RIA Registration Handbook

RIA Registration involves officially registering your RIA with either your state or the SEC. If you’ve decided to partner with the XYPN Compliance team for this process, you’re in expert hands! With experience registering over 1,300 firms across all states and with the SEC, our team has developed a streamlined approach to ensure your firm gets registered accurately and efficiently.

Basic Steps

1. Select a name for your new RIA! 
2. Establish your business entity with your state. This entails setting up your LLC, S-Corp, or similar. We cannot advise on the legal side of this process and encourage you to consult with an attorney.
3. Hold either:
   • Series 65
   • Series 66 and Series 7
   • CFP®, CFA, PFS, CIC, or ChFC designations

Engage With the XYPN Compliance Team

You’ll work with our compliance team to draft your ADV, Client Agreements, and any other documents required by the state to complete your registration. Our team will also work with the regulators directly on your behalf.

Please check out our RIA Registration Compliance Tiers.

• First, look into our RIA Registration tier. We'll support you at critical points in your firm registration, and our compliance experts will lead the way and solve registration complexities for you.
• If you are seeking hands-on support not only through registration, but through the development and implementation of your firm's compliance program in your first year, consider opting for our Compliance Foundations tiers (Standard Compliance Foundations and Enhanced Compliance Foundations), which bundles RIA Registration with structured compliance consulting and support to ensure you have an effective compliance program in place during your first year.

DIY Registration

While we don't recommend a DIY registration approach, certain states make it easier than others. To get started, please check out these resources:

1. The Essential Guide to RIA Registration 
   1. Step 2 is N/A for those DIY-ing
2. State-By-State Registration Guide

Additionally, we recommend attending an RIA Registration Drop-In Call to learn more about whether your state is a good candidate for DIY registration.

Preparation and Planning

Estimated time: 3-4 weeks

1. Review the RIA Registration Roadmap
2. Watch the Preparing to Register video.
3. Complete the "Registration" section of XYPN Academy Launch Sequence.
4. Book and attend the two Registration Coaching Calls:

• Your Client Avatar & Managing Your Time/Energy
• Service Model & Fees

4. Establish your LLC name and update your XYPN Portal settings with your new firm name.
5. Submit your RIA Registration Questionnaire using the link provided during the Preparing for Registration call.
6. Choose your Registration Compliance Tier and submit your Sign-Up form.

Important Note:  All members complete steps #1-5. If you’re signed up for a Launch Kit (Essential, Power, or Platinum), there’s no need to sign up separately for registration; it’s already included in your Launch Kit. Therefore, skip step #6 if you purchased a kit. If you did not purchase a kit, complete step #6.

Important State-Specific Requirements

Minnesota

• MN has a minimum experience requirement to register as an investment adviser in the state.
• They require documentation showing that at least one full-time supervisor responsible for compliance at the investment adviser meets the experience requirement in Minnesota Rule 2876.4120. Please review the regulation to ensure you meet the minimum experience requirement before you begin the registration process.

Nevada

• It can take up to one year for approval.

Connecticut

• CT has a minimum experience requirement to register as an investment adviser in the state.
• An investment adviser must have spent a significant portion of their working time in the securities business for at least three years within the seven calendar years preceding the date of the application, according to Conn. Agencies Regs. § 36b-31-7b. Please review the regulation to ensure you meet the minimum experience requirement before you begin the registration process.

A few states have a longer timeline than average:

• Florida, New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts have taken up to five months.

Contact

Questions? Please contact the Membership Team at membership@xyplanningnetwork.com or head over to a Registration Drop-In session. You can access more compliance-related services by searching "compliance" in the Member Benefits or reviewing the Compliance Knowledge Base in your portal.

Last Updated: 8/24/26