An investment adviser is paid for providing advice about securities to clients. In addition, some investment advisers manage investment portfolios and offer financial planning services. It is common for a financial professional to act as both a broker and an investment adviser. Because of this, we include investment advisers , and provide links to the SEC's Investment Adviser Public Disclosure (IAPD) website so you can research further.Individuals who work for broker-dealers - the sales personnel are commonly referred to as brokers.