Internet- and social media-based frauds are the top threats to investors this year, according to enforcement officials surveyed by the North American Securities Administrators Association.
The group, which polled its state and provincial securities regulator members, said that in particular, investors should be on the lookout for investment schemes involving precious metals, cryptocurrencies, promissory notes and foreign exchange markets.
The survey found that self-directed individual retirement accounts, which lack the services and protection of traditional IRAs, can be fertile soil for scammers, especially those involving cryptocurrency-related and precious metals-based investments.
Enforcement officials said they expect to see a resurgence of high-yield foreign exchange and cryptocurrency-related schemes targeting investors this year that are disguised as membership or investment programs.
According to the NASAA survey, 82% of state and provincial securities regulators in the U.S., Canada and Mexico anticipate that bad actors will continue to attempt to leverage investor fear and anxiety related to changes in financial markets and the economy due to COVID-19 to illegally sell securities this year.
A new proposal could end the ban on promoting client reviews in states like California and Connecticut, giving state-registered advisors a level playing field with their SEC-registered peers.
Morningstar research data show improved retirement trajectories for self-directors and allocators placed in managed accounts.
Some in the industry say that more UBS financial advisors this year will be heading for the exits.
The Wall Street giant has blasted data middlemen as digital freeloaders, but tech firms and consumer advocates are pushing back.
Research reveals a 4% year-on-year increase in expenses that one in five Americans, including one-quarter of Gen Xers, say they have not planned for.
Orion's Tom Wilson on delivering coordinated, high-touch service in a world where returns alone no longer set you apart.
Barely a decade old, registered index-linked annuities have quickly surged in popularity, thanks to their unique blend of protection and growth potential—an appealing option for investors looking to chart a steadier course through today's choppy market waters, says Myles Lambert, Brighthouse Financial.
