Investing in your future is important at any age. The Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) works to keep your money safe by registering and examining brokerage firms, investment advisers, representatives, and agents and the securities they offer. DFI also takes complaints and investigates suspected wrongdoing by industries the department regulates.

Before investing, find out if the product and the person selling it are registered with DFI, and see if there have been any complaints or orders filed. Call the Securities Division at 502-573-3390 or 800-223-2579 or visit the online search services below:

• Look up a broker-dealer or agent in the national Broker Check database maintained by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).
• Check out investment advisers and investment adviser representatives online using the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Public Disclosure Database.
• Check out an investment offering using the SEC’s EDGAR Database.
• Visit DFI’s Securities Enforcement Actions page for enforcement information, including orders, which may not appear in the SEC and FINRA databases.

Investor Advisories

DFI partners with the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) to bring you timely advisories on important investment-related topics. You can find DFI’s Investor Advisories under “Related Documents” at the bottom of this page. For additional advisories and alerts, visit:

• NASAA Investor Advisories
• SEC’s Investor Alerts and Bulletins
  • What You Need to Know About SPACs - Updated Investor Bulletin (May 25, 2021)
• FINRA's Investor Insights
  

From Boomers to Zoomers: Building a Secure Path Toward Retirement

Throughout 2021, the Department of Financial Institutions will partner with the Investor Protection Trust, Detroit Public Television and PBS Books on a “When I’m 65” series called “Boomers to Zoomers: Building a Secure Path Toward Retirement.” This series of virtual events will livestream on the Public Protection Cabinet’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/kypublicprotection. One 60-minute event will livestream on the fourth Friday of each month at 1:00 pm ET.  More information and past episodes are available here.

Senior Scam Jams Events

Find out how to protect yourself from investment fraud by becoming a wise and safe investor. DFI co-hosts Senior Scam Jam events across Kentucky to help senior citizens guard against various types of fraud. Investors of all ages can find helpful tips and tricks to beware of on this page.

Metals.com/TMTE Inc.

In September 2019, DFI issued an Emergency Cease and Desist Order against TMTE Inc. (also known as Metals.com, Chase Metals Inc., Chase Metals LLC, Mark Benning, Matthew Joel, Sean Regan and Anthony Bowers) for violating state securities laws. In September 2020, DFI joined the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission and 29 other states in filing a complaint in federal court against the company and its principals. In response, the court issued an Order that shut down the business and appointed a receiver to safeguard the company’s assets. The receiver set up a website to communicate with investors and sent a Notice to Investors on Oct. 7, 2020. If you think you have been the victim of this fraud, contact DFI’s Securities Division at 502-573-3390 or 800-223-2579. THE DEADLINE FOR FILING CLAIMS IS JUNE 15, 2021.