Money Counts

Each year many of us resolve to save more money, pay off debt and organize our finances. Unfortunately, as a result of recent investment scandals and fluctuations in the stock market, deciding how to manage our money has become increasingly difficult. As the chief regulator of Georgia’s investment industry, the Secretary of State has created a statewide investor education, awareness and financial literacy program to help Georgians learn how to grow and protect their hard-earned money. The Secretary of State is joining with other public officials, law enforcement officers, and community organizations to hold free investor education seminars across the state. Between January 2004 and February 2005, Money Counts seminars were held in Albany, Atlanta, Augusta, Athens, College Park, Columbus, Dublin, Fort Stewart, Macon, Perry, Rome, Savannah and Tifton.

The Secretary of State’s Office will host a series of eleven more Money Counts Investor Education Seminars in Georgia in 2005 and 2006. The seminars are a continuation of the 2004 program which included 13 well-attended events.

The seminars, designed to provide Georgians with the tools they need to make wise financial decisions and protect themselves from investment fraud, will be held in Americus, Brunswick, Douglas, Griffin, LaGrange, Milledgeville, Statesboro, Thomasville, Valdosta, Vidalia and Waycross between April 2005 and February 2006.

The free seminars are open to the public and will cover topics of interest for all Georgians from beginners to sophisticated investors. Attendees will have the opportunity to choose from a variety of discussion topics including retirement planning, investment fraud, credit management, investing basics and more.

“Investor education and awareness is critical in today’s global financial environment as trends in employee retirement plans shift greater responsibility to employees,” said Secretary of State Cox. “Many Georgians don’t consider themselves investors even though they contribute to their employer sponsored 401(K), 457, 403(B) or other investment plan. The goal of this investor education initiative is to help consumers become more comfortable with their role in planning for their future and protecting their hard-earned money from fraud,” she added.

To reserve a seat for any of the seminars, call 1-888-265-1115 or click on “Register for our next seminar” below. A light dinner will be provided. Statewide co-hosts of the seminars include AARP Georgia, Darton College, Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, Georgia Consortium for Personal Financial Literacy, Georgia Student Finance Commission and the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service.

To learn more about planning your financial future and protecting your hard-earned money from fraud and scams, plan to attend one of these important seminars and take advantage of the valuable resources on this Web site.