Traditional index funds track a market index - hence the name. That may be the S&P 500 or NASDAQ or a smaller segment of the market. Non-traditional index funds, on the other hands, track customized index in order to achieve greater performance than their traditional counterparts. Non-traditional funds may also use leverage, such that they return a multiple of one of these customized indexes, thus ratcheting up potential returns (and potential losses) to an even greater extent.
FINRA Warns Investors about Advance-Fee Scam
FINRA Disciplinary Action Report July 2018
Each month, the agency that regulates the financial industry, FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority), produces a detailed report that runs down all disciplinary actions recently taken against brokerage firms and brokers. We strongly encourage any investor who suspects their broker and/or broker-dealer of having lost them money on dubious terms to at least skim this report to see if you recognize any names, schemes, products, or securities.
How Investors Recover Money Lost in Securities Fraud
Thousands of retail investors lose money every year due to broker misconduct or investment fraud. The amount they lose, if you consider the opportunity cost operating in many of these instances, easily runs into the several billions of dollars. In other words, the losses are staggering, and represent a huge drain on investor wealth and the smooth operating of our financial system. Incredibly, in spite of the enormous sums of money being lost by investors on an annual basis, very few of them know that they may be able to recover some of their losses from fraudsters.
Is Your Broker Selling Unapproved Investments?
Do FINRA's Reforms Go Far Enough to Stop Bad Brokers?
Pennsylvania Ponzi Scheme Shut Down by SEC
FINRA Disciplinary Action Report: June 2018
SEC Busts $102 Million Ponzi Scheme
How to Run a Background Check on Your Stock Broker - The Right Way
The Billion-dollar Ponzi Scheme May Be Alive and Well in Florida
FINRA Disciplinary Actions Report: May 2018
Each month, the agency that regulates the financial industry, FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority), produces a detailed report that runs down all disciplinary actions recently taken against brokerage firms and brokers. We strongly encourage any investor who suspects their broker and/or broker-dealer of having lost them money on dubious terms to at least skim this report to see if you recognize any names, schemes, products, or securities.
Many Investors Drowned by "Hurricane" in VIX Products
Leading up to February, all of 2017 had seen volatility and the VIX at near record low levels. All was calm. Then, suddenly, in one day the percent gain in futures swung 96 percent. The huge leap crushed short-VIX ETPs, which lost nearly all of their value. Some of those products shut down entirely.
LJM Fund Implodes, Leaving Investors Furious
How to Protect Yourself Against Investment Fraud: 5 Questions
What can you do, oh unsophisticated investor, to protect yourself against the attacks and traps of some of history's most dastardly fraudsters? For a start you can ask yourself the following 5 questions about investment fraud - and answer them as honestly as possible. Remember, when you're trying to protect yourself from the deception, the last thing you want to do is self-deceive!
FINRA Disciplinary Action Report April 2018
FINRA Disciplinary Actions February 2018
Each month, the agency that regulates the financial industry, FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority), produces a detailed report that runs down all disciplinary actions recently taken against brokerage firms and brokers. We strongly encourage any investor who suspects their broker and/or broker-dealer of having lost them money on dubious terms to at least skim this report to see if you recognize any names, schemes, products, or securities.
New Rule on Elder Financial Abuse May Improve Broker-Client Relations
Last year around this time, the securities industry watchdog, FINRA (the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority), approved new rules and guidelines related to the detection and prevention of the financial exploitation of senior Americans. The new requirements are scheduled to go into effect early next month. In anticipation of the new rules, FINRA recently issued an FAQ that helps explain and clarify the new rules.
FINRA Broker Disciplinary Action Report January 2018
Each month, the agency that regulates the financial industry, FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority), produces a detailed report that runs down all disciplinary actions recently taken against brokerage firms and brokers. We strongly encourage any investor who suspects their broker and/or broker-dealer of having lost them money on dubious terms to at least skim this report to see if you recognize any names, schemes, products, or securities.