INVESTMENT ADVISOR

An individual or a group that gives investment advice or recommendations or regulates securities analysis in exchange for a fee, either via managing client assets or through written publications, as specified in the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. An investment advisor with enough assets and is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is called a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA). Investment advisors are not permitted from giving deceitful or fraudulent advice, as well as from serving as principal on their own accounts by acquiring and selling securities between themselves and a client without prior written permission. Also called financial advisor.