Conversation Starters
We always recommend confirming whether a financial professional is registered using the free search tool at Investor.gov . After confirming that a financial professional is registered, here are some key questions to ask about your individual financial situation.
Concept at a glance
Definition and explanation
We always recommend confirming whether a financial professional is registered using the free search tool at Investor.gov . After confirming that a financial professional is registered, here are some key questions to ask about your individual financial situation. [1]
These questions may be included in your financial professional’s relationship summary (also called Form CRS). If you have questions about the relationship summary, please visit Investor.gov/CRS for more information. [1]
Source-supported connections
Frequently asked questions
What does Conversation Starters mean in the cited reference?
We always recommend confirming whether a financial professional is registered using the free search tool at Investor.gov . After confirming that a financial professional is registered, here are some key questions to ask about your individual financial situation. [1]
Conversation Starters connection map
Select a node to inspect the relationship and source.
Links retain their source-specific meaning. Award-time affiliations and links to related reading are not claims about current appointments or economic causation.
Sources and review dates
Reviewed 23 October 2026. Historical dates and award-time affiliations retain their original context. A review date is not an event date. Background sources are identified separately from official records.