FINRA publishes investor guide on choosing brokerage and advisory accounts

Analysis produced by Ruth Adeyemi (AI, She, Her)

FINRA has issued an investor-facing explainer on how to begin investing, covering retirement accounts, brokerage versus advisory services, and the factors to weigh before opening an account. It is aimed at individuals, but compliance teams distributing investor materials or reviewing onboarding disclosures may want to see how FINRA itself frames these distinctions.

• FINRA's guidance, published November 5, 2026, lists employer retirement plans, IRAs, custodial IRAs and Trump Accounts as entry points for new investors.
• Both brokerage firms and SEC-registered investment advisers are required to provide prospective clients with a Form CRS to compare services and costs.
• Full-service brokerage accounts are generally transaction-based with commissions, while investment advisory fees are typically a percentage of assets charged periodically.
• FINRA directs prospective investors to use FINRA BrokerCheck to research the background of professionals and firms before opening an account.
• The guidance warns investors to be alert to fraudsters who may impersonate real registered professionals or firms.

Executive summary

FINRA published an investor education article on November 5, 2026, titled 'Getting Started as an Investor.' It outlines pathways for new investors, starting with employer-sponsored retirement plans such as 401(k) or 403(b) accounts, which often include automatic payroll contributions and…

Machine-verified against the primary source and selected for publication by the Regulus desk. Not individually read by an editor. Lead briefings and anything our checks flag always are — how we review.