DIRECT ANSWER
Quick answer
Search the person or firm in IAPD or FINRA BrokerCheck, open the matching public report, and locate the displayed CRD number. Verify the legal name, location, record type, registration status, and employment or firm relationship before treating the number as a match.
At a glance
- Adviser records
- IAPD
- Broker records
- BrokerCheck
- Search inputs
- Name, firm, location, or CRD
- Critical distinction
- Firm vs. individual record
01
CRD lookup: step by step
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Decide whether you need a firm or individual record |
| 2 | Open IAPD for adviser records or BrokerCheck for brokerage records |
| 3 | Search by name and narrow with firm, city, state, or ZIP |
| 4 | Open the matching public report |
| 5 | Confirm the record type and registration details |
| 6 | Record the CRD number and official source URL |
02
Individual CRD vs. firm CRD
A financial professional’s individual CRD number identifies the person’s registration record. A firm CRD identifies a separate organization record. Do not copy the employer’s number when you need the individual, or vice versa.
Employment can change while an individual CRD remains associated with that person’s registration history. Always verify the current firm relationship shown in the public report.
03
What if the search does not find a CRD?
- Try the full legal name and common name variants.
- Confirm whether you selected firm or individual search.
- Add or remove the employer, city, state, or ZIP.
- Check both IAPD and BrokerCheck if the professional may have dual roles.
- Contact the relevant regulator if the person claims a registration you cannot verify.
- Do not conclude that similar names are the same record without corroborating details.
04
What to do after you find the record
Use the CRD as the stable key for the public registration record. Then inspect registration history, employment, qualifications, disclosures, Form ADV documents, and the applicable firm record. A CRD match improves identity confidence; it does not evaluate the quality of the professional or firm.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can I search a CRD number directly?
Yes. IAPD and BrokerCheck support identifier-based searches, which are usually more precise than name-only searches.
Are CRD numbers public?
Public IAPD and BrokerCheck reports can display CRD numbers and disclosable registration information.
Is my personal CRD the same as my firm’s CRD?
No. Individual and firm CRD numbers identify separate records.
Is CRD the same as an SEC file number?
No. CRD identifies a registration record; an SEC file number identifies a regulatory file under the applicable SEC system.
SRC
Primary sources
Definitions and regulatory claims on this page are grounded in the following official public resources.