Washington, D.C., May 4, 2007 – LAWFUEL – The Law Newswire – Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Christopher Cox today announced the SEC will partner with the Elder Law Journal of the University of Illinois College of Law and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago to present the Senior Investor Protection Symposium in Chicago on May 18.
The Symposium will feature a discussion panel including distinguished representatives from the business, law, regulatory and academic communities who have significant experience tackling the issues facing seniors as they prepare for and enjoy their retirement. The panelists will discuss how older Americans can protect themselves from investment fraud while financially preparing for the future.
“This symposium comes at an important time, as many unscrupulous individuals have targeted older Americans for investment fraud. And this problem is growing as the Baby Boomer generation retires, people are living longer, and defined benefit plans are giving way to people managing their own retirement funds,” said Chairman Cox. “At the symposium, we will discuss ways that seniors can protect their nest eggs so that they can enjoy a comfortable retirement.”
“Investor education is important for people of all ages, but older investors are often singled out as targets for micro-cap fraud, affinity fraud, identity theft, and other scams,” said SEC Commissioner Paul S. Atkins. “They need to be armed with tools that will enable them to make sound investment decisions and to ask the right questions of those helping them to invest.”
The Symposium will be held May 18, 2007 from 9:00 a.m. to noon in the Illinois Rooms of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, 230 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, Ill. The public is invited to attend, but seating is limited. If you plan to attend in person, please go to http://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/registration-form-ss and complete the online registration form or call (312) 353-0626, by May 10, 2007. Because space is limited, attendance will be limited to those who receive a confirmation letter from the SEC. On the day of the event, attendees will need to arrive early to check-in between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m., and to present a government-issued picture ID to pass through security.
The SEC will also offer a live audio and video webcast of the event on the SEC Web site, www.sec.gov.
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SENIOR INVESTOR PROTECTION SYMPOSIUM AGENDA
9:00-9:15: Opening Remarks and Introductions by
SEC Chicago Regional Director Merri Jo Gillette
9:15-11:30: Panel Discussion: Moderated by SEC Chairman Christopher Cox
Paul S. Atkins
SEC Commissioner
Professor Richard Kaplan
Peer and Sarah Pedersen Professor of Law
University of Illinois College of Law
Louise Renne
Partner, Attorney at Law
Renne Sloan Holtzman Sakai LLP
Patricia Struck
Wisconsin Securities Administrator
Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions
Elisse B. Walter
Senior Executive Vice President
Regulatory Policy & Programs
National Association of Securities Dealers
11:30-12:00: Question and Answer Period and Closing Remarks by Merri Jo Gillette
