Investor Education
August 25, 2016
Informed Investor Advisory: EB-5 Fraud
Under the EB-5 program, foreign investors who meet certain eligibility requirements can apply for conditional resident alien status (i.e., a conditional “green card”) in the United States by investing in the American economy. The EB-5 program has increased in popularity in recent years and with it has come increased allegations of fraud.
April 5, 2016
Informed Investor Advisory: Pension Advance Scams
In many ways, this current scam is similar to earlier scams involving viatical and life settlement holders. Both involve people holding entitlements to large amounts of money who need cash fast. Scammers offer to purchase the rights to those cash entitlements at a discount and then seek to sell investment interests in these rights to investors.
December 10, 2015
Informed Investor Advisory: Third-Party Asset Recovery Companies
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.”
November 9, 2015
Informed Investor Advisory: The Next Big Thing
Are you an informed investor? The Next Big Thing 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 […]
April 22, 2015
Informed Investor Advisory: Understanding Broker-Dealer Fees
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 handle your investments?
January 28, 2015
Informed Investor Advisory: Cybersecurity
The list of financial institutions targeted by organized cyber attacks continues to grow with ever-increasing frequency. Since investors are encouraged to take steps to ensure their own personal systems are updated with the latest anti-virus and anti-malware software, and to follow proper account password safety protocol, they generally trust their investment professionals to do the same on their behalf. But do they?
December 1, 2014
Informed Investor Advisory: Third-Party Custodians of Self-Directed IRAs and Other Qualified Programs
While self-directed IRAs can be a safe way to invest retirement funds, investors should understand that third-party custodians have limited duties to investors.
November 20, 2014
Informed Investor Advisory: HYIPs
HYIPs are Ponzi schemes sold by unlicensed individuals. In the past, con artists relied on word of mouth to lure investors into these investments. Now they rely on the Internet and social media buzz to quickly popularize their schemes before the fraud is discovered.
April 29, 2014
Informed Investor Advisory: Virtual Currency
Virtual currency is an electronic medium of exchange that, unlike real money, is not controlled or backed by a central government or central bank. Virtual currency includes crypto-currency such as Bitcoin, Ripple or Litecoin.
September 11, 2013
