Association for Financial Professionals (AFP) Practice Exam

Who has both a fiduciary duty and provides investment recommendations to customers?

1. Bank fulfilling paying agent and custody services roles

2. Bank fulfilling registrar and transfer agent roles

3. Registered investment advisor

4. Broker-dealer

The correct answer is: Registered investment advisor

The correct choice is a registered investment advisor, primarily because these professionals are legally required to act in the best interests of their clients when providing investment recommendations. This fiduciary duty means that they must prioritize their customers' needs above their own and ensure that any investment advice given is suitable and geared towards the client's financial well-being. Registered investment advisors are subject to regulatory oversight and must adhere to the standards set forth by the Investment Advisors Act. They have a duty to disclose any potential conflicts of interest, ensuring that clients are fully informed about how their advisors are compensated and any risks associated with the investment strategies proposed. In contrast, other roles, such as those of banks fulfilling paying agent and custody services, registrar and transfer agent roles, or broker-dealers, may not be held to the same fiduciary standard. For example, broker-dealers are typically held to a suitability standard rather than a fiduciary standard, meaning they must ensure that their recommendations are appropriate for the client's situation but do not have the same legal obligation to prioritize the client’s interests unquestioningly. Overall, the distinct fiduciary duty associated with registered investment advisors makes them the correct choice for this question.