1) Applicant seeking to get himself registered as investment advisor shall file its application in form A along with the required documents provided in the regulation with a non-refundable fee. For individual firms fees of Rs. 5000/- is there whereas in case of Body corporate including LLPs fees of Rs. 25,000/- is there.

2) On the receipt of application, Board may require the applicant to furnish more documents or can also ask for any kind of clarification by calling them. The total time for its registration totally depends on how they fulfill all the requirements and provide all information in all respects.

3)Before gentaing of the certificate board will consider that whether an applicant is an individual or a Body corporate, and in case applicant is individual then he must possess the following qualification-

• A professional qualification or postgraduate degree or post graduate diploma in finance, accountancy, Business management, commerce, economics, capital marketing, banking, insurance or an institution recognized by the Central Government or State Government, or a Foreign institution or university or association.

• A graduate in any discipline with an experience of at least five years in activities related to advice in financial products or securities or fund or assets or portfolio management.
• Or other requirements as specified in regulation 7.

4. Whereas in case applicant is a Body corporate or LLP, then all those who provide investment advice must be a qualified professional as specified in regulation 7.

5. Applicant should fulfill the capital adequacy requirement as specified in regulation 7, that a Body corporate shall not be having net worth not less than 25 lakhs, whereas in case of an individual net worth should not be less than INR 1 Lakh.

6. Once the Board is satisfied that the applicant complies with all the requirements as specified in regulations, shall send the intimation to the applicant and on receipt of fees in case of individual and firms Rs. 10,000 and in case of Body Corporate including LLP Rs. 5,00,000/-.

After all the requirements Board will grant the certificate in form B as specified in regulations. It remains valid unless it shall be cancelled or suspended.

It is Governed by SEBI (Investment Advisors) Regulations, 2013.

An investment advisor should not be confused with Financial advisor a generic title that typically refers to stockbrokers or registered representative. Investment Advisors must be registered with SEC or a State securities regulator, depending upon the client asset under the management.