What's wrong in this picture.   Mr. Investor met with Mr. Registered Rep to discuss his portfolio.  At the meeting, Mr. Investor showed Mr. Registered Rep an advertisement he'd received from another securities professional, indicating that he'd receive a 50% return on his investment.  The bottom of the advertisement included the designation “Senior Specialist,” a title that confused Mr. Investor.

• Banning securities professionals from using marketing materials to target particular age groups - e.g., referring to an event as a “senior seminar” or a “senior meeting.”
• Providing an online brochure with detailed instructions accessible to all employees describing the approval process required for seminars, investor appreciation events, continuing education seminars, outside speaking events, booths/exhibits, and business building/networking events.
• Providing a library of pre-approved materials that were reviewed and approved by supervisory and compliance personnel.
• Using a web-based training module for securities professionals - a reference when they're creating materials for senior-oriented events.
• Performing a minimum number of unannounced compliance visits to seminars on a yearly basis.
• Instituting a “mystery shopper” program where a compliance professional attends seminars unannounced to verify that securities professionals are conducting seminars in accordance with firm policies and procedures.

• Reviewing the training materials used by entities or organizations that confer a designation to ensure that predatory sales techniques are not included as part of the training.
• Verifying the appropriate use of designations during field office inspections by reviewing securities professionals’ business cards.
• Maintaining lists of approved and prohibited designations.
• Banning the use of any designation that includes the word “Senior” to help ensure that investors are not confused.
• Permitting the use of designations only if accredited by a national accreditation organization.