Facts on Saving and Investing Campaign Investor Education Seminar Program

What It Is
One educational activity that you may want to plan during the Facts on Saving and Investing Campaign week is a seminar program. Some states are planning seminars as part of the National Investors' Town Meeting, some might plan seminars on another day or half day. The SEC's Town Meeting Manual has detailed information about planning a seminar program. If you have questions, please call Katherine Philipp, Investor Education Specialist at SEC.

How It Works
The SEC recruits members of its steering committee to present seminars as part of the Investors' Town Meeting program. Guidelines must be followed. No commercials or prospecting are allowed. The public deeply appreciates non-commercial exhibits and seminars where they know they can get unbiased information. The script of each seminar is cleared through SEC in advance. No one can promote a specific product, firm, or service. A written document, "Ground Rules for Presenters," in the Town Meeting Manual assures that everyone knows the rules

Seminars generally run concurrently for 45-50 minutes so investors can choose the ones that best suit their needs. Be sure to allow a break of approximately 15 minutes between the seminars.

Try to choose a variety of topics to accommodate different interests and levels of experience. Identify which seminars are for novice investors, and which are for more experienced investors. Don't have topics that are too broad in scope for the short time available. Investors will find it easier to select a seminar if you don't give more than four choices in the same time slot. You could repeat the same four topics in the second time slot, have four new topics, or a combination. Your steering committee can suggest topics.

Use an evaluation form to get feedback from the audience. The best forms have a check list plus one or two open-ended questions.

What You Need To Do

• Reserve Rooms
• Recruit Presenters
• Promote Your Seminar Schedule
• Let SEC Know Your Plans

Contact: Katherine Philipp, Investor Education Specialist
Office of Investor Education and Assistance

Address: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
450 5th Street, N.W., Mail Stop 11-2
Washington, DC 20549

Telephone: (202) 942-7040
Facsimile: (202) 942-9634
Email: philippk@sec.gov