know-your-customer rule

Rule 405

A New York Stock Exchange rule requiring investment advisers to only make or recommend investments for their clients' accounts that a "prudent person" would make. This means that investment advisers are not allowed to make investments they believe will lose money for the client. It does not require that the investment adviser always make correct decisions; it merely requires him/her to make decisions that will be generally accepted as sound for someone of average intelligence who seeks to do what is in the client's best interests as the client defines them. It is an example of a suitability rule. See also: Prudent-Person Rule.

know-your-customer rule

A requirement that brokers understand the financial needs and circumstances of a customer before providing investment advice.