Investor Education Program

The Investor Education Program is here to provide you with FREE investor education materials and resources. Use the links below to access information for viewing and/or printing. If you have any questions, give us a call at 1-844-808-DCCA (3222), press 2, then press 4 or email tkongkee@dcca.hawaii.gov. Mahalo!

A group of people sitting around a wooden table and one person is writing in a notebook

Program Information

Investor Education Materials

We’ve created handouts on topics such as Who We Are (the Office of the Securities Commissioner), How to Spot a Con Artist, Common Threats to Hawaii Investors, and more. Here, you will also find a link to Hawaii’s Fraud Prevention and Resource Guide (1st and 2nd Editions).

The following is a listing of resources that are available for viewing and/or printing. Click on the links below to access/connect some helpful information. For the DCCA complete Directory of Services click here.

Investor Education Handouts

 

Office of the Securities Commissioner
Who We Are?

IEP Presentations (PDF)

Bill of Rights (PDF)

Common Threats To Hawaii Investors (PDF)

Check Before You Invest (PDF)

Ask Questions (PDF)

Affinity Fraud (PDF)

Ponzi Schemes (PDF)

How To Spot A Con Artist (PDF)

Financial Designations (PDF)

Social Networking (PDF)

Booklets

 

Activity Booklet For Kids (PDF)

Activity Booklet For Teens (PDF)

Activity Booklet For Seniors (PDF)

Keeping Our Kupuna (Seniors) Safe (PDF)

IPT

 

 

Your New Job: Starting Your Financial Future (PDF)

Investment Fraud: Spot the Red Flags. Take Action! (PDF)

Investment Fraud: Spot the Red Flags. Take Action! (PDF)

Spanish

Investment Fraud: Spot the Red Flags. Take Action! (PDF)

Mandarin

Investment Fraud: Spot the Red Flags. Take Action! (PDF)

Vietnamese

Marriage & Money: Starting Your Financial Life Together (PDF)

Military Guide to Money and Investing (PDF)

Publications

 

Hawaii’s Fraud Prevention & Resource Guide 3rd Edition (PDF)

Hawaii’s Fraud Prevention & Resource Guide 2nd Edition (PDF)

Hawaii’s Fraud Prevention & Resource Guide 1st Edition (PDF)

Presentations

Investor Education Presentations

The Investor Education Program offers free securities-related presentations. Here, you will find information on the topics we have available and how you can schedule a presentation.

How To Schedule A Presentation

Call: 1-844-808-DCCA (3222),press 2, then press 4.
E-mail: tkongkee@dcca.hawaii.gov
Mail:
DCCA, Office of the Securities Commissioner
Investor Education Program
P.O. Box 40
Honolulu, HI 96810

IEP Presentations Brochure (PDF)

IEP Presentations Handout (PDF)

Available topics listed below:

This presentation is an introduction to the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), Office of the Securities Commissioner. Learn about our office, investment fraud protection tips, how to report investment fraud, where to get free investor protection materials, and more!

If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. This presentation will cover threats to investors, ways you can spot a con artist, ways to protect yourself from becoming a victim, and how the DCCA Office of the Securities Commissioner can help you.

Con artists will say or do anything to take your hard earned money away from you. This presentation will cover examples of predatory tactics, how to recognize these tactics, and how the DCCA Office of the Securities Commissioner can help you.

Variable annuities can be complex – with different types, fees, risk factors, rate of return, etc. This presentation will cover the basics, things to be aware of, and how the DCCA Office of the Securities Commissioner can help you.

Know The Threats That Investors Face Investment fraud comes in many shapes and forms. This presentation will cover various threats to Hawaii investors.
From unregistered investment products and unregistered agents, misused credentials and designations, to greedy sales practices and Ponzi Schemes. Learn more about how you can avoid becoming a victim of investment fraud and how the DCCA Office of the Securities Commissioner can help you.

The Ponzi Scheme One of the most common types of investment fraud today is the Ponzi Scheme. This presentation will cover what a Ponzi Scheme is,
how it works, the losses that investors may incur, red flags to watch for, where to report Ponzi Schemes and other types of investment fraud and how the DCCA Office of the Securities Commissioner can help.

Affinity Fraud can happen to anyone, at any time. Affinity fraud occurs when con artists tap into community groups, family ties, clubs or other “affinities” to create a false sense of trust to lure victims into investing. This presentation will cover what Affinity Fraud is, the approach and possible targets of this type of fraud, ways to avoid the fraud, and how the DCCA Office of the Securities Commissioner can help.

Organizations & Agencies

National Resources

The following is a listing of resources that are available for viewing and/or printing. Click on the links below to access/connect some helpful information.

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)

North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA)

Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

Investor Protection Trust (IPT)

STOPFRAUD.GOV

Our Service Members and their Families

Military Resources

This section is dedicated to our military men, women, and their families. Included are links to investor education information that has been designed especially with our military in mind. The following is a listing of resources that are available for viewing and/or printing. Click on the links below to access/connect some helpful information.

 

Military Handouts

 

A Salute to Smart Investing (PDF)

An investor education guide designed specifically with our military in mind. Contents range from “basic training” and “red flags” to resources and contact information for each state securities regulators.

Personal Finance For Military Families (PDF)

Presented by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine and the Better Business Bureau, this guide provides “practical easy-to-understand information about being financially prepared” for various military situations.

Money & Mobility (PDF)

The National Endowment for Financial Education®, the FINRA Foundation and the National Military Family Association have joined forces to bring you this comprehensive booklet that helps you financially prepare for moves and deployments.

10 Preventive Tips for Military (PDF)

This brochure provides fraud prevention tips and information on how the Hawaii Office of the Securities Commissioner can help.

Helpful Resources for our Military Families (PDF)

Other Assistance for our Military Families (PDF)

 

National Resources

 

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

North American Securities Administrators Association

Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)

SaveAndInvest.org

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)

Military Consumer

LifeSmarts Hawaii and Hawaii Stock Market Simulation programs

Resources for Students

LifeSmarts Our Office is the state coordinator for this FREE, online, youth consumer education competition. Check out the LifeSmarts Hawaii website for local information about the current program year and how to register online.

The following is a list of links to web sites in which you will find useful investment information. These links are for students and adults alike, who want to learn how to navigate the world of securities investments. The information on these sites range from investing, to regulatory agencies to contact for further information, to the many types of scams and swindles investors must learn to avoid. Some other sites explain the role and scope of the different exchanges where securities are traded.

American Savings Education Council

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)

Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)

Consumer Federation of America

Council for Economic Education

Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)

Jump$tart Coalition

National Business Education Association

Nasdaq Stock Market

National Association of Investors Corporation

National Futures Association

New York Stock Exchange

North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA)

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

Treasury Direct

United States Mint

U.S. Department of Treasury

Hawaii’s Kupuna (senior citizens)

Empowering Our Kupuna

The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs is committed to helping Hawaii’s residents of all ages. Hawaii’s kupuna (senior citizens) can be among the most targeted for fraud and scams. We have gathered materials here for kupuna and their family or caregivers to help prepare and protect them from these scammers.

DCCA is made up of 12 offices and divisions. Here are some of the materials available from those offices and divisions.

Securities Enforcement/Investor Education:

 

Keeping Our Kupuna (Seniors) Safe (PDF)

Activity Booklet For Seniors (PDF)

Bill of Rights (PDF)

Checklist – Before You Invest (PDF)

How To Protect Your Nest Egg (PDF)

Affinity Fraud (PDF)

Ponzi Schemes (PDF)

Variable Annuities – Ask Questions (PDF)

Variable Annuities – What You Should Know (PDF)

Real Stories (PDF)

Fighting Fraud 101 (PDF)

“Free Lunch” Investment Seminars (PDF)

Money Smart For Older Adults (PDF)

Kupuna Alter Partners (KAP) (PDF)

To schedule a FREE guest speaker or for us to exhibit at your next event, call 1-844-808-DCCA (3222), press 2, then press 4. Here is a list of presentation topics (click here).

To File a complaint form reporting investment fraud, call 1-844-808-DCCA (3222), press 2, then press 4 or toll free 1-877-447-2267.

To check registration, complaint history and background of any individual trying to sell you an investment, call 1-844-808-DCCA (3222), press 2, then press 3.

Office of Consumer Protection:

Regulated Industries Complaints Office:

Consumer Protection Tips for Seniors

Printable: What to tell sales people at your door or on the phone. Print and place by the doorway and your phone.