Many people in the U.S. use stocks, bonds and other securities as major investment vehicles to help finance important personal and family goals. These retail investors – meaning individual, private, nonprofessional and noninstitutional investors – often turn to...
In part 1 of this post, we shared that the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC’s) has adopted a final rule modernizing the investment adviser marketing and solicitation rules – calling the new regulation the “marketing rule.” In part 1, we describe the...
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has released a final rule change that will modernize the regulation of investment adviser advertising, which has not been done since 1961. The agency is calling it the “marketing rule.” Of course, over the decades...
We recently posted in this space about the surge in investment scams like Ponzi schemes and affinity fraud during the COVID-19 era. How can you protect yourself during the current coronavirus-related schemes and beyond? Recent insurance scam For example, a Florida...
In part 1 of this post, we talked about the role of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) as a forum where investors can arbitrate claims of negligence, improper investment or fraud against their brokers or brokerage firms for problematic investments...
Performing an internet search for information about investment fraud reveals an almost shocking number of news stories on the topic. For example, a former broker and investment advisor was indicted on Aug. 5 in federal court for mail and securities fraud for allegedly...
If you give your broker complete discretion to buy and sell stocks, annuities, mutual funds or other investment instruments because they're the expert and you're not, you're taking some big risks with your money. Most brokers are law-abiding, ethical professionals....
The stock market is giving investors large and small considerable anxiety right now. After more than a decade of a bull market, we're seeing record drops. This is not the time for a financial advisor you can't trust or who's unqualified.Sometimes, investors don't see...
A smart investor is an educated investor. While you trust your financial advisors to a point, you still always have to be on the lookout for problems.When do you know it's time to fire your financial advisor and hire a new one? Here are some of the biggest "red flags"...
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced on Feb. 19 that they have ordered a cryptocurrency company Enigma MPC to return initial coin offering (ICO) funds to its investors. The federal agency is also ordering the blockchain startup to pay fines. The...
