How to check a broker entity and licence without confusing the group
Match the contract, register entry, domain and client category before drawing a protection conclusion.
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Start with the contract name
A brand name is a starting point, not the full legal identity. Record the precise contracting company, registration or licence number, registered address and dispute route. A corporate registration number and an authorisation to provide a financial service answer different questions. Do not treat one as a substitute for the other.
Diagram explained
A group licence does not automatically cover your account.
- Identify the legal name in your own client agreement, not only the logo or group name on the homepage.
- Match that name and licence number to the official register, then check product permissions, jurisdiction and any relevant investor protections.
- For a prop firm, company incorporation is not the same as a broker licence. A country not listed as prohibited is not, by itself, proof of acceptance.
Match the official register, not a logo
Use the relevant regulator’s own website to compare the company name, permitted activities and listed contact information. The FCA cautions that overseas businesses can use similar names or shared trading names. A screenshot of a licence logo on a broker website is therefore not sufficient by itself.
Check whether your country and client category fit the entity you found. A retail client of an offshore affiliate cannot simply borrow protections advertised for a different group company. If onboarding and the footer disagree, ask for the agreement that will actually govern the account before proceeding.
FCA — Contracts for difference: risks and jurisdiction-specific protections
Keep an evidence record
Save the register URL, review date and agreement version, together with unresolved questions. FINEX labels provider regulatory statements separately from independent register checks. If the independent check has not been completed, that limit should remain visible. Registration and authorisation are not guarantees against every operational or market loss.
Choose the account and contracting entity
Before registering, check the contracting company and the terms that apply in your country of residence.
Sources and scope
Sources are provider publications. Conditions may vary by entity, country, account and program. Recheck before signing up.