Know Before You Invest. Protect Before You Commit.

Purpose

This checklist helps you evaluate whether a financial or crypto platform operates with genuine transparency, investor accountability, and regulatory oversight.
It’s not financial advice - it’s a framework to help you ask the right questions before trusting your assets to anyone.

1. Identity and Oversight

• Is the company clearly registered in a jurisdiction with strong financial regulation?
• Can you verify its legal entity number or registration certificate?
• Does the firm disclose the regulator or supervisory body responsible for oversight?
• Are officers or directors publicly identified and reachable through verified business channels?

2. Data Access and Audit Trail

• Does the platform allow you to export complete transaction history (not summaries)?
• Are timestamps, currencies, and counterparties visible?
• Can you obtain your data even if the account is closed?
• Has the company published any proof-of-reserves or independent audit results?

3. Financial Integrity and Disclosures

• Are risk, interest, or yield calculations fully disclosed and reproducible?
• Are there explicit terms for collateral, margin, or liquidation procedures?
• Does marketing language (e.g., “APR” or “guaranteed yield”) match the product’s legal classification?
• Are customer funds held in segregated accounts?

4. Jurisdiction and Redress

• Is there a regulator or ombudsman you can actually contact?
• Does the Terms of Service reference arbitration or litigation in an offshore jurisdiction (e.g., Cayman, BVI, Seychelles)?
• Would you have standing to file a complaint in your own country if something goes wrong?
• Is customer support legally accountable or just a front for outsourced contractors?

5. Governance and Accountability

• Are audit partners, legal counsel, or risk officers named publicly?
• Does the company publish periodic reports, transparency statements, or attestations?
• Has the leadership responded to past user disputes or enforcement actions?
• Are customer assets independently verifiable on-chain or in audited accounts?

6. If You Answered “No” More Than Three Times…

That’s a signal.
Transparency should never require insider access, legal pressure, or luck.
If you can’t independently verify how your money is handled, it’s not investor-grade transparency — it’s marketing.

📄 Download the Checklist

Download the full InvestorJustice Risk Evaluation Checklist (PDF)

Keep a copy, revisit it before every new platform or investment, and share it with others who might not know what to look for.

Disclaimer

This checklist is for educational and informational purposes only.
It does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice.
Always seek independent professional guidance before making financial decisions.