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
  
  • Crypto-Asset Interest Bearing Accounts (Feb. 14, 2022)
    
  • What You Need to Know About SPACs - Updated Investor Bulletin (May 25, 2021)
• FINRA's Investor Insights
  

Trusted Contacts

DFI encourages investors to establish a “trusted contact” for their financial accounts. A trusted contact is an individual who you authorize your financial firm to contact in limited circumstances, as an additional layer of safety for your investment account. A trusted contact cannot place trades or make decision on your account. A trusted contact may be a family member, attorney, accountant or another third party who you believe would respect your privacy and know how to handle the responsibility. You may establish more than one trusted contact.

Learn more:

• Establishing a Trusted Contact – North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA)
• Fact Sheet
• Investor Bulletin: Please Consider Adding a Trusted Contact to Your Account – Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), March 4, 2020
  

From Boomers to Zoomers: Building a Secure Path Toward Retirement

Throughout 2021, the Department of Financial Institutions partnered 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.” 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.