(Washington, DC) District of Columbia investors may now visit the website of the Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB) to download for free a series of publications on investor education.
"Consumer education is an integral part of what we do," said Acting Commissioner Thomas E. Hampton about the seven publications the agency put up on its website. "Although we are a regulatory agency for the District's financial services industries, the agency has been providing, on a regular basis, consumer-education and protection information with a string of newsletters, bulletins, consumer alerts and media releases."
Now, visitors to DISB's website can download the free publications that cover a variety of subjects on investing, including Five Keys to Investing Success, A Primer for Investing in Bonds, Where to Invest Your College Money, Getting Help With Your Investments, Mutual Funds: Maybe All You'll Ever Need, Maximize Your Retirement Investments and The Basics for Investing in Stocks. These booklets tackle the basics of several key investor topics and are designed for the beginning, intermediate and long-term investor who has never learned the basics. Each booklet includes a glossary of terms and information on the role of state securities regulators and how to contact them.
"What is great about this investor-education series is that it speaks to all District residents and investors who are at various comfort levels when it comes to investing," Hampton said. "Consumers will receive a wealth of information not just from these booklets but also from our Web site."
The publications are produced by the editors of Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine, and the Investor Protection Trust (IPT), a nonprofit dedicated to investor education and protection. DISB has made these publications available to District residents as part of its citywide consumer outreach program. The agency has been working in conjunction with IPT and the American Library Association to bring free investor-education seminars to the District's public libraries. Planning is underway for the initial launch in late March 2006.
Hard copies of select booklets will be available at the agency at 810 First Street, NE, Suite 701, Washington, DC 20002 by the end of March 2006.
