New Web site gives investment tips

The Missouri Investor Protection Center, www.missourisafesavings.com, is a comprehensive resource that includes investor education publications, a savings calculator, answers to frequently asked questions and a calendar of upcoming investor education events, according to a news release.

Carnahan said in the release that investments and retirement savings impact nearly 6 million Missourians.

The center also encompasses the Senior Investor Protection Unit, which is staffed by members of the Securities Division tasked with protecting Missouri’s senior investors.

“Senior investment fraud has been recognized nationwide as a top threat to investors, and Missouri is no exception,” Carnahan said in the release. “We created the Senior Investor Protection Unit to combat fraudulent and abusive tactics that are used to prey on seniors and retirees.”

Last year, the unit investigated nearly 30 “free lunch” seminars across the state and gathered information for a report that is available on the Web site.

“In many instances, the seminars are marketed using exaggerated promises, a false sense of urgency or scare tactics, and in the majority of the presentations investigated, the seminars were led by individuals not licensed to sell securities,” according to the report’s executive summary.

The Web site also features public awareness materials such as news releases, investor alerts, investor awareness columns and multimedia public service announcements.