PUBLIC COMPANY ACCOUNTING OVERSIGHT BOARD (PCAOB)

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (also known as the PCAOB) is a private-sector, nonprofit corporation created by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 to oversee accounting professionals who provide independent audit reports for publicly traded companies. The PCAOB’s responsibilities include: registering public accounting firms; establishing audit, quality control, ethics, independence, and other standards relating to audits of… Continue reading PUBLIC COMPANY ACCOUNTING OVERSIGHT BOARD (PCAOB)

PUBLIC COMPANY

A company that offers its securities through an offering and now has those securities traded on the open market.

PROXY VOTING

A way for shareholders to vote for corporate directors and on other matters affecting the company without having to personally attend the meeting.

PROXY STATEMENTS: HOW TO FIND

A company is required to file its proxy statements with the SEC no later than the date proxy materials are first sent or given to shareholders. You can see this filing by using the SEC’s database, known as EDGAR.  Enter the company’s name here and select the appropriate company to view its SEC filings. To view the most recent proxy… Continue reading PROXY STATEMENTS: HOW TO FIND

PROXY STATEMENTS

A document sent to shareholders letting them know when and where a shareholders’ meeting is taking place and detailing the matters to be voted upon at the meeting.  You can attend the meeting and vote in person or cast a proxy vote.  Learn more.

PROVING SECURITIES OWNERSHIP

Proving securities ownership is easier if you can remember how the security was acquired. Brokerage Firm If you bought the security through a brokerage firm, contact the firm and ask if they have a record of your ownership.  Brokerage firms are required to keep records for only six years.  Copies of confirmations are only required… Continue reading PROVING SECURITIES OWNERSHIP

PROSPECTUS

A document that describes the mutual fund to prospective investors. Every mutual fund provides a prospectus with information about the mutual fund’s investment objectives, risks, past performance, and expenses. You can get a prospectus from the mutual fund company’s website or by mail. A broker or other financial professional also can provide you with a… Continue reading PROSPECTUS

PROMISSORY NOTES

Promissory notes are a form of debt that companies sometimes use to raise money. They typically involve investors loaning money to a company in exchange for a fixed amount of periodic income. Although promissory notes can be appropriate investments for many individuals, some fraudsters use promissory notes to defraud investors, especially the elderly.