www.aaii.com (American Association of Individual Investors)

Features: Membership in AAII include Special Reports on investing, resources on financial planning and retirement, tax resources, mutual fund and stock resources, and resources for building and managing an investment portfolio for your own account. The AAII is a not-for-profit organization that arms investors with the knowledge and tools needed to manage their finances effectively and profitably.

www.aarp.org (American Association of Retired Persons)

Features: Find out about Financial Planning, Social Security, Wise Consumers, Frauds and Scams, Working Options, and Legislative Issues. The AARP site provides advice on a host of retirement planning issues. Look to the “Money and Work” section for a wealth of information.

www.aarp.org/money/financial_planning (American Association of Retired Persons)

Features: You need to understand how financial planners get paid so you can be sure you are getting value for what you are paying. Generally, financial planners structure their fees in one of three ways.

www.choosetosave.org/asec/ (The American Savings Education Council)

Features: Free use of the Ballpark Estimate, which is an easy-to-use, one-page worksheet that helps you quickly identify approximately how much you need to save to fund a comfortable retirement. The Ballpark Estimate takes complicated issues like projected Social Security benefits and earnings assumptions on savings, and turns them into language and mathematics that are easy to understand. ASEC's goal is to make saving and planning a vital concern of Americans and in the economic interests of employers.

www.bbb.org (Better Business Bureau)

Features: The BBB Information System allows you to check out a company before you choose to do business with them. This site is an invaluable resource for consumer information including tips on how to check out a charity and how to file a complaint. The Better Business Bureau is dedicated to fostering fair and honest relationships between businesses and consumers, instilling consumer confidence and contributing to an ethical business environment.

www.better-investing.org (National Association of Investors Corporation)

Features: NAIC offers you many unique products, services and professional support to help you become an informed investor. Most of NAIC's investment analysis forms and guides are easy to learn and use and provide you with a sound, proven method for investment analysis. The National Association of Investors Corporation (NAIC) is a non-profit, largely volunteer organization dedicated to investment education.

http://www.cednc.org/content/about+ced/10063 (Council for Entrepreneurial Development)

Features: Keep up to date on Venture News, Events Update, and other business news specific to North Carolina. The Council for Entrepreneurial Development (CED) was founded in 1984 to stimulate the creation and growth of high impact companies in the greater Research Triangle area. CED achieves its mission by providing programs and services in four major areas: education, capital formation, mentoring, and communications.

www.cfp-board.org (Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards)

Features: Check the status of a CFP Certificant; 10 Questions to Ask When Choosing a Financial Planner; What You Should Know About Financial Planning; and Your Rights as a Financial Planning Client.

www.cftc.gov (Commodity Futures Trading Commission)

Features: Customer Protection section includes information and news regarding foreign currency trading; CFTC Consumer Advisories; Enforcement Bulletins; and Enforcement Actions. Also, the Before You Trade section features information on Understanding Commodity Futures and Option Contracts. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) was created by Congress in 1974 as an independent agency with the mandate to regulate commodity futures and option markets in the United States. The agency protects market participants against manipulation, abusive trade practices and fraud.

www.ftc.gov/sentinel (Consumer Sentinel)

Features: 1) Get the facts on consumer frauds from Internet cons, prize promotions, work-at-home schemes, and telemarketing scams to identity theft; 2) report your fraud complaints so they can be shared with law enforcement officials across the U.S. and around the world; 3) learn how U.S., Canadian, and Australian law enforcers work together with private sector companies and consumer organizations to combat fraud; and 4) see trends and the types of complaints consumers file.

www.consumerfed.org (Consumer Federation of America)

Links to investor education sites are among those offered on the Consumer Federation of America’s Website. You can also download information on “Teenage Consumers: Teaching Your Children How to Save and Spend at http://www.consumerfed.org/pdfs/teachchild.pdf .

www.coordinatedreview.org (NASAA and Coordinated Review)

Features: CR-Equity provides a uniform procedure designed to coordinate the blue-sky registration process among states in which the issuer seeks to sell its equity securities. In addition to creating uniformity in review standards, the program is designed to expedite the registration process, saving the issuer time and money. Coordinated review is voluntary, and there is no additional cost for choosing to register an offering through coordinated review.  

www.debtstress.org  (Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Western North Carolina) (CCCS)

www.dol.gov/ebsa (U.S. Department of Labor: Employee Benefits Security Administration)

www.fool.com/community/resource/item_index.htm (The Motley Fool)

Features: Comprehensive Web Resources List Index for those who need to find things fast.  

www.fpanet.org  (The Financial Planning Association)

www.fraud.org (National Fraud Information Center)

Features: Provides Fraud Statistics; and Information about Telemarketing Fraud, Internet Fraud, Scams Against Businesses, Fraud Against the Elderly, Fraud Alerts and Links. The National Fraud Information Center (NFIC) is a toll-free hotline for consumers to get advice about telephone solicitations and report possible telemarketing fraud to law enforcement agencies.

www.ftc.gov(Federal Trade Commission)

Features: FTC Consumer Alerts; Business Alerts; Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act Information and Privacy Initiatives. The Federal Trade Commission enforces a variety of federal antitrust and consumer protection laws. The Commission seeks to ensure that the nation's markets function competitively, and are vigorous, efficient, and free of undue restrictions.

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/invest/inv03.pdf (Federal Trade Commission)

Features: Pre-Investment Questions: Fraud is always a possibility, even with secured, regulated investments. Before investing, ask tough questions, both of yourself and those who are soliciting your investments. If the answer to any of these questions is "no" — or if the answers are vague or complicated — the investment being pitched is suspect. 

www.iard.com (Investment Adviser Registration Depository)

Features: This Site provides investment adviser firms and representatives with a variety of information about the IARD system. The Investment Adviser Registration Depository (IARD^SM) is an electronic filing system that facilitates Investment Adviser registration, regulatory review, and the public disclosure information of Investment Adviser firms. NASD Regulation, Inc. is the developer and operator of the IARD system.

www.ici.org (Investment Company Institute)

Features: Guides to Understanding Mutual Funds; Mutual Fund Facts and Figures; and Investor Awareness Resources. The Investment Company Institute (ICI) is the national association of the American investment company industry.

www.investingonline.org (Investing Online Resource Center)

Features: Take the Quiz: Are You Ready To Be An Online Investor? Check out 1) 8 Things Every Online Investor Should Know; 2) the Investing Simulator Center; 3) the Real Cost of Daytrading and 4) Online Broker Ratings. Investing Online Resource Center (IORC) is an organization dedicated solely to serving the individual consumer who invests online or is considering doing so.

www.investing.rutgers.edu (Investing For Your Future)

Features: Investing For Your Future (IFYF) provides a home study course for beginning investors with small dollar amounts to invest at any one time.

www.investoreducation.org (Alliance for Investor Education)

Features: A comprehensive site for investor education. Investors of all ages can link to “Investing Basics” and the “Kid’s Savings Calculator” on the Alliance for Investor Education (AIE) Website. The AIE is dedicated to facilitating greater understanding of investing, investments and the financial markets among current and prospective investors of all ages.

www.investorprotection.org (Investor Protection Trust)

Features: i The primary mission of the Investor Protection Trust (IPT) is to provide independent, objective information needed by consumers to make informed investment decisions. Founded in 1993 as part of a multi-state settlement to resolve charges of misconduct, IPT serves as an independent source of non-commercial investor education materials. IPT operates programs under its own auspices and uses grant to underwrite important initiatives carried out by other organizations.

www.iosco.org (International Organization of Securities Commissions)

Features: Membership Lists provide contact information for International Securities Commissions. The Members of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) have been organized to cooperate together to promote high standards of regulation in order to maintain just, efficient and sound markets; to exchange information on their respective experiences in order to promote the development of domestic markets; to unite their efforts to establish standards and an effective surveillance of international securities transactions; to provide mutual assistance to promote the integrity of the markets by a rigorous application of the standards and by effective enforcement against offenses.

www.jumpstartcoalition.org (The Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy)

Features: Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy offers a wealth of financial education materials aimed at Grades K-12.

http://www.law.uc.edu/institutes-centers/corporate-law-center (The Center for Corporate Law at University of Cincinnati College of Law)

Features: The Securities Lawyer's Deskbook contains the full text of the basic federal securities laws and regulations, as well as the principal Securities and Exchange Commission forms under those laws and regulations. The Securities Lawyer's Deskbook is designed primarily for use by legal practitioners and scholars, securities professionals, and corporate officers.

law.utoledo.edu/index.htm (The University of Toledo, College of Law)

Features: This Web site, made possible by the Heuerman Fund, is designed to provide online access to financial regulatory agencies around the world and to relevant statutes and rules from all jurisdictions.

www.nasaa.org (North American Securities Administrators Association)

Features: Check out: 1) the Library; 2) Exams Information; 3) Legislative Affairs; 4) News and Public Affairs; 5) Broker Dealer Information; 6) Corporate Finance Information; 7) Enforcement Issues; 8) Investment Adviser Information; and 9) Investor Education. NASAA is an advocate for the 50 state securities agencies responsible for efficient capital formation and grassroots investor protection.

www.ncee.net (National Council on Economic Education)

Features: NCEE is the premier source of teacher training and materials used to instill an understanding of economic principles for grades kindergarten through twelve. The National Council on Economic Education is a unique nonprofit partnership of leaders in education, business and labor devoted to helping youngsters learn to think, to choose and to function in a changing global economy.

North Carolina General Assembly - Statutes Table of Contents (North Carolina General Assembly)

Features:  This link takes you to the North Carolina General Assembly’s website, where the text of the North Carolina Securities Act, the North Carolina Investment Advisers Act, and the North Carolina Commodities Act (chapters 78A, 78C & 78D of the North Carolina General Statutes) may be found.  Be aware that this site may not yet incorporate amendments to these statutes by recent acts of the General Assembly.  For such amendments, see the North Carolina Securities Division’s website.

www.ncgov.com (North Carolina Government Portal)

Features: Find out how North Carolina Government is serving businesses.

www.nefe.org (National Endowment for Financial Education)

Features: Check out the “High School Financial Planning Program” at this site, sponsored by the National Endowment for Financial Education.

www.nfa.futures.org (National Futures Association)

Features: Learn about the National Futures Association. Its mission is to protect the public investor by maintaining the integrity of the marketplace.

www.nw3c.org (National White Collar Crime Center)

Features: Get the resource help you need here. The National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C) provides a nationwide support network for enforcement agencies involved in the prevention, investigation, and prosecution of economic and high-tech crime.

www.piaba.org (Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association)

Features: Through this web site you can find an attorney in your area who will assist you in answering questions regarding a dispute with your brokerage firm. For tips on what you, the investor, should know before investing, visit The Investor Bill of Rights. The Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association  (PIABA) is a national bar association whose member attorneys are dedicated to the representation of investors in disputes with the securities industry.

www.publicdebt.treas.gov (United States Department of Treasury)

Features: The Department of Treasury’s website answers questions about interest rates, buying and cashing savings bonds, and taxes.

www.sba.gov (U.S. Small Business Administration)

Features: Topics include Starting a Business and Financing a Business. The U.S. Small Business Administration, established in 1953, provides financial, technical and management assistance to help Americans start, run, and grow their businesses.

www.sbtdc.org (Small Business and Technology Development Center)

Features: The Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) is a business development service of The University of North Carolina system operated in connection with the US Small Business Administration. The SBDTC provides management counseling and educational services to help North Carolina Businesses meet challenges, manage change, and plan for the future.

www.sec.gov (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission)

Features: Information for Accountants, Broker Dealers, EDGAR Filers, Funds and Advisers, Municipal Markets and Small Business. The primary mission of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is to protect investors and maintain the integrity of the securities markets.

www.sec.gov/divisions/investment/iard/iardfaq.shtml (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission)

Features: Electronic Filing for Investment Advisers on IARD: Frequently Asked Questions

www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission)

Features: Search the EDGAR database, for free. The SEC requires all public companies (except foreign companies and companies with less than $10 million in assets and 500 shareholders) to file registration statements, periodic reports, and other forms electronically through EDGAR. Here you'll find links to a complete list of filings available through EDGAR and instructions for searching the EDGAR database.

www.sec.gov/info/smallbus.shtml (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission)

Features: This page provides a shortcut to much of the information on the SEC’s website relating to small businesses.

www.sec.gov/investor/pubs/coldcall.htm (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission)

Features: It's known as “cold calling.” For many businesses, including securities firms, cold calling serves as a legitimate way to reach potential customers. But sometimes serious trouble and financial losses await you at the other end of the line. Dishonest brokers may pressure you to buy a bad investment. Or the investment might be a scam.

www.sec.gov/rules/extra/ia1940.htm (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission)

Features: Text of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

www.sec.gov/rules/extra/iarules.htm (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission)

Features: Rules under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

www.sifma.org (Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association)

Features: Find out what the Key Issues are in the Securities Industry; Locate Conferences and Upcoming Events; or Tour through the Publications. The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association brings together the shared interests of nearly 700 securities firms to accomplish common goals.

www.ssa.gov (Social Security Administration)

Features: Visit the Social Security Administration’s Website for “Youth Link” at http://www.ssa.gov/kids/. You can also request a Personal Earnings and Benefits Estimate Statement to find out what your Social Security benefits will be.

www.ic3.gov (Internet Crime Complaint Center)

Features: For victims of Internet fraud, IFCC provides a convenient and easy-to-use reporting mechanism that alerts authorities of a suspected criminal or civil violation. The Internet Fraud Complaint Center (IFCC) is a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C). IFCC's mission is to address fraud committed over the Internet.