The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) are encouraging people to check a financial advisor's registration before they hand their money.

As part of Investor Education Month, the CSA has issued a press release encouraging investors to check the registration of any firm or individual selling securities or offering advice before they do business. The regulators recommend that people start by using the National Registration Search feature on the CSA web site. This free tool allows anyone to look up an individual or firm in Canada by name and by jurisdiction.

“Through the registration process, Canadian securities regulators ensure individuals and firms meet specific qualifications and standards before they offer products or advice to investors,” says Louis Morisset, who is both chairman of the CSA and president and CEO of Quebec regulator, the Autorité des marches financiers. “Investors should have confidence in whomever they choose to handle their money, and checking registration is an essential first step toward building a positive working relationship.”

The CSA is also telling anyone who has been offered an investment by a person or organization that is not registered to contact their provincial securities regulator.