Kansas Securities Commissioner, Aaron Jack
The late William F. Buckley, Jr. once described entertainer Groucho Marx as “the sovereign comedian of the Age.”  That’s a considerable compliment and likely an accurate one for those of you that remember Mr. Marx’s witticism.  One of Groucho’s famous quips goes, “Life is all about honesty and fair dealing.  If you can fake that you’ve got it made!”

Unfortunately for Kansas investors, there are people out there who take that quote literally and often do try to fake honesty and fair dealing, especially in the midst of a securities offering or transaction.  Such unethical and illegal behavior can result in significant stress and financial hardship to innocent victims, hence the relevance of the Kansas Securities Commission (KSC).

I look forward to being a frequent contributor to this publication and since you may not have much experience with the KSC, I want my first submission to introduce you to both this office and me.  As the Kansas Securities Commissioner I am entrusted with the responsibility to enforce the Kansas Uniform Securities Act, the Uniform Land Sales Practices Act and the Loan Brokers Act.

Our mission is to protect and inform Kansas investors, to promote integrity and full disclosure in financial services, and to foster capital formation.  We fulfill our statute by providing help with registrations, conducting vigorous compliance exams and enforcement investigations, issuing sanctions via administrative, civil, or criminal, as well as supporting a comprehensive investor education program.

The investor education program will be the focus of this enduring column.  I will endeavor to provide you with interesting and timely information directly related to financial literacy and personal finance.

Prior to being appointed as Kansas Securities Commissioner, I spent 12 years in the financial services industry working for several Fortune 500 financial companies.  During that span, I focused all of my efforts on helping financial advisors create wealth for their clients.

Feel free to email me or give me a call at 800-232-9580 if you ever have securities related questions.