News

The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy and the CFPB’s Office for Older Americans are issuing this bulletin to help investors and consumers understand the potential impact of diminished capacity on their ability to make financial decisions and to encourage investors and consumers to plan for possible diminished financial capacity well before it happens.

The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy (OIEA) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA) are issuing this alert to provide investors with a general overview of automated investment tools.

The advisory includes tips to help investors recognize a high-yield investment program and offers steps investors should take to protect themselves from these scams.

This advisory issued is help investors separate fact from fiction regarding the responsibilities of third-party custodians of self-directed individual retirement accounts (IRAs) and other qualified plans. 

North Dakota Securities Department ISSUES INVESTOR ADVISORY ON VIRTUAL CURRENCY
It pays to know what’s in your e‐Wallet

Financial professional titles and licenses are not the same.  A financial professional may use various titles whether or not he or she is registered or licensed with a regulatory authority.  Financial professionals that are registered as a broker-dealer or investment adviser have obtained registrations and licenses granted by federal or state regulatory authorities.  Working with a financial professional who is registered with or licensed by federal or state authorities affords you certain legal protections.

With energy demands and a desire for energy independence increasing globally, investments in traditional and alternative energy resources are being promoted more often and are becoming attractive to more investors. Some examples include: wind turbines, solar panels, biodiesel, ethanol, coal, oil, gas, hydrogen, wave, geothermal, oil sands, and liquefied natural gas. Many of these investments are highly risky and are usually not appropriate for all investors. It is not unusual for unscrupulous promoters to follow the headlines and take advantage of unsuspecting investors by engaging in fraudulent practices.

Promoters sometimes prey on investors interested in socially responsible products by labeling them as “green energy” investment opportunities. The phrase “green energy” implies that the products are ecologically friendly when in fact the promoters may be operating a fraudulent shell company and not producing anything.

Whether you are just starting a retirement fund or need additional help with growing and managing your money, you may benefit from selecting an investment services professional. Finding a person who is knowledgeable, affordable, and trustworthy may be a challenging process. This advisory provides basic information on three types of financial services professionals and their obligations to you as a client: broker-dealer agents, investment adviser representatives, and financial planners. An individual professional can hold any of these three credentials or titles, among others.

Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) have grown increasingly popular among retail investors seeking safe, stable alternatives to mutual funds.

Before investing in an ETF, ask yourself these questions: Do I understand this investment? Is this investment right for me?

Many of the products that claim to achieve these objectives are called "nutraceuticals," a term used to describe dietary
supplements and food and drink products that contain additives purporting to provide health benefits. While some of the companies producing these products are legitimate, others could be bogus operations with the potential to harm unsuspecting investors.