Trust Score Methodology
Complete transparency in how we verify investment companies, brokers, and advisers. Our 100-point rubric, direct API integrations, data sources, and limitations—all disclosed.
Quick Summary
The Smart Money Verified Trust Score is a 0-100 rating generated through automated analysis using a weighted 100-point rubric across six categories: Regulatory (20%), Business Background (20%), Reputation (20%), Transparency (15%), Product Quality (15%), and Security (10%). Our system uses machine learning to cross-reference 20+ public data sources including SEC, CFTC, FINRA, and BBB. Scores above 85 indicate "Trusted" status, 70-84 is "Moderate," 50-69 is "Warning," and below 50 is "Avoid."
100-Point Scoring Rubric
Every Trust Score is calculated through automated analysis using a transparent 100-point rubric across six weighted categories. Machine learning aggregates data from multiple sources to evaluate specific aspects of an investment company's trustworthiness.
Regulatory/Registration
SEC registration status, CFTC registration, FINRA membership, state securities licenses, and compliance history with regulatory bodies.
Business Background
Years in operation, corporate entity status, BBB rating and accreditation, leadership verification, and business continuity indicators.
Reputation & Reviews
Aggregated customer review patterns, complaint volume and resolution rates, satisfaction trends, and third-party ratings.
Transparency & Disclosures
Fee structure clarity, ownership disclosure, risk warnings, contact information accessibility, and terms of service transparency.
Product Quality & Education
Quality of investment offerings, educational resources provided, clarity of terms, and appropriateness of marketing claims.
Security & Domain
SSL/HTTPS implementation, domain age and history, registrar information, and known security breach indicators.
Trust Score Tiers
Strong regulatory standing, clean compliance record, high transparency, and positive reputation. Low risk indicators based on available data.
Generally compliant with some areas requiring attention. May have limited history, minor complaints, or incomplete disclosures. Proceed with normal caution.
Multiple red flags identified. May include regulatory issues, high complaint volumes, transparency concerns, or negative reviews. Proceed with extreme caution.
Serious concerns identified. May indicate fraud indicators, regulatory violations, or illegal operations. Strongly recommend avoiding.
Direct API Integrations
For authoritative verification, we connect directly to official regulatory APIs. This provides verified registration data with unique identifiers like CIK and CRD numbers.
SEC EDGAR API
Direct APIDirect connection to the SEC's EDGAR database for authoritative company verification.
- CIK number verification
- Total SEC filings count
- Registration status & history
- State of incorporation
SEC IAPD / FINRA API
Direct APIDirect connection to the Investment Adviser Public Disclosure database for broker/adviser verification.
- CRD number verification
- Broker-dealer registration status
- Investment adviser registration
- Disclosure events & disciplinary history
Why Direct APIs Matter: Unlike web scraping or inferred data, direct API access provides authoritative, real-time verification with unique identifiers (CIK, CRD) that can be independently verified. When you see a "SEC Registered" or "FINRA/IAPD" badge in our results, it means we've confirmed registration through the official government database.
20+ Public Data Sources
We cross-reference data from regulatory agencies, consumer protection organizations, public records, and web searches to build comprehensive company and broker profiles.
SEC EDGAR API
Direct API access to federal securities filings, CIK numbers, registration status, enforcement actions, and Form ADV disclosures
SEC IAPD API
Direct API access to Investment Adviser Public Disclosure database for CRD numbers, broker/adviser registrations, and disclosure events
CFTC
Commodity Futures Trading Commission registration, disciplinary history, and enforcement orders
FINRA BrokerCheck
Broker and advisor registrations, employment history, disclosures, and disciplinary records (via IAPD API)
State Securities Regulators
State-level licensing, registration status, and enforcement actions from all 50 states
CFPB Complaints
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau complaint database and resolution patterns
Better Business Bureau
BBB ratings, accreditation status, complaint history, and resolution rates
State Attorney General
Consumer protection complaints, enforcement actions, and fraud alerts
WHOIS Records
Domain registration age, ownership information, and registrar details
SSL/Security Analysis
HTTPS implementation, certificate validity, and known security vulnerabilities
Court & Legal Databases
Civil litigation, bankruptcy filings, judgments, and legal proceedings
News Archives
Media coverage, press mentions, investigative reports, and industry news
Review Platforms
Aggregated customer reviews from Trustpilot, Google, and industry-specific platforms
Social Media
Social presence verification, engagement patterns, and public sentiment analysis
Real-Time Web Search
AI-powered searches for recent fraud cases, lawsuits, bankruptcies, and negative news coverage
Limitations & Disclaimers
Transparency about our limitations is as important as our methodology. Trust Scores are tools to assist research, not guarantees of safety.
Data Lag
Public records may lag real-time events by days or weeks. Recent fraud cases, bankruptcies, or regulatory actions may not appear immediately.
Limited Data
New companies, private firms, and certain industries have limited public records. This affects score accuracy and confidence levels.
Analysis Limitations
Analysis may miss nuanced context or misinterpret information. Scores should be one input in your research, not the only factor.
Not Investment Advice
Trust Scores are educational tools, not investment recommendations. High scores do not guarantee safety or eliminate risk.
Important Disclosure
Smart Money Verified is a financial publisher and education platform. We do not provide investment advice, solicit investments, or recommend securities. Trust Scores are based on publicly available information and proprietary heuristics. A high Trust Score indicates positive public indicators but cannot predict future performance, guarantee returns, or eliminate investment risk. Always conduct independent due diligence and consider consulting a licensed financial professional before making investment decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the Trust Score calculated?
The Trust Score uses a weighted 100-point rubric across six categories: Regulatory (20%), Business Background (20%), Reputation (20%), Transparency (15%), Product Quality (15%), and Security (10%). Each category is evaluated using data from 20+ authoritative sources.
Do companies pay to influence their scores?
No. Trust Scores are based solely on publicly available information and our internal heuristics. Paid placement, advertising, or sponsorship does not influence scores in any way.
How often are scores updated?
Scores are generated when you search based on currently available data. Underlying data sources update at different frequencies—some daily, others weekly or monthly. We recommend re-verifying before significant decisions.
Can a company dispute its score?
Yes. Companies may contact us to request a data review if they believe information is incomplete or inaccurate. We investigate and update scores if warranted.
Does a high score guarantee safety?
No. A high score indicates positive indicators based on available data, but cannot predict future performance, guarantee returns, or eliminate risk. Always conduct your own due diligence.
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Now that you understand our methodology, try verifying any investment company for free.