The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy designed Investor.gov with the individual investor in mind. Whether you are investing on your own, working with a financial professional, planning your retirement, or just interested in learning more about investing generally, Investor.gov can help you invest wisely and avoid fraud. Here are 10 specific ways you can use Investor.gov to become a more educated investor:
Learn How to Help Avoid Investment Fraud
Learn about common types of investment fraud, including those found online and in social media, and simple steps to avoid these scams.
Learn How Markets Work
Get the basics on how stocks are traded, including information on types of orders, types of brokerage accounts, and executing an order.
Educate Yourself About Investment Products
Understand different investment products, such as stocks, bonds, and mutual funds -- and learn what questions to ask before investing.
Access Investor Alerts and Bulletins
Investor.gov features timely and topical Investor Alerts and Investor Bulletins describing a wide variety of investing-related topics and news.
Use Our Roadmap to Saving and Investing
Use this interactive roadmap to define your investing goals, figure out your finances, and learn about investment options, with useful tips and fact-filled stops along the way.
Review Investing-Related Publications & Research Studies
Find a variety of publications and research studies on a wide range of investing-related topics from the SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy.
Learn How to Choose and Work With Investment Professionals
Read about choosing and working with brokers and investment advisers, including how to check out brokerage firms, individual brokers, and investment advisory firms.
Access EDGAR, the SEC’s Online Database of Company Filings
Find and use the information that companies offering stocks, bonds, or other securities for sale to the public must provide to investors. Get tips on how to read public company filings, including the annual report on Form 10-K and the Current Report on Form 8-K.
Plan for Retirement
Learn about retirement plans. Explore a wealth of information about retirement topics such as managing lifetime income, avoiding retirement fraud and understanding senior specialists designations.
Calculate the Impact of Financial Decisions
Find the tools to help you calculate your net worth, determine whether you are on track for retirement, estimate your future social security benefits, and find your required minimum distributions for 401(k) and IRA plans. You can also find resources to help you understand the fees associated with mutual funds and exchange traded funds.
The Office of Investor Education and Advocacy has provided this information as a service to investors. It is neither a legal interpretation nor a statement of SEC policy. If you have questions concerning the meaning or application of a particular law or rule, please consult with an attorney who specializes in securities law.
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