NASAA, SEC, and FINRA Issue Investor Bulletin: Making Sense of Financial Professional Designations

On June 20, 2025, The Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) Office of Investor Education and Advocacy, the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA), and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) issued an Investor Bulletin to help investors better understand the designations frequently used by financial professionals. The Investor Bulletin is HERE

Financial professionals typically display designations as letter abbreviations that follow their names. A financial professional might use a designation to distinguish themselves from their competitors and to signal that they have a particular expertise. Private organizations, such as trade groups or professional organizations, typically grant these designations.

Always check that your financial professional has the required registration and licensing to provide the type of financial services or products that you need.

The SEC, state regulators, and FINRA have a clear message for consumers:
1. They do NOT grant, approve, or endorse any financial professional designations.
2. A designation from a private organization does NOT tell you whether a financial professional is registered or licensed with a regulatory authority. Financial professional designations are NOT all the same.
3. Some designations require a financial professional to complete at least some level of training, pass exams, meet ethical standards, have relevant work experience, and take continuing education to maintain them.
•  However, requirements vary, and a relatively small number of designations are difficult to obtain.
•  Other designations require very little time, effort, and experience to obtain and/or may not have any continuing education requirements. Some financial professionals might simply purchase, or even make up, certain designations.
4. Always check that your financial professional has the required registration and licensing to provide the type of financial services or products that you need. Do this using the Check Out Your Investment Professional search tool on Investor.gov, by using FINRA BrokerCheck, or by contacting your state securities regulator.