Investing conference offers consumers help

BANGOR – Maine’s Office of Securities will host a statewide “Wise and Safe Investing Conference” from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, at the Spectacular Event Center, 395 Griffin Road, Bangor. Gov. John E. Baldacci will give opening remarks.

The free investor protection event is part of the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation’s effort to provide information, resources and assistance to senior consumers and their advocates. The conference is part of a national investor protection initiative, “The Campaign for Wise and Safe Investing,” and is funded with a grant from the Investor Protection Trust. The AARP Foundation is a co-sponsor. The Maine chapter of AARP is coordinating registration.

The Wise and Safe Investing Conference will feature experts from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and the Maine Office of Securities. The keynote speaker will be Linda Chatman Thomsen, director of the SEC Enforcement Division in Washington, D.C.

Panelists will provide practical advice on how to safeguard investments, avoid financial scams and identify unethical practices. Ample time will be available to address questions on other issues, including how the current volatility in the national securities markets may affect small investors.

Registration for the conference is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required. Lunch will be provided by Spectacular Event. To register, call AARP-Maine toll-free at 1-877-926-8300. For more information about the Wise and Safe Investing Conference call the Maine Office of Securities at 1-877-624-8551 or by visiting www.investors.maine.gov.