Consumer Alert: Building Financial Capability Through Investor Education

Denver - April 6, 2026 - April is Financial Capability Month - a time dedicated to promoting financial education and literacy. Financial capability helps consumers build long-term economic stability through saving and investing. Investor education initiatives can help consumers become financially capable. The Colorado Division of Securities can support this through its educational resources, including:

Investing 101
If someone is new to investing and wants to learn about the basics, the Division's Investing 101 page can help. This resource defines what securities are, why they are regulated, what securities are regulated and how regulation is enforced.

Smart Investor Checklist
The Smart Investor Checklist consists of a series of questions consumers should ask before committing to an investment opportunity. How does the investment work? A reputable professional should always be able to explain their strategies. Is the person offering the investment licensed to sell securities? Anyone offering securities must be licensed to do so. Asking these questions not only enhances an individual's financial capability but can also protect their finances from scammers.

Working with Financial Professionals
The Working With Financial Professionals guide is designed to help investors determine which type of financial professional is best for them, and the fees commonly charged by these financial professionals. Are they looking for someone to provide investment advice and manage their portfolio? Or are they looking for someone to buy and sell investments from their portfolio? Is the financial professional's compensation based on a percentage of your assets or a commission for each purchase or sale? Knowing the differences between the various types of financial professionals can help investors make more informed decisions.

Guide for Military Members
The Military Guide to Money and Investing educates service members about how to successfully manage money at every stage of their military careers. This includes information about investing to save for retirement and investing to build wealth.
Additionally, the resource discusses investment risks and how service members can avoid scams.

Red Flags of Investment Fraud
According to the Federal Trade Commission, U.S. consumers reported losing $7.9 billion to investment fraud in 2025. Investment fraud was also the costliest category of fraud, and these scams show no signs of slowing down. Knowing how to spot the red
flags of investment fraud can help investors protect their hard-earned money. See the following resources to learn more:

• Investment Red Flags
• Avoid Becoming a Victim of Securities Fraud
• Spot the Red Flags of Investment Fraud Pamphlet

To verify the licensing status of any financial professional or firm, contact the Division of Securities at [email protected] or 303-894-2320. If you or someone you know has been involved in an investment scam, file a complaint with the Division.