Investment Scams May Seek to Exploit Natural Disasters – Investor Alert
Sep 29, 2020
After a natural disaster strikes, fraudsters may try to take advantage of individuals who want to help fund recovery efforts or who receive lump sum insurance payouts.
Fraudsters may use recent natural disasters, including Hurricane Laura, Hurricane Sally, and the wildfires on the West Coast, to lure victims into investment scams. These scams can take many forms.
Investor Bulletin: Publicly Traded Business Development Companies (BDCs)
Sep 25, 2020
The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Bulletin to provide investors information about business development companies, or BDCs, that are traded on national securities exchanges. It is important to understand them before investing.
Investor Bulletin: Interval Funds
Sep 25, 2020
The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Bulletin to provide investors information about interval funds. Interval funds are legally classified as closed-end funds, a type of investment company, but they have some distinctive features that make them different from typical closed-end funds.
Some important features of interval funds are:
Investor Bulletin: Publicly Traded Closed-End Funds
Sep 25, 2020
The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Bulletin to provide investors information about closed-end funds that are traded on national securities exchanges. It is important to understand them and their risks before investing.
FBI and OIEA Warn Public that Fraudsters are Targeting Owners of Timeshares in Mexico
Sep 17, 2020
The FBI Criminal Investigative Division and the Office of Investor Education and Advocacy of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) would like to warn consumers of a recent increase in fraudulent schemes targeting owners of timeshare properties in Mexico. These scams typically involve individuals alleging to be representatives of a brokerage firm, travel agency, title company, or escrow agent making unsolicited contact with owners of timeshare properties.
How to Use the Investment Professional Search Tool on Investor.gov
Aug 6, 2020
The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Bulletin to show investors how to use Investor.gov’s free and easy search tool to help you check out brokers and investment advisers. Always research an investment professional—including confirming they are registered and whether they’ve had any disciplinary events—before deciding to work with them.
Relationship Summaries (Form CRS or Form ADV Part 3): Investor Bulletin
Aug 6, 2020
The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Bulletin to provide investors information about the customer or client “relationship summary” (also called Form CRS and Form ADV Part 3) that broker-dealers and investment advisers are required to provide when they offer services to retail investors.
Updated Investor Bulletin: Indexed Annuities
Jul 31, 2020
The SEC's Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this bulletin to educate investors about indexed annuities. Indexed annuities are complex products. Investors should carefully read the indexed annuity contract, and any prospectus, before deciding whether to buy the annuity.
Tips for Teachers: Investing for Retirement -- Investor Bulletin
Jul 28, 2020
As a teacher, you have a number of choices to make when investing for retirement. The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Bulletin to help teachers make informed investment decisions, including about 403(b) and 457(b) plans -- tax-advantaged retirement savings programs often offered to teachers of public educational institutions. More information for teachers is available in our A Guide for Teachers: Saving and Investing for K-12 Educators.
Broadly Advertised Investments – Investor Alert
Jul 14, 2020
The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy (OIEA) and the Division of Enforcement’s Retail Strategy Task Force urge investors to be mindful when investing in offerings that are broadly advertised.