Regulators around the world, including the Securities and Exchange Commission, have been taking part in World Investor Week (WIW) 2023 to spotlight issues of importance to investors.
The SEC said it has been hosting a number of outreach events during WIW, held from October 2-8, to help raise awareness about the importance of investor education and investor protection. This marked the seventh year of World Investor Week, a global effort promoted by the International Organization of Securities Commissions that brings together regulators on six continents.
During the week, SEC staff throughout the country have been engaging with investors from a wide range of communities, both in-person and virtually. The outreach efforts have included saving, investing, and fraud protection presentations for older investors, military service members and their families, teachers, and those reentering into society. There have also been classroom activities for high school and college students, including events at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, along with a live AARP Fraud Watch Network Facebook event, a radio interview on topics important to older investors; and a
Thrift Savings Plan program event for federal employees.
“Investor protection is at the heart of everything we do at the Securities and Exchange Commission, and World Investor Week provides an important opportunity to advance our mission,” said SEC Chair Gary Gensler.
Throughout WIW, SEC staff have provided advice to investors on topics that include conducting their own research on investment opportunities, creating a risk-appropriate, long-term, and diversified investment plan that can help them weather changing economic conditions and market fluctuations, establishing an emergency fund; and learning how to spot fraud.
The SEC emphasized that at a time when technology is making it easier to invest, taking time for due diligence can help investors make better informed decisions and avoid fraud.
“A key part of investor protection is education, and we encourage investors to never stop learning. Before making any investment decision, every investor should ask questions, verify the answers, only invest in opportunities they fully understand, and learn how to protect their hard-earned money,” said OIEA Director Lori Schock.
For WIW, Ms. Schock posted a new Director’s Take article, “Protecting Your Retirement Money,” offering tips such as checking the background of investment professionals, asking questions about investment opportunities, knowing the red flags of fraud, and avoiding unsolicited phone calls, texts, and emails from anyone asking for money.
The SEC reminded investors that additional investor education and protection resources are available at Investor.gov.
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