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The Internet has become an inexpensive and easy way for individuals and businesses to raise money. In 2012, Congress passed the JOBS Act, which directed the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to formulate rules to exempt equity crowdfunding from the securities registration laws.  These rules went into effect in May, 2016 and removed restrictions on start-up companies that use the internet to find investors.   

The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Bulletin to help investors understand Master Limited Partnerships, or MLPs.  Because investing in an MLP may be unfamiliar, investors should carefully consider potential benefits – and risks – before making an investment decision.

A pension is a type of retirement plan, usually tax-exempt, in which an employee makes contributions toward a pool of funds set aside for an employee’s future benefit. The pool of funds is invested on the employee’s behalf, allowing the employee to receive benefits upon retirement.

• Are you earning a pension from your employer and need cash fast?
• Are you an investor looking for new ways to grow your investment dollars?

If you answer yes to either question, you may be the target of a new wrinkle on an old type of scam.

Victims of investment scams are wise to use caution if approached by companies promising to help them recover their lost investment funds and bring the perpetrators to "justice."  A third-party asset recovery company is a company that charges a fee to assist individuals in recovering money lost in scams.  The company claims to gather information on the scam and assist the individual in recovering lost investment dollars.  Many of these self-proclaimed recovery companies are not law firms, although they may advertise that they can provide legal assistance.  Typically, the targeted investors have lost thousands of dollars, perhaps even their entire life's savings, to fraudulent investment schemes.

The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Bulletin to educate investors about exchange-traded notes (“ETNs”).  ETNs are unsecured debt obligations of financial institutions that trade on a securities exchange.  ETN payment terms are linked to the performance of a reference index or benchmark, representing the ETN’s investment objective.

The SEC's Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this bulletin to educate investors about variable annuities and how they work. Variable annuities are complex products, and this Investor Bulletin focuses solely on the basics. For more in-depth information about variable annuities, see our companion publication, Variable Annuities: What You Should Know.

At first glance, marijuana, binary options, and digital currency appear to have no real connection to one another.  But what they all have in common is their recent emergence as three investments that both sellers and buyers hope will become the "next big thing."  Before you consider investing, make sure you understand what these products are, their benefits, and their risks.  

The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this bulletin to educate investors about investing in non-traded REITs

The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Alert to provide investors with important steps to take regarding their investment accounts if they become victims of identity theft or a data breach.

Savvy consumers know it is important to compare prices on similar products to get the best value for their money. Wouldn’t it be nice if the same were true when shopping for a broker-dealer firm to know which is best for you.