BRYME Money · Broker & platform checks
How to check a trading broker in the US, UK, Canada and Australia
Find the legal firm, check official registers and confirm its permissions before opening an account.
A broker comparison should start with the legal counterparty to your account, not the name on an app icon. This checklist is for readers looking at US, UK, Canadian or Australian services. It does not certify any firm, and registration alone does not eliminate losses or fraud.
Before searching: capture the exact identity
- Copy the legal entity name, claimed licence or registration number, proposed product, country of your residence, website address and the entity named in the client agreement.
- Navigate directly to the regulator's own site, rather than clicking a badge or screenshot supplied by a salesperson.
- Match the entity, current status, regulated activity or permissions, authorised contact details and jurisdiction. A number in a database is not by itself proof the firm may offer this product to you.
- Independently call or message using contact details obtained from the official record, not from a social-media profile or an unsolicited message.
Where to look by country and product
| Reader | Starting point | What to compare |
|---|---|---|
| United States | FINRA BrokerCheck for securities brokers; for an investment adviser follow the SEC IAPD link when relevant. NFA BASIC for derivatives/retail forex firm and professional background. | Current registration and category, disclosures, principals for derivatives, legal name and matching contact information. |
| United Kingdom | FCA Firm Checker and the FCA Warning List. | Permission for the specific service, firm reference number, status and independently listed contact details. |
| Canada | CSA National Registration Search; for dealer claims, check the CIRO investor guidance and linked dealer records. | Province or territory, category of registration, restrictions and the real dealer identity. |
| Australia | ASIC professional registers for AFS licensees and authorised representatives. | Current licence status, relevant register, entity/representative relationship and conditions. |
US securities and derivatives use different record systems; don't treat a BrokerCheck result as an FX licence. The NFA warns that an NFA ID alone does not prove current NFA membership and that impostors can borrow a real firm's details. The FCA similarly warns about clone firms and says to use the contact details from its own checker. The absence of a firm from a warning list does not establish it is safe.
Questions a registration number cannot answer
- Which legal company takes custody of funds or is your contract counterparty? A local brand may route you to an overseas entity with different rights.
- Which regulator, dispute process or compensation arrangement, if any, covers this product and your account status? Never assume securities protection covers CFDs, crypto or trading losses.
- Are you being encouraged to label yourself a professional or wholesale client? This can reduce retail protections; read the terms before agreeing.
- Does the agreement disclose spread, commission, overnight funding, withdrawal costs and liquidation rules? Compare with the fee worksheet.
- Are there pressure tactics, a guaranteed return, a personal-payment instruction, or a demand for more money to release a withdrawal? Stop and contact the relevant regulator independently.
Regulatory permissions and warnings change. Check them again immediately before opening an account. This guide records where to verify, not a snapshot of any broker's present standing. For app-level questions after this check, use the platform checklist.
Sources and further reading
Links were reviewed 2026-09-24. Regulatory permissions, firm status and product terms can change; use the current official register before acting.
General information, not financial advice. Everything on BRYME Money is educational. Trading forex, crypto and derivatives involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for everyone. Past performance — including any published research — does not guarantee future results. Never trade money you cannot afford to lose.