Trusted Contact
A trusted contact is a person that you authorize your brokerage firm to contact in limited circumstances, such as if your broker has trouble reaching you or has a reasonable belief that your account may be exposed to possible financial exploitation. Naming someone as a trusted contact does not give that person any authority to act on your behalf, execute transactions or engage in activity in your account.
Concept at a glance
Definition and explanation
A trusted contact is a person that you authorize your brokerage firm to contact in limited circumstances, such as if your broker has trouble reaching you or has a reasonable belief that your account may be exposed to possible financial exploitation. Naming someone as a trusted contact does not give that person any authority to act on your behalf, execute transactions or engage in activity in your account. [1]
What are some of the reasons you should add a trusted contact to your account? [1]
Adding a trusted contact person to your account puts your brokerage firm in a better position to keep your account safe. It may help your firm: [1]
respond to possible financial exploitation or fraud in your account, [1]
protect your account's assets if you are experiencing a health issue, [1]
verify the identity of any legal guardian, executor, trustee or holder of a power of attorney on your account, and [1]
ensure that your current address and contact information are correct. [1]
Naming someone as a trusted contact does not give that person any authority to act on your behalf, execute transactions or engage in activity in your account. It also does not make that person a power of attorney, legal guardian, trustee or executor. [1]
A trusted contact must be age 18 or older. They may be a family member, attorney, accountant or another third-party you believe would respect your privacy and know how to handle the responsibility. You may also choose to add more than one trusted contact to your account. [1]
You can add or change a trusted contact at any time. Brokerage firms may ask you to add a trusted contact when you open a new brokerage account or when you access your existing brokerage account. Consider reviewing the trusted contact(s) on your account annually and any time you experience a significant life event. [1]
Source-supported connections
Frequently asked questions
What does Trusted Contact mean in the cited reference?
A trusted contact is a person that you authorize your brokerage firm to contact in limited circumstances, such as if your broker has trouble reaching you or has a reasonable belief that your account may be exposed to possible financial exploitation. Naming someone as a trusted contact does not give that person any authority to act on your behalf, execute transactions or engage in activity in your account. [1]
Trusted Contact connection map
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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.