What Is a New York Registered Investment Advisor
A New York registered investment advisor is a firm or individual registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or the New York State Department of Financial Services to provide investment advice for compensation. Registration requires filing Form ADV, disclosing fees, strategies, conflicts of interest, and disciplinary history. Advisors must act as fiduciaries, meaning they must put client interests ahead of their own.
As of 2025, thousands of investment advisors are registered in New York, making it one of the largest advisory hubs in the United States. Many are headquartered in Manhattan and serve high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and institutional clients. The SEC maintains a public database where investors can verify registration status and review Form ADV parts 1 and 2A for free.
How to Verify a New York Registered Investment Advisor
Investors can check registration through the SEC’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure tool or the New York State Department of Financial Services website. The search returns the advisor’s Form ADV, including assets under management, fee structure, services offered, and any disciplinary events. The SEC also publishes enforcement actions and disciplinary records for registered advisors.
For example, major firms such as Goldman Sachs Asset Management and Bridgewater Associates maintain SEC registration and disclose detailed information on their advisory pages. Before hiring an advisor, confirm registration, read the disclosure document carefully, and ask about custody arrangements, conflicts of interest, and performance reporting practices.
Top New York Registered Investment Advisors and Fee Structures
Leading registered investment advisors in New York include firms like BlackRock, J.P. Morgan Asset Management, and Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, many of which manage hundreds of billions in assets. These firms typically charge a percentage of assets under management, with common fee ranges between 0.25% and 1.0% annually, though some charge flat fees or performance-based fees.
Smaller New York registered investment advisors often specialize in niche strategies such as tax-efficient investing, direct indexing, or sustainable investing. The SEC requires all advisors to disclose their fee schedules in Part 2A of Form ADV, and investors should compare fee structures, account minimums, and services before selecting an advisor.