Check Before You Invest: How to Be an Educated Investor

With so much riding on financial decisions, it’s important to be an educated investor because being an educated investor can protect you from becoming a victim of financial fraud. Just as investors are different, so are investments and what may be suitable for one may not be for another. It’s important to consider your own tolerance for risk and be aware of common investment scams and misleading sales practices and tactics. Arlene Ferris-Waks, Supervising Investigator, and Theresa A. Hendricks, Investigator, for the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General’s Bureau of Securities located in Newark will discuss these topics and more at the next C.A.R.E.S. meeting at Bernardsville Public Library on Thursday, September 20 at 10:30 am.

Ms. Ferris-Waks has worked at the New Jersey Bureau of Securities since 2004. She presently supervises the Bureau's Complaints and Investor Education Outreach Units. Previously she supervised the Bureau's Broker-Dealer/Investment Adviser Examinations Unit. She has been licensed in the securities business and holds a Master's Degree in Library and Information Science from Queens College in Flushing New York. She graduated cum laude from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Before joining the Bureau, she worked for the NYSE AMEX and several brokerage firms.

Investigator Theresa A. Hendricks is has worked for the Bureau for over 20 years in multiple capacities including conducting enforcement investigations, examining broker-dealer and investment advisory firms, and reviewing issuer agent registration and exemption filings. Ms. Hendricks received her Bachelors of Science in Criminal Justice from Rutgers University and a Master's Degree in Public Administration from Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration. She is also an alumnus of Leadership Newark, a professional development program.

This program is part of the library’s CARES (Community Assistance Resource & Educational Services) series, a locally administered umbrella program that delivers informational sessions pertaining to local, county, state and federal programs. Its objective is to inform and educate local residents and support the goal of healthy, fulfilling and happy lifestyles. All CARES events will be presented by subject matter experts who will be able to answer all questions pertaining to their topics.

There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link from Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.