Before you hand anyone your money
Check before you trust
Every agent, advisor, lawyer, and CPA can be looked up for free on an official site. It takes five minutes. Players who skipped this step lost millions.
01
Get their full legal name
Not a nickname. Ask for the name exactly as it appears on their license.
02
Search every list below that fits
An agent should be on the union list. An advisor should be on BrokerCheck or the SEC site.
03
Read the record, then ask about it
A complaint is not always a deal breaker. Hiding one is.
Is this person actually certified to represent you?
Sports agents
NFLPA Agent Search
NFL players and families checking a football agent (Certified Contract Advisor)
Search the agent's name and confirm they are listed as certified and in good standing, then call the NFLPA if they are not on the list.
Look them up →NBPA Certified Agent Directory
NBA players and prospects checking a basketball agent
Search the agent's name and make sure they appear as NBPA certified before you sign anything.
Look them up →MLBPA Certified Agents
MLB and minor league players checking a baseball agent
The full list sits behind a login, so ask the MLBPA directly to confirm the agent is currently certified.
Look them up →NHLPA Certified Agents
NHL players and prospects checking a hockey agent
Look up the agent alphabetically and confirm they are on the NHLPA certified list, since only certified agents can deal with NHL clubs.
Look them up →WNBPA Agents and Contracts
WNBA players checking a women's basketball agent
There is no public list, so contact the WNBPA to confirm the agent is certified, because every WNBA agent must be.
Look them up →FIFA Football Agent Directory
MLS and pro soccer players checking a soccer agent
Search the agent's name to confirm they hold a current FIFA license, which U.S. Soccer requires for anyone acting as an agent.
Look them up →Texas Athlete Agent Search
Athletes and parents in Texas checking any agent who contacts a Texas athlete
Confirm the agent is registered with the Texas Secretary of State and see which players association certifies them.
Look them up →Florida DBPR License Search
Athletes and parents in Florida checking an athlete agent license
Search by name or license type (Athlete Agent) and check that the license is current with no discipline listed.
Look them up →NCAA Agent Certification Directory
Division I men's basketball players testing the NBA draft waters
Open the Agent Directory and confirm the agent is NCAA certified, or the player can lose remaining college eligibility.
Look them up →
Any complaints, fines, or firings on their record?
Financial advisors and brokers
FINRA BrokerCheck
Anyone checking a broker, financial advisor, or brokerage firm
Look for current registration, past firms, customer complaints, and any disclosures or disciplinary actions.
Look them up →SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure
Anyone checking a registered investment adviser or adviser firm
Confirm the adviser is registered and read the disclosures section for complaints, regulatory actions, and fees in the firm's Form ADV.
Look them up →SEC Action Lookup for Individuals (SALI)
Anyone checking whether a person has been sued or sanctioned by the SEC
Search the person's name to see any SEC court judgment or order against them, knowing it only covers actions from 1995 through January 2025.
Look them up →NFLPA Registered Player Financial Advisors
NFL players choosing a financial advisor
Log in to the NFLPA site to confirm the advisor is registered in the program, then still run them through BrokerCheck and IAPD.
Look them up →
Licensed in your state and in good standing?
Lawyers
ABA Lawyer Licensing by State
Anyone checking whether a lawyer is licensed
Find your state's bar or licensing agency and confirm the lawyer's license is active with no public discipline.
Look them up →
Is the license real and active?
CPAs
CPAverify
Anyone checking a CPA or accounting firm
Confirm the CPA holds an active license in their state and check for any disciplinary action, then call the state board if they do not show up.
Look them up →
Where to report it.
If something already went wrong
SEC Tips, Complaints and Referrals
Anyone reporting investment fraud, Ponzi schemes, or stolen funds
File a report with dates, amounts, and names, and keep copies of every statement and message.
Look them up →FINRA Investor Complaint Center
Anyone with a problem involving a broker or brokerage firm
File a complaint if a broker or firm treated you unfairly and the firm did not fix it.
Look them up →FTC ReportFraud
Anyone hit by a scam, fake deal, or identity theft
Report the scam so it goes into the database law enforcement uses, and follow the next steps it gives you.
Look them up →
Checking people out
How do I check if a sports agent is legit?+
Look them up on the players association's official agent list for your sport (the NFLPA and NBPA have public searches), and on your state's athlete agent registry if your state has one. If they are not on the list, they cannot legally negotiate a pro contract for you in that league.
How do I check a financial advisor's record?+
Search their name on FINRA BrokerCheck and the SEC's Investment Adviser Public Disclosure site. Both are free and show licenses, past firms, customer complaints, and disciplinary actions. Ask whether they are a fiduciary, and how they are paid, in writing.
What are the biggest red flags?+
Guaranteed returns, pressure to decide today, private deals you cannot look up, anyone who wants control of your accounts or passwords, and an advisor recommended by your agent who pays the agent for referrals.
Links go to official government, league, and union sites. KeepMyCheck is not affiliated with any of them and is not paid by anyone listed. Some union lists require a player login.