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

Richard Gilhooley
British Columbia Securities Commission
604-899-6713

Carolyn Shaw-Rimmington
Ontario Securities Commission
416-593-2361

Sylvain Théberge
Autorité des marchés financiers
514-940-2176

Mark Dickey
Alberta Securities Commission
403-297-4481

Ainsley Cunningham
Manitoba Securities Commission
204-945-4733

Daniela Machuca
Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority of Saskatchewan
306-787-5842

Wendy Connors-Beckett
Financial and Consumer Services Commission
New Brunswick
506-643-7745

Tanya Wiltshire
Nova Scotia Securities Commission
902-424-8586

Craig Whalen
Office of the Superintendent of Securities 
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
709-729-5661

Janice Callbeck
The Office of the Superintendent Securities, P.E.I.
902-368-6288

Rhonda Horte
Office of the Yukon Superintendent of Securities
867-667-5466

Donn MacDougall
Northwest Territories Securities Office
867-920-8984

Louis Arki
Nunavut Securities Office
867-975-6587