plan
Form C disclosure covering conflicts of interest, revenue sources, and disciplinary history
Schedule of fees with GST split and billing cycle
Quarterly portfolio and fee statements, plus an annual performance review against agreed benchmarks

Store these files—PDF or hard copy—in a safe place; they are your evidence if you ever need to prove mis-selling or overcharging.

Grievance Redressal Process

If something goes wrong, SEBI gives you a three-layer safety net:

Write to the advisor – They must acknowledge within 7 days and resolve within 30 days.
Escalate to the Compliance Officer – Every non-individual RIA must designate an officer; email and phone details appear in the client agreement.
Lodge a complaint on SCORES (scores.gov.in) – Fill the online form, attach documents, and track status in real time. Unresolved cases can move to mediation or a SEBI-appointed arbitrator.

Failing to respond or falsifying records can lead to fines, suspension, or even cancellation of the advisor’s INA licence.

Switching or Terminating an Advisor

You are never locked in:

Terminate anytime with written notice; unused fees must be refunded on a pro-rata basis within 15 days.
Request full data handover—plan documents, transaction logs, tax reports—in machine-readable form (CSV/PDF).
Obtain written confirmation of termination to stop future fee debits and close compliance files.

Exercise these rights confidently; they exist to keep the relationship fair, transparent, and squarely focused on your financial goals.

Traditional vs Online Advisors: Which Fits You Best?

Verification and fee clarity are universal must-haves, but the delivery channel you pick will shape day-to-day experience, cost, and the depth of hand-holding. Below is a quick, apples-to-apples look at the four dominant service formats available to Indian investors.

Face-to-Face Boutique Firms

Old-school, relationship-driven outfits that often operate from a neighborhood office or a metro business district.

Pros
- Personal rapport built over chai and paper statements
- Ability to handle complex, multi-generational wealth structures
Cons
- Higher fixed overheads translate into fees near the SEBI cap
- Limited to business hours and geography; NRIs and time-crunched professionals may struggle with access

Bank-Affiliated Advisory Arms

Most private banks now run an “investment advisory” desk alongside distribution.

Pros
- One-stop convenience—savings account, demat, and advice under one roof
- Instant transaction capability through existing banking channels
Cons
- Potential conflict: the same relationship manager might pitch commission products
- Service level can fluctuate with staff turnover and sales targets

Robo-Advisors and AI-Powered Platforms

Algorithm-driven portals that generate asset-allocation plans from your risk profile, some—like Invsify—backed by a SEBI registered financial advisor license.

Pros
- Low cost, starting well below ₹10,000 a year
- 24 × 7 dashboards, multilingual chatbots, instant rebalancing alerts
Cons
- Limited human empathy for nuanced life events (inheritance, divorce)
- May not support off-platform assets such as unlisted bonds or ESOPs

Hybrid Models Merging People and Technology

The middle path: algorithmic precision paired with on-call human planners.

Pros
- Data-driven insights plus the comfort of a scheduled video or phone review
- Scales from simple SIP setups to HNI-grade estate planning
Cons
- Requires comfort with both apps and occasional meetings
- Fee sits between robo and boutique pricing; value depends on your usage pattern

Match the format to your lifestyle. A busy salaried millennial might prefer robo speed, while a business family juggling trusts and real estate could justify boutique rates. Most importantly, ensure whichever model you choose still meets SEBI’s advisory regulations and your personal need for clarity, access, and trust.

Key Takeaways Before You Hire an Advisor

Before you shake hands—or tap “Pay”—run this five-point checklist:

Verify the advisor’s INA number on SEBI’s portal; status must read Registered, not Expired or Suspended.
Check complaints on SCORES and ask for the latest compliance-audit summary.
Understand fees: ensure the quote fits SEBI caps (≤ 2.5 % AUA or ₹1.25 lakh a year) and that no hidden commissions lurk in the fine print.
Evaluate fit: match the service model, tech stack, and communication style to your goals and risk tolerance.
Know your rights: written disclosures, pro-rata refunds, and a clear grievance path are non-negotiable.

Take two minutes right now—type your prospective advisor’s name into SEBI’s search bar. If you’d like conflict-free guidance backed by AI and human expertise, explore Invsify.