> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.joinyellowbrick.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Insiders

> Resolve a reporting owner by name to a CIK for trade search.

`GET /api/v1/insiders` fuzzy-searches Form 4 reporting owners by name. It is the same ranking as the in-app insider combobox.

Use it when you know a name (or part of one) and need a `cik` to pass as `filter.reportingOwnerCik` on [Insider Trades → Search](/api-reference/insider-trades/search). See also the [Filters](/ceowatcher-api/filters) guide.

## Request

```
GET /api/v1/insiders?q=buffett&limit=10
Authorization: Bearer cw_...
```

| Parameter | Required | Default | Notes |
| - | - | - | - |
| `q` | Yes | — | Name query. Trimmed. Must be non-empty. |
| `limit` | No | `20` | Max results. 1–50. |

Missing or empty `q` returns `400`.

## Response

```json theme={null}
{
  "data": [
    {
      "cik": "1253718",
      "name": "BUFFETT HOWARD",
      "latestTicker": "LNN",
      "numTickers": 1
    }
  ]
}
```

| Field | Type | Notes |
| - | - | - |
| `cik` | string | Reporting-owner CIK. Pass this as `filter.reportingOwnerCik` on trade search. |
| `name` | string | Name as stored on the reporting-owner record. |
| `latestTicker` | string \| null | Most recent ticker associated with this insider, if any. |
| `numTickers` | number \| null | Distinct tickers associated with this insider. |

Results are ranked best-match first. An empty `data` array means no matches.

## How matching works

* Query is matched against reporting owner **names** (not tickers or company names).
* Matching is fuzzy: word-level edit distance, prefix/suffix matches, and trigram similarity (same logic as the product combobox).
* Order of name parts is flexible (`warren buffett` and `buffett warren` both work).
* This endpoint does **not** search trades. It only resolves owners.

## Use the CIK on trade search

```json theme={null}
{
  "filter": {
    "reportingOwnerCik": "1253718",
    "filingDatePreset": "1 year",
    "sortBy": "filedAt",
    "sortDirection": "desc"
  },
  "pagination": {
    "cursor": null,
    "pageSize": 50
  }
}
```

`reportingOwnerCik` is an exact match. Always take `cik` from this endpoint (or another trusted source)—do not invent CIKs from the name string.

## Errors

| Status | When |
| - | - |
| `400` | Missing/invalid `q` or `limit` |
| `401` | Missing or invalid API key |
| `403` | Premium required |


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