We're a not-for-profit resource dedicated to your financial health.
NFL Player Engagement has partnered with the FINRA Investor Education Foundation to help players spot and avoid investment fraud and make informed financial decisions.
Before You Give Someone Your Money, Ask and Check
Legitimate investment professionals—including registered financial professionals, investment advisers and insurance agents—must be licensed with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or your state securities or insurance regulator before they can sell you anything.
Many financial scams involve unlicensed individuals selling unregistered investments—ranging from stocks, bonds, and oil or gas deals to fictitious instruments, such as prime bank investments. That's why it is particularly important to "Ask and Check" about investments and investment professionals before you invest. Regardless of your trust or ties, or prior dealings with the professional, do your homework.
If someone contacts you about an investment—even if it is a friend or salesperson recommended by someone you trust and respect—it's important to ask the right questions and check them out by following these steps.
Check Out the Seller
Ask: Are you licensed to sell me this? If so, with whom?
Check: Even if they say they are licensed, check out their license and background.
Research the background and experience of financial brokers, advisers, and firms with BrokerCheck® by FINRA. BrokerCheck should be the first resource you turn to when choosing whether to start or continue doing business with a particular individual or firm. NFL players should also call NFL Security (800) 635-1099.
Check Out the Investment
Ask: Is this investment registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)?
Check: If you are told it is, verify that the investment is indeed registered with the SEC.
Many, but not all, securities offerings must be registered with the SEC. The SEC provides exemptions for certain types of offerings and it’s important to understand whether or not an exemption truly exists. Visit FINRA's website for more details on what to check. Contact the SEC's Office of Investor Education and Advocacy at (800) SEC-0330 with questions.
Spot and Avoid Fraud
Learn how fraud happens, who's at risk and the common red flags so you can better protect your money. We're all at risk of falling victim to fraud, but you can take steps to protect yourself and your family. Download this brochure to learn how fraudsters operate and where to report suspicious sales pitches and actual scams.
While there's no clear way to know if the investment you've been offered is too good to be true, our Scam Meter will help you tell if it might be a scam.
Use our Risk Meter to see whether you share characteristics and behavior traits that have been shown to make some investors vulnerable to investment fraud.
About the FINRA Foundation and NFL Partnership
The FINRA Investor Education Foundation helps Americans build financial stability, invest for life goals, and guard against financial fraud and exploitation. FINRA is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to investor protection and market integrity. It regulates one critical part of the securities industry—brokerage firms doing business with the public in the United States. FINRA and the FINRA Investor Education Foundation do not sell investment products, promote products or firms, or offer specific investment advice. The FINRA Foundation, NFL Player Engagement, and NFL Security have joined forces to give you and your family information and tools to make smart investing decisions and to spot and avoid fraud.
NFL Player Engagement prepares and supports players mentally, emotionally and physically for life on the gridiron and during their transition to post-football careers. Through programming like NFL Prep, NFL Life and NFL Next, the NFL Player Engagement department assists players in adjusting to life within the NFL, while challenging them to prepare for their next careers after their football-playing days are through.
