Asking the right questions can help you make an informed decision. When determining whether an investment opportunity is right for you, it’s smart to ask:
- Is the person offering me this investment registered? What about his/her company?
- Is there any enforcement history with this company or individual?
- What other questions should I be asking before I invest?
The links below will help you do some quick research to help answer these investing questions.
| Check Registration Find out if an individual or company offering you an investment is registered. |
| Check Enforcement History
Look up current or previous enforcement proceedings to see if there is any disciplinary history for an individual or company offering you an investment. |
View more ASC videos on our albertasecurities YouTube channel.
Ask the right questions, Click on each question to learn more
How do I check out an investment
How much should I invest to achieve my goals?
Is this investment too good to be true?
When it comes to investing, the old adage is usually true: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. ASC can help you spot the red flags that signal an unsafe investment, and point you to some resources to help you make solid investment decisions. Take a look below.
Hear how Russ' suspicions about a 'get-rich-quick' investment led him to call ASC for more information, and saved his financial future. (1:54 min)
Helpful Resources:
Protecting Your Money (PDF)
Red Flags of Investment Fraud (PDF)
Avoiding frauds and scams (PDF)
When is the best time to invest?
Like so many things in life, the answers to this question are different for everyone. Talking about 'timing' means more than whether you should invest now or later – you should also consider which stage of life you're in, what's happening in the economy right now, the time of year you're thinking of investing, and the time it will take to reach your goal. We can provide a wealth of resources to help you find the answers for yourself, so that when you do invest, the time is right for you.
When a caller offering a potential investment opportunity started to turn on the pressure, Lynn began to question their motives. Find out why this popular tactic raised some red flags. (1:20 min)
Helpful Resources:
Budget Worksheet (PDF)
Investing Basics: Getting Started
(PDF)
Questions to Ask When Choosing
an Adviser (PDF)
Whose advice should I take about investing?
When you're thinking about investing, it can seem like everyone is full of advice. The question is, how do you know if it's any good? The Alberta Securities Commission can help you find the answers you need. Take a look at the fact sheets and resources below, and find out what you need to learn before you hand over your money.
Russ had a feeling something wasn't right about an investment opportunity, so he called ASC for more information. Learn how we helped him ask the right questions. (1:23 min)
Helpful Resources:
Choosing a Financial Adviser (PDF)
Start with the Basics (PDF)
Working with a Financial Adviser
(PDF)
Investor Charter of Rights (PDF)
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