Magister Operis · Broker 101
Due Diligence
These are the standards a bank, a major accounting firm and a serious law firm apply. They are not distrust. Met early, they speed a closing; resisted, they slow it.
How experienced counterparties read you
Seasoned traders, bankers and financiers screen a deal in minutes. Three questions come first: Who is this party? Can I verify it? What exactly is your relationship to them?
| Signal | Reads as credible | Costs you time |
|---|---|---|
| A named principal on the organization's own domain | Free webmail, or a generic inbox | |
| Website | Substance: who the principals are, what they have done, what they can deliver | No site, or a site that says nothing |
| Facts | Organized, consistent, verifiable | Claims a single search disproves |
| Legal | Competent counsel on large transactions; an attorney's attestation where standing is not public | "We'll get a lawyer later" |
| Bank and KYC documents | Authentic and verifiable at source | Documents that don't survive scrutiny |
Encrypted free email is secure, but bank compliance does not treat it as professional; a paid plan can carry your own domain. A domain and hosting cost little. Content is what earns trust.
Why standing matters
A hypothetical, to show the test at work:
If Claus Halle of Coca-Cola told me his best friend ran a top bank, and the friend's brother had MTNs for sale, why would I believe him?
Because he is Claus Halle of Coca-Cola. Why believe his best friend runs a top bank? Same answer. Credibility of that weight carries what he vouches for. The same story from past_president_coke@yahoo.com carries nothing.
Where credibility is obvious and in the league of the transaction, Magister Operis will consider proceeding without an attestation. Otherwise, an attorney's attestation does that work. Attorney Attestation →
Documents. We speak frankly, and we scrutinize the authenticity of any bank or KYC document submitted as credible.
Examples: Fake documents and people · Broker Jackpot
Every engagement is governed by the firm's Method and Disclaimer. Return to the Broker 101 overview.
"Arrogance and/or ignorance is rooted in those that have no passion for accountability and/or credibility."
Wm C Kemper