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of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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    Consumer Outreach

    Our Investor Education and Consumer Outreach Office​ provides a variety of programs and tools to help people invest wisely and avoid fraud. Staff work with state and local government agencies, service providers, community and trade organizations, the General Assembly, the military community, schools, and other partners to help Pennsylvanians across the commonwealth make well-informed investment decisions.

     

    Our programs and presentations are FREE, non-commercial, and customizable for your audience’s needs. 

    Schedule an outreach event
    Police officer giving a presentation to a large group of senior citizens as part of our consumer outreach programs.

    Investor Education and Consumer Outreach Programs

    The Department empowers Pennsylvanians of all ages to build and protect their wealth. Through targeted education and expert resources, we help consumers make informed financial decisions while staying one step ahead of fraud.

    Contact us today at informed@pa.gov to schedule an event in your area.

    Stay one step ahead of fraudsters during this engaging, two-hour program. Tailored specifically for veterans and older adults, this event features a panel of guest speakers from across local and state agencies who offer tips on how to avoid scams and protect your assets. Sessions move quickly, blending expert advice with Fraud BINGO, a group-based game that teaches you how to recognize and report suspicious activity. Bring your family and friends to join the conversation on how to safeguard your finances.

    A series of presentations delivered in your community, customized to the audience. Topics covered include: 

    • Cybersecurity
    • Investing 101
    • Investing 201
    • Preparing for Retirement
    • Avoiding Frauds and Scams
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Banking Basics
    • Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft
    • Creating a Spending Plan
    • Avoiding Investment Fraud
    • Hiring an Investment Professional

    A fun interactive program that helps players learn to spot and avoid fraud and scams by playing a familiar game: BINGO! Players gain practical tips to protect their assets and may even win a prize!

    A series of live, in-person presentations to women’s groups, associations, and clubs by request.  These sessions provide women with the materials and resources to feel confident and prepared to manage their finances.

    Learn to recognize the subtle signs of elder financial abuse before it’s too late. Our innovative, research-backed training is designed for professionals (legal, medical, and social services) who work with high-risk clients, particularly those with cognitive decline.

    An investor education program that teaches high school and college students to pursue financial goals and financial independence through an introduction to the basics of investing, opening and maintaining investment accounts and how to avoid investment fraud. 

    Start Today and Retire Tomorrow

    Most people are not saving enough for retirement! Many are not saving anything at all! STaRT is a retirement planning program that helps you determine what your retirement goals are and how to get there. No matter where you are in the timeline for retirement, it’s never too late to start.

    We offer free and non-commercial consumer protection and investor education materials and publications at these legislative expos and community information fairs throughout the year. 

    This program is designed to address financial and investing challenges faced by members of the military, veterans and their families. Making $ense of Finance is made possible through the PA Military Finance Alliance, a multi-agency collaborative effort.