Opinion Article Template
500 words
100 Years of Protecting Investors
March Marks Centennial for State Securities Regulation
By: ______
This month, state securities regulators throughout the United States are observing 100 years of protecting investors.
As [STATE]’s top securities regulator, [AGENCY] is proud to continue building on the century-old foundation of putting fraudsters behind bars, returning lost money to investors and teaching our neighbors to spot and report the red flags of investment fraud.
The nation’s first state securities law was adopted in 1911, and [STATE] soon followed suit, establishing [AGENCY] in [YEAR]. Today, state securities regulators work tirelessly to serve investors throughout the United States.
In 2009, state securities regulators collectively sentenced con artists to 1,786 years in jail, ordered more than $4.7 billion returned to defrauded investors and led more than 1,800 investor education presentations in our communities nationwide.
Some of our high-profile enforcement actions make national headlines,such as the settlements state securities regulators reached with Wall Street firms to return $61 billion to those who invested in auction rate securities. That’s the largest return of funds to investors in history.
Much of our work for investors takes place without a lot of fanfare. We focus on protecting “mom and pop” investors, especially those who lack the expertise, experience and resources to protect their own interests.[AGENCY] enforces the securities laws in [STATE], licenses firms and investment professionals doing business in our state, and examines the stockbrokers and investment advisers you rely on to help meet your financial goals.
As the regulators closest to investors, state securities regulators serve a vital role as the best resource for investors to turn to for help when they have concerns about what appears to be an investment “opportunity.”
We want to hear from you if you suspect that you are the victim of securities fraud. Your complaint can help our investigators identify and stop emerging frauds, prevent harm to other investors, andpursue all available options to recover stolen funds and penalize the scammer.
The best time to get in touch is before you invest your hard-earned money. Check with us to make sure that your prospective investment is properly registered for sale in [STATE] and that the promoters have the appropriate licenses and clean disciplinary and criminal histories.
In addition to enforcement, registration and licensing, we are committed to investor education. [AGENCY] travels the state to make investor education presentations to a variety of community groups, including schools, professional associations and senior centers.
From the parent saving for a child’s college education to the late-career professional looking to retire, almost all of us are investors. For 100 years, state securities regulators have served on the front lines of investor protection to ensure a level playing field and a fair deal for all.
Much has changed in the last century, and reforms are taking shape at the national level to give new authority to state securities regulators to address the challenges facing 21st century investors.
[AGENCY] remains dedicated to standing strong for the investors of [STATE]as state securities regulators enter our next century of investor protection.
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About the Author:
[YOUR NAME] is [TITLE] with the [AGENCY], which can be reached at [INSERT PHONE NUMBER AND WEBSITE URL].