S T A T E  OF  V E R M O N T   
Department of Banking, Insurance,
Securities & Health Care Administration
 89 Main St.  Drawer 20   Montpelier, VT 05620-3101  Main Phone:  802-828-3301
 
Banking Division   Insurance Division  Securities Division  Health Care Administration  Captive Insurance Division


BISHCA HOME PAGE

Check for Investor Protection Alerts and General Guidance Investor Protection

Securities Division Consumer Help

Securities Division
 Complaint Center

> REGULATORY LINKS:

Attorney General's Office  (Vermont)

FINRA  (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
NASAA  (North American Securities Administrators Association)
SEC  (Securities and Exchange Commission)
CFTC  (Commodities Futures Trading Commission)

> INDUSTRY LINKS:

ICI:  Investment Company Institute

SIA:  Securities Industry Association

 

 


 Investor Education & Resources Page

www.vermontinvestorprotection.info
Securities Division
802-828-3420
 Anna Drummond, Deputy Commissioner
________________________________________________________________________

The goal of the Division's Investor Education Program is to promote financial literacy for Vermonters of all ages.  This website is designed to help you avoid investment scams and fraud, choose a qualified professional to guide you, understand investment options, calculate your financial needs, and locate additional resources. If you need further information or would like to host an investor education workshop or seminar for your civic group or classroom, please contact program coordinator John Reese at 802-828-3422 (or toll-free: 877-550-3907) or e-mail: jreese@bishca.state.vt.us

Before you part with your money,
    INVESTIGATE the SELLER

Here's how to do it:  By law, brokers-dealers and investment advisors must be registered in Vermont to do business here. Dealing with an unregistered seller or advisor greatly increases the risk of harm to you as an investor.

How can I check whether a seller or advisor is licensed? To learn whether a specific investment professional is licensed in Vermont or has any known history of violations or complaints, you may:

Use our Online Registry of Vermont Investment Professions which also features links for conducting background checks. 

Call 802-828-3420, or toll-free: 1-877-550-3907,

  E-MAIL US. 

How do I know what sort of license a seller or advisor is supposed to hold?  Here is a tool you can use: Before transacting any business, print out the checklist below and ask your investment professional to fill it out for you. This will tell you what types of products he or she is selling and what authority or agency licenses the activity in Vermont. 
GET LICENSE/AUTHORIZATION CHECKLIST

What other types of credentials should you look for? 
Choosing the Right Investment Professional



OTHER USEFUL RESOURCES

> Fraud Scene Investigator
The following program is a tool to aid in the education of students as well as to enable potential investors in avoiding investment scams.

FSI: Fraud Scene Investigator
FSI stands for "Fraud Scene Investigator," an interactive investor education program that teaches and empowers students how to detect and stop investment fraud using a resource they’re most familiar with-the Internet. Click the logo above to enter.

> Investor Protection Learning Opportunities
Grants, community presentations and more....

> Financial Management and Investor Calculation Tools
Mutual fund expense analyzer, mutual fund breakpoint search tool, more...

> Investment Guidance Geared to SENIORS