At a Glance: Domain Ownership for RIAs
- Know who controls your domain registration. Website hosting and domain ownership are not the same thing.
- Keep the domain registration account in your firm’s name even if a broker-dealer or vendor helps manage it.
- Use delegated access so technology providers can support DNS, email, and website changes without taking ownership of the domain.
- Review domain ownership before major business changes such as vendor transitions, mergers, acquisitions, or broker-dealer moves.
During a recent onboarding discussion, a common issue surfaced that was worth revisiting.
As we worked through the firm’s technology setup, we talked about the domain name. Like many firms, they knew who hosted their website and who managed their email. What wasn’t immediately clear was who controlled the domain registration itself.
After some investigation, they discovered the domain was registered and managed through an account controlled by a third party. The arrangement was in place for years, and because everything was working normally, nobody had given it much thought.
What Exactly Is a Domain Name?
Think of your firm’s domain name (for example, yourRIAfirm.com) as the digital equivalent of your business address.
Several different services may be connected to that address:
| Service | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Domain Registration | Establishes ownership and control of the domain name itself. |
| DNS (Domain Name System) | Directs internet traffic to the correct website, email provider, and other services. |
| Web Hosting | Stores and delivers your website content. |
| Email Hosting | Powers email services such as Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace. |
Because these services are often provided by different companies, it’s easy to assume that the company hosting your website also owns your domain. In reality, that’s not always the case.
For example, an RIA might:
- Register its domain through GoDaddy
- Host its website with a marketing firm
- Use Microsoft 365 for email
- Have DNS managed by a technology provider
Each service plays a different role, but the domain registration account remains the foundation that ties everything together.
Do you know exactly who owns and controls your domain name?
For many RIAs, the answer is probably “not sure.”
That’s understandable. Domain registration isn’t something most firms think about very often. It’s typically set up once and then fades into the background while attention shifts to websites, email systems, cybersecurity, and day-to-day operations.
But the domain itself remains an important digital asset.
It’s tied to your website, your email addresses, your marketing efforts, and increasingly to many of the cloud services your business relies on. While firms often delegate management responsibilities to a broker-dealer, marketing company, or technology provider, ownership is a separate consideration.
Your firm should own the domain registration account
This doesn’t mean you need to manage every technical detail yourself. Most registrars allow firms to grant delegated access to outside providers who can handle DNS changes, website updates, and other administrative tasks.
The key distinction is that you’re giving someone access to help manage the asset, not transferring ownership of the asset itself.
This becomes particularly relevant when firms make changes. Whether it’s transitioning broker-dealers, updating technology providers, launching a new website, or going through a merger or acquisition. Having clear ownership of the domain helps simplify the process.
What you should know
One of the reasons this topic is often overlooked is that there usually isn’t a problem. Everything works exactly as expected. The question only tends to come up when a firm is making a change and needs access to the underlying registration account.
That’s why it’s worth taking a few minutes to confirm:
- Where is your domain registered?
- Who is listed as the registrant?
- Who has administrator access?
- Who receives renewal notices?
You may find everything is exactly as it should be.
But if you don’t know the answers, it’s a worthwhile exercise.
Need help confirming who controls your domain or addressing another IT concern at your RIA? Reach out to RIA WorkSpace for practical guidance and support tailored to your firm. Schedule a Discovery Call