Under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, an Investment Advisor is "any person who, for compensation, engages in the business of advising others, either directly or through publications or writings, as to the value of securities or as to the advisability of investing in, purchasing, or selling securities, or who, for compensation and as part of a regular business, issues or promulgates analysis or reports concerning securities..."
A typical Investment Advisor:
This registration does not mean that the person is recommended by the SEC, it simply means that they are regulated by the SEC.
In general an RIA with more than $25 million under management must register with the SEC, and those managing less than $25 million are registered at the state level.