Thinking about investing in the equity markets? Then you must locate a reputable investment firm to invest with. However, there are so many options out there that choosing one can be a challenge. Hence, before you finalize your decision on which company to go with, you must understand exactly what you’re getting yourself into.

a) Licensed or Registered Company

If you are looking for the best investment firm for your capital, you should ensure that you partner with a licensed company. The best way to check if a company is licensed is to check its website. If you don’t see a “registered investment advisor” or “licensed broker-dealer” term on their website, then it’s likely that they are not licensed. Registered financial companies are obligated to report any suspicious activity to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) as quickly as possible.

b) Research and Track Record

Once you have chosen a few companies that may be a good fit for you, it’s time to start digging deeper. To do that, you must research the investment firm’s records and try to understand its business model. With the help of Joseph Scott Audia, you can easily find the right investment firm for your capital based on your situational profile.

c) Check the Reputation

Next, you must check the reputation of the investment firm. You can do this by reading online reviews and seeing if any complaints have been filed against the firm. You can also look at the number of stars that they have on sites like Trustpilot and the BBB as well as check Finra’s broker check website. If the investment firm has a low number of stars or has a large number of complaints against them, it’s best to avoid them.

d) Assets Under Management (AUM)

Next, you must find out how many assets the investment firm manages. You must check this because the size of the company’s assets under management is a good indicator of how much you will be charged in fees. The larger the assets under management, the more expensive it is to manage that capital. Hence, you must ensure that the investment firm you choose is large enough for you to be able to receive a decent return on your capital.

e) Costs Involved

Next, you must find out how much the investment firm will charge you. The management fee must be disclosed in the investment contract that you sign with the investment firm. Additionally, you must also know the size of the management fee as it is an important indicator of the returns that you can get from your capital. The higher the management fee, the lower the returns from your capital. If you are dealing with a broker-dealer firm, you should also negotiate a commission-free structure.

Bottom line

Finding the best investment firm or broker-dealer for your capital is no easy task. However, if you keep these factors in mind, it becomes easier to find the right investment firm. You would be happy to know that Joseph Scott Audia is a Registered Representative currently working for the investment firm VCS VENTURE SECURITIES, LLC. According to him, the best investment firm for your capital is the one that has all the credentials, a positive reputation, and is the right size for you.