CSA encourages all Canadians to take time to "Check Before You Invest"

VANCOUVER, Oct. 8, 2013 /CNW/ - October is Investor Education Month and the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) is encouraging investors to make use of free online investor education tools that can help with finding and working with a registered financial adviser.

This month, the CSA added two new resources to its website to assist investors complete a background check and registration search - Check Before You Invest and Understanding Registration. The CSA has also refreshed its Working with a Financial Adviser brochure.

"Before investors work with a financial adviser, it is essential that they do some homework on the adviser's background and registration status," said Bill Rice, Chair of the CSA and Chair and CEO of the Alberta Securities Commission. "Investors must do their due diligence whenever they are considering making an investment with a new financial adviser, and the CSA resources can help."

The CSA provides a 'check registration' webpage (www.aretheyregistered.ca) where investors can find:

• the National Registration Search - an online tool that makes checking your financial adviser's registration quick and easy;
• Understanding Registration - a resource that helps investors understand the results of their search;
• Check Before You Invest - a workbook that people can use to record results of their background research; and
• Working with a Financial Adviser - an updated brochure that walks investors through the steps they should take when considering and working with a financial adviser.

Canadians should also watch for investor education tweets throughout October on @CSA_News for helpful tips and information.

Other brochures and additional information is available on the CSA's website, www.securities-administrators.ca, in the Investor Tools section.

The CSA, the council of securities regulators of Canada's provinces and territories, coordinates and harmonizes regulation for the Canadian capital markets. Their mandate is to protect investors from unfair or fraudulent practices through regulation of the securities industry. Part of this protection is educating investors about the risk, responsibilities and rewards of investing.

SOURCE: Canadian Securities Administrators