This resource published by the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) and the Investor Protection Trust (IPT) discusses important topics, including scams that target the military, that you need to consider. Some of the major topics featured:

Basic Training-Saving and Investing

Balancing Risk and Return

The Rules of Engagement

Retirement Planning

Where You Invest 

Avoiding Inappropriate Investments

  Red Flags-Scams that Target the Military

View the Salute To Smart Investing publication to learn about how you can gain financial readiness.

Personal Finance Guide for Military Families

Since military service members  tend to move around more than the typical Americans,  they often face financial challenges.  This resource discusses important topics service members need to consider and the financial resources available to make the transition to deployment or a return to civilian life as smooth as possible.

Topics include:

• Investing in Your Future:  Make the Most of Special Saving Plans and New Rules
• Your Military Benefits: Discover All the Advantages and Protections to Which You're Entitled
• Before and After Deployment: Take Smart Steps to Protect Your Family and Your Finances
• Buying and Selling a Home: Benefit from Special Perks and Resources to Ease Military Moves
• Financial Fraud Watch: Protect Yourself from Scams that Target Service members
• Leaving the Military: Plan a Smooth Transition to Civilian Life with this Checklist
• Financial Resources for Military Families

According to the FINRA Foundation, the difference between a painful move and a positive one often depends on your family’s level of financial and mental readiness. When duty calls, take the following steps to protect your family and your finances.  This resource discusses financial resources available to you as a service member in the U.S. military. Topics include:

When Duty Calls

Save, Save Save

During the Move

After the Move

Helpful Resources

View the FINRA Military Moving Guide here.

Visit the Military Saves Resource Center to find helpful info on saving and investing:  https://militarysaves.org/resource-center/

The evil of "affinity fraud" is that normally savvy or even suspicious people let their guard down when offered an investment by a member of a group to which they belong and with whom they have a common background and interest — whether ethnic, religious, professional, or the military. Your checkbook is simply more likely to open when the approach is made by a member of your own group or when you hear other members of the group are investing.

Unfortunately, con artists and unscrupulous investment promoters often tout a legitimate or fabricated military affiliation to gain your trust. Before you consider investing, arm yourself with some fraud prevention tips:

Beware of testimonials from other group members. Scam artists frequently pay out high returns to early investors using money from later investors.

Do your homework by getting a prospectus or some form of written information that details the risks in the investment and procedures to get your money out.

Get professional advice from an objective third party not in your group - accountant, attorney, or fee only financial planner - to evaluate the investment.

Contact the base community service office for assistance in learning more about the investment promoter and product.

Read more about how to stop affinity fraud in your military community and a military guide provided the the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Don’t Make Investment Decisions Based Solely on Celebrity Endorsements

A knowledgeable investor is the best defense against investment fraud. If you're investing outside of the government-sponsored investment options, don't hand over your money until you have completed the "Four C's":

• Consider your options, including suitability and risk.
• Compare it to other investments.
• Consult with an objective, third party on base, someone who is knowledgeable about finance.
• Call or email the Securities Division's Investigator on Duty to verify license status of the investment salesperson, product and company.

Read more about financial readiness and the basics of saving and investing. Also, check out some financial self-defense guidelines to protect your nest egg.

Most importantly, contact the Securities Division's Investigator on Duty to ask and check before you invest.