Important Resource: Investor.gov
by Tim Manni
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) unveiled a resource for consumers to bone up on all things investing. The site offers a wide-range of information for investors of different age groups and expertise:
By visiting www.investor.gov, investors can access information in a user-friendly format that is specifically tailored to their needs. The site includes sections specifically for those just getting started investing, for those saving for a child’s education, and for those planning for retirement. It also has a detailed “Seniors Care Package” section for senior citizens and caretakers.
The impact and influence that the Bernie Madoff scandal had on the investing world is quite evident on this website. Investor.gov has an entire page dedicated to Ponzi schemes – complete with a list of frequently-asked questions — as well as a page on fraud prevention. As the SEC notes in their mission statement:
The world of investing is fascinating and complex, and it can be very fruitful. But unlike the banking world, where deposits are guaranteed by the federal government, stocks, bonds and other securities can lose value. There are no guarantees. That’s why investing is not a spectator sport. By far the best way for investors to protect the money they put into the securities markets is to do research and ask questions.
The laws and rules that govern the securities industry in the United States derive from a simple and straightforward concept: all investors, whether large institutions or private individuals, should have access to certain basic facts about an investment prior to buying it, and so long as they hold it. To achieve this, the SEC requires public companies to disclose meaningful financial and other information to the public. This provides a common pool of knowledge for all investors to use to judge for themselves whether to buy, sell, or hold a particular security. Only through the steady flow of timely, comprehensive, and accurate information can people make sound investment decisions.
Perhaps most importantly, the SEC provides a link that allow investors to check out the background of their investment professional. The site also provides additional tools like an investment calculator, and avenues to contact the SEC with either a question or complaint.
Check out Investor.gov and let us know what you think.
