aid: rcs-capital
name: RCS Capital Vocabulary
description: >-
  Domain vocabulary for independent broker-dealer financial services concepts
  as represented by RCS Capital Corporation and its successor Cetera Financial Group.
  Covers FINRA/SEC regulatory terms, financial advisor entities, and investment services.
created: '2026-05-02'
modified: '2026-05-02'

terms:

  - term: BrokerDealer
    label: Broker-Dealer
    definition: >-
      A person or firm registered with FINRA and the SEC that buys and sells
      securities for its own account (dealer) or on behalf of clients (broker).
      RCS Capital owned fifteen registered broker-dealer subsidiaries through
      its Cetera Financial Group platform.
    tags:
      - FINRA
      - Securities
      - Regulation

  - term: IndependentBrokerDealer
    label: Independent Broker-Dealer
    definition: >-
      A broker-dealer firm whose registered representatives operate as
      independent contractors rather than employees, typically affiliated with
      a larger network for compliance, technology, and back-office support.
    tags:
      - FINRA
      - Financial Services
      - Distribution

  - term: CRDNumber
    label: CRD Number
    definition: >-
      Central Registration Depository number — a unique identifier assigned by
      FINRA to each registered broker-dealer firm and individual registered
      representative. Used for background checks and regulatory filings.
    tags:
      - FINRA
      - Regulation
      - Identity

  - term: RegistrationStatus
    label: Registration Status
    definition: >-
      The current regulatory registration status of a broker-dealer or
      registered representative with FINRA (Active, Inactive, Suspended, or
      Terminated).
    tags:
      - FINRA
      - Compliance

  - term: AssetsUnderAdministration
    label: Assets Under Administration
    definition: >-
      The total market value of financial assets for which an advisor network
      provides administrative services (custody, reporting) regardless of
      whether it also manages those assets on a discretionary basis.
    tags:
      - Financial Services
      - Metrics

  - term: AssetsUnderManagement
    label: Assets Under Management
    definition: >-
      The total market value of financial assets that a registered investment
      advisor manages on a discretionary basis on behalf of clients.
    tags:
      - Financial Services
      - Metrics

  - term: RegulatoryCapital
    label: Regulatory Capital
    definition: >-
      The minimum net capital a broker-dealer must maintain under SEC Rule 15c3-1
      to ensure it can meet its financial obligations to clients and counterparties.
    tags:
      - SEC
      - Regulation
      - Capital

  - term: Chapter11
    label: Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
    definition: >-
      A form of US bankruptcy protection that allows a company to reorganize its
      business, assets, and debts while continuing to operate. RCS Capital filed
      Chapter 11 in January 2016 and emerged as Aretec Group in May 2016.
    tags:
      - Bankruptcy
      - Restructuring
      - Legal

  - term: WealthManagement
    label: Wealth Management
    definition: >-
      A comprehensive financial advisory service combining investment management,
      financial planning, tax advice, estate planning, and other financial services
      for high-net-worth individuals and families.
    tags:
      - Financial Services
      - Advisory

  - term: RIA
    label: Registered Investment Advisor
    definition: >-
      An investment advisor registered with the SEC or a state securities
      regulator that provides investment advice for compensation and has a
      fiduciary duty to clients.
    tags:
      - SEC
      - Investment Advisory
      - Fiduciary