Don't be an April Financial Fool!
Dolores Kong
04/01/04

In honor of April Fool's Day, here are a few "Do's"
and "Don't's" to avoid becoming a financial fool.

DO research a financial professional and any
licensing or regulatory requirements at such web
pages as www.nasdr.com/2000.asp,
www.sec.gov/investor/brokers.htm, and
www.state.ma.us/sec/sct/sctlic/licidx.htm.

DON’T fall for the "Dirty Dozen Scams" that the
Internal Revenue Service warns about every year,
including a few new ones added to the list in 2004,
like abusive trusts
(www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=120803,00.html).

DO seek out second and even third opinions, and ask
for recommendations before you spend your
hard-earned money to invest or buy a product or a
service.

DON’T fall for infomercials and other marketing
pitches that sound too good to be true, because they
probably aren't.