Archive for Financial

Stifel Financial Reports First Quarter 2012 Financial Results

ST. LOUIS, MO, May 09, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) –
Stifel Financial Corp.

/quotes/zigman/242086/quotes/nls/sf SF
-1.31%


Highlights for the three months ended March 31, 2012:

— Net revenues of $400.3 million.
— Net income of $34.8 million, or $0.55 per diluted share.
— Stockholders’ equity totaled $1.34 billion and book value per share
was $25.07.

Stifel Financial Corp.

/quotes/zigman/242086/quotes/nls/sf SF
-1.31%



today reported net income of $34.8
million, or $0.55 per diluted share, on net revenues of $400.3
million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, compared with net
income of $31.4 million, or $0.50 per diluted share, on net revenues
of $366.6 million for the first quarter of 2011. The company reported
net income of $27.0 million, or $0.43 per diluted share, on net
revenues of $356.9 million for the three months ended December 31,
2011.

"The first quarter of 2012 proved to be our second best quarter in
terms of net revenues, net income and diluted EPS. The overall
improvement in the economy positively impacted both our Global Wealth
Management and Institutional Group's businesses during the quarter,
particularly in investment banking and fixed income trading. During
the quarter, we continued to expand our retail platform as a result
of successful recruiting of financial advisors," commented Ronald J.
Kruszewski, Chairman, President and CEO of Stifel Financial.
"Increased levels of activity can be attributed to strong performance
of the equity markets, improving investor sentiment, lower
volatility, and increased risk taking as evidenced by improved
pricing and performance for new offerings. However, outside of a
major event or catalyst to move the markets, we remain cautious on
the outlook for the remainder of the year. That said, we continue to
believe we are well positioned to gain market share from the
dislocation in the marketplace and changing regulatory requirements."

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Summary Results of Operations (Unaudited)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three Months Ended
-----------------------------------------------
(in 000s) 3/31/12 3/31/11 % Change 12/31/11 % Change
--------- --------- -------- --------- --------
Net revenues $ 400,333 $ 366,613 9.2 $ 356,878 12.2
Net income $ 34,773 $ 31,398 10.7 $ 27,016 28.7
Earnings per share:
Basic $ 0.65 $ 0.60 8.3 $ 0.52 25.0
Diluted $ 0.55 $ 0.50 10.0 $ 0.43 27.9
Weighted average number of common shares
outstanding:
Basic 53,243 52,534 1.3 51,849 2.7
Diluted 62,669 63,179 (0.8) 62,695 --

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Business Segment Results

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Summary Segment Results (Unaudited)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three Months Ended
-----------------------------------------------
(in 000s) 3/31/12 3/31/11 % Change 12/31/11 % Change
--------- --------- -------- --------- --------
Net revenues:
Global Wealth Management $ 248,348 $ 238,446 4.2 $ 224,569 10.6
Institutional Group 148,504 126,994 16.9 134,229 10.6
Other 3,481 1,173 196.8 (1,920) 281.3
--------- --------- -------- --------- --------
$ 400,333 $ 366,613 9.2 $ 356,878 12.2
--------- --------- -------- --------- --------
Operating contribution:
Global Wealth Management $ 69,178 $ 61,472 12.5 $ 62,872 10.0
Institutional Group 23,704 21,393 10.8 10,773 120.0
Other (33,628) (32,181) 4.5 (28,619) 17.5
--------- --------- -------- --------- --------
$ 59,254 $ 50,684 16.9 $ 45,026 31.6
--------- --------- -------- --------- --------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Global Wealth Management

For the quarter ended March 31, 2012, the Global Wealth Management
("GWM") segment generated pre-tax operating income of $69.2 million,
compared with $61.5 million in the first quarter of 2011 and $62.9
million in the fourth quarter of 2011. Net revenues for the quarter
were $248.3 million, compared with $238.4 million in the first
quarter of 2011, and $224.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2011.
The increase in net revenues from the first quarter of 2011 is
primarily attributable to an increase in net interest revenues and
investment banking revenues, as well as asset management and service
fees and principal transactions revenues, offset by a decrease in
commissions. The increase in net revenues from the fourth quarter of
2011 was primarily attributable to an increase in commissions and
principal transactions revenues, investment banking revenues and
asset management and service fees.

-- The Private Client Group reported record net revenues of $232.3
million, a 1% increase compared with the first quarter of 2011 and a
13% increase compared with the fourth quarter of 2011.
-- Stifel Bank reported net revenues of $16.0 million, an 80% increase
compared with the first quarter of 2011 and an 18% decrease compared
with the fourth quarter of 2011.

Institutional Group

For the quarter ended March 31, 2012, the Institutional Group segment
generated pre-tax operating income of $23.7 million, compared with
$21.4 million in the first quarter of 2011 and $10.8 million in the
fourth quarter of 2011. Net revenues for the quarter were $148.5
million, compared with $127.0 million in the first quarter of 2011
and $134.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2011. The increase in net
revenues from the first quarter of 2011 was primarily attributable to
an increase in capital raising and advisory fees, and an increase in
fixed income institutional brokerage revenues, offset by a decrease
in equity institutional brokerage revenues. The increase in net
revenues from the fourth quarter of 2011 was primarily attributable
to an increase in equity capital raising and equity and fixed income
institutional brokerage revenues, offset by a decline in equity
advisory fees.

Institutional brokerage revenues were $89.5 million, a 1% decrease
compared with the first quarter of 2011 and an 11% increase compared
with the fourth quarter of 2011.

-- Equity brokerage revenues were $44.2 million, a 16% decrease compared
with the first quarter of 2011 and a 9% increase compared with the
fourth quarter of 2011.
-- Fixed income brokerage revenues were $45.3 million, an 18% increase
compared with the first quarter of 2011 and a 14% increase compared
with the fourth quarter of 2011.

Investment banking revenues were $58.0 million, a 65% increase compared
with the first quarter of 2011 and an 11% increase compared with the
fourth quarter of 2011.

-- Equity capital raising revenues were $31.6 million, a 37% increase
compared with the first quarter of 2011 and a 212% increase compared
with the fourth quarter of 2011.
-- Fixed income capital raising revenues were $10.8 million, a 256%
increase compared with the first quarter of 2011 and an 18% decrease
compared with the fourth quarter of 2011.
-- Advisory fee revenues were $15.6 million, a 72% increase compared with
the first quarter of 2011, and a 46% decrease compared with the fourth
quarter of 2011.

Consolidated Compensation and Benefits Expenses

For the quarter ended March 31, 2012, compensation and benefits
expenses were $254.7 million, compared with $231.2 million in the
first quarter of 2011 and $228.7 million in the fourth quarter of
2011.

Compensation and benefits as a percentage of net revenues was 64% in
the first quarter of 2012 compared with 63% in the first quarter of
2011 and 64% in the fourth quarter of 2011. Transition pay, which
primarily consists of amortization of upfront notes, signing bonuses
and retention awards, as a percentage of net revenues was 5% in the
first quarter of 2012, consistent with the first and fourth quarters
of 2011.

Consolidated Non-Compensation Operating Expenses

For the quarter ended March 31, 2012, non-compensation operating
expenses were $86.4 million, compared with $84.8 million in the first
quarter of 2011 and $83.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Non-compensation operating expenses as a percentage of net revenues
for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 was 22% compared with 23% in the
first quarter of 2011 and 23% in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Provision for Income Taxes

The effective income tax rate for the quarter ended March 31, 2012
was 41% compared with 38% in the first quarter of 2011 and 40% in the
fourth quarter of 2011.

Statement of Financial Condition (Unaudited)

Total assets increased 21% to $5.5 billion as of March 31, 2012 from
$4.5 billion as of March 31, 2011. The increase is primarily
attributable to the growth of the company's bank subsidiary, which as
of March 31, 2012 had grown its assets to $2.6 billion from $1.8
billion as of March 31, 2011. As of March 31, 2012, Stifel Bank's
investment portfolio of $1.7 billion has increased 34% from March 31,
2011, with more than 99% of the investment portfolio comprised of
investment grade securities, of which more than 67% were
Government-Sponsored Enterprise guaranteed MBS or AAA-rated
investments. The company's broker-dealer subsidiary's gross assets
and liabilities, including trading inventory, stock loan/borrow,
receivables and payables from/to brokers, dealers and clearing
organizations and clients, fluctuate with business levels and overall
market conditions.

Total stockholders' equity as of March 31, 2012 increased $55.9
million, or 4%, to $1.34 billion from $1.29 billion as of March 31,
2011. Book value per share was $25.07 as of March 31, 2012 compared
to $24.32 as of March 31, 2011.

As of March 31, 2012, the company reported total securities owned and
investments at fair value of $2.2 billion, which included securities
categorized as Level 3 of $227.0 million. The company's Level 3
assets included auction rate securities and private equity and other
fixed income securities with fair values of $170.3 million and $56.7
million, respectively, as of March 31, 2012.

Conference Call Information

Stifel Financial Corp. will host its first quarter 2012 financial
results conference call on Wednesday, May 9, 2012, at 5:00 p.m.
Eastern time. The conference call may include forward-looking
statements.

All interested parties are invited to listen to the company's
Chairman, President, and CEO, Ronald J. Kruszewski, by dialing (800)
651-2240 and referencing conference ID #74559190. A live audio
webcast of the call, as well as a presentation highlighting the
company's results, will be available through the company's web site,

www.stifel.com . For those who cannot listen to the live broadcast, a
replay of the broadcast will be available through the
above-referenced web site beginning approximately one hour following
the completion of the call.

Company Information

Stifel Financial Corp.

/quotes/zigman/242086/quotes/nls/sf SF
-1.31%



is a financial services holding
company headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri that conducts its
banking, securities, and financial services business through several
wholly owned subsidiaries. Stifel clients are served through Stifel,
Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated in the U.S., through Stifel Nicolaus
Canada Inc. in Canada, and through Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited in
the United Kingdom and Europe. The company's broker-dealer affiliates
provide securities brokerage, investment banking, trading, investment
advisory, and related financial services to individual investors,
professional money managers, businesses, and municipalities. Stifel
Bank & Trust offers a full range of consumer and commercial lending
solutions. Stifel Trust Company, N.A. offers trust and related
services. To learn more about Stifel Financial, please visit the
company's web site at
www.stifel.com .

Forward-Looking Statements

This earnings release contains certain statements that may be deemed
to be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A
of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934. All statements in this earnings release not
dealing with historical results are forward-looking and are based on
various assumptions. The forward-looking statements in this earnings
release are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or
implied by the statements. Factors that may cause actual results to
differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking
statements include, among other things, the following possibilities:
the ability to successfully integrate acquired companies or the
branch offices and financial advisors; a material adverse change in
financial condition; the risk of borrower, depositor, and other
customer attrition; a change in general business and economic
conditions; changes in the interest rate environment, deposit flows,
loan demand, real estate values, and competition; changes in
accounting principles, policies, or guidelines; changes in
legislation and regulation; other economic, competitive,
governmental, regulatory, geopolitical, and technological factors
affecting the companies' operations, pricing, and services; and other
risk factors referred to from time to time in filings made by Stifel
Financial Corp. with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Forward-looking statements speak only as to the date they are made.
Stifel Financial Corp. disclaims any intent or obligation to update
forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that
occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary Results of Operations (Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(in 000s) 3/31/12 3/31/11 % Change 12/31/11 % Change
--------- --------- -------- --------- --------
Revenues:
Commissions $ 123,303 $ 155,786 (20.9) $ 123,737 (0.4)
Principal transactions 116,233 92,859 25.2 93,963 23.7
Investment banking 70,438 41,418 70.1 56,075 25.6
Asset management and
service fees 60,818 57,680 5.4 55,920 8.8
Other income 13,294 6,256 112.3 8,379 58.7
--------- --------- -------- --------- --------
Operating revenues 384,086 353,999 8.5 338,074 13.6
Interest revenue 25,257 18,856 33.9 25,220 0.1
--------- --------- -------- --------- --------
Total revenues 409,343 372,855 9.8 363,294 12.7
Interest expense 9,010 6,242 44.3 6,416 40.4
--------- --------- -------- --------- --------
Net revenues 400,333 366,613 9.2 356,878 12.2
--------- --------- -------- --------- --------

Non-interest expenses:
Compensation and benefits 254,704 231,166 10.2 228,743 11.3
Occupancy and equipment
rental 30,791 29,325 5.0 31,967 (3.7)
Communication and office
supplies 20,373 18,845 8.1 19,391 5.1
Commission and floor
brokerage 7,612 6,649 14.5 6,097 24.8
Other operating expenses 27,599 29,944 (7.8) 25,654 7.6
--------- --------- -------- --------- --------
Total non-interest
expenses 341,079 315,929 8.0 311,852 9.4

Income before income taxes 59,254 50,684 16.9 45,026 31.6
Provision for income
taxes 24,481 19,286 26.9 18,010 35.9
--------- --------- -------- --------- --------
Net income $ 34,773 $ 31,398 10.7 $ 27,016 28.7
========= ========= ======== ========= ========

Earnings per share:
Basic 0.65 0.60 8.3 0.52 25.0
Diluted 0.55 0.50 10.0 0.43 27.9

Weighted average number of common
shares outstanding:
Basic 53,243 52,534 1.3 51,849 2.7
Diluted 62,669 63,179 (0.8) 62,695 --
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(in thousands, except per share data, employee and location amounts)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Key statistical
information: 3/31/12 3/31/11 % Change 12/31/11 % Change
------------ ------------ -------- ------------ --------
Book value per
share $ 25.07 $ 24.32 3.1 $ 25.10 (0.1)
Financial
advisors (1) 2,013 1,947 3.4 1,987 1.3
Full-time
associates 5,135 4,916 4.5 5,097 0.7
Locations 326 311 4.8 320 1.9
Total client
assets 127,192,000 115,284,000 10.3 119,362,000 6.6
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

(1) Includes 155, 160 and 154 independent contractors at March 31,
2012 and 2011 and December 31, 2011, respectively.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Global Wealth Management Segment
Summary Results of Operations (Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(in 000s) 3/31/12 3/31/11 % Change 12/31/11 % Change
---------- ---------- --------- ---------- ---------
Revenues:
Commissions $ 91,023 $ 101,762 (10.6) $ 83,662 8.8
Principal
transactions 59,045 56,163 5.1 53,700 10.0
Asset management and
service fees 60,586 57,530 5.3 55,691 8.8
Net interest 17,647 11,169 58.0 17,602 0.3
Investment banking 12,470 6,312 97.6 4,015 210.6
Other income 7,577 5,510 37.5 9,899 (23.5)
---------- ---------- --------- ---------- ---------
Net revenues 248,348 238,446 4.2 224,569 10.6
---------- ---------- --------- ---------- ---------
Non-interest expenses:
Compensation and
benefits 143,757 142,586 0.8 125,053 15.0
Non-compensation
operating expenses 35,413 34,388 3.0 36,644 (3.4)
---------- ---------- --------- ---------- ---------
Total non-interest
expenses 179,170 176,974 1.2 161,697 10.8
---------- ---------- --------- ---------- ---------
Income before income
taxes $ 69,178 $ 61,472 12.5 $ 62,872 10.0
========== ========== ========= ========== =========

As a percentage of net
revenues:
Compensation and
benefits 57.9% 59.8% 55.7%
Non-compensation
operating expenses 14.2% 14.4% 16.3%
Income before income
taxes 27.9% 25.8% 28.0%

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Stifel Bank & Trust (Unaudited)
Key Statistical Information
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(in 000s, except
percentages) 3/31/12 3/31/11 % Change 12/31/11 % Change
---------- ---------- --------- ---------- ---------
Other information:
Assets $2,611,828 $1,787,531 46.1 $2,275,729 14.8
Investment
securities 1,673,866 1,253,953 33.5 1,403,522 19.3
Retained loans, net 657,081 396,244 65.8 631,173 4.1
Loans held for sale 141,136 30,866 357.3 131,754 7.1
Deposits 2,357,912 1,625,890 45.0 2,071,738 13.8

Allowance as a
percentage of loans 0.87% 0.63% 0.83%
Non-performing
assets as a
percentage of total
assets 0.11% 0.12% 0.14%

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Institutional Group Segment
Summary Results of Operations (Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(in 000s) 3/31/12 3/31/11 % Change 12/31/11 % Change
---------- ---------- --------- ---------- ---------
Revenues:
Commissions $ 32,280 $ 54,025 (40.2) $ 40,076 (19.5)
Principal
transactions 57,188 36,696 55.8 40,263 42.0

Capital raising 42,363 26,046 62.6 23,331 81.6
Advisory fees 15,605 9,060 72.2 28,728 (45.7)
---------- ---------- --------- ---------- ---------
Investment banking 57,968 35,106 65.1 52,059 11.4
Other income (2) 1,068 1,167 (8.5) 1,831 (41.7)
---------- ---------- --------- ---------- ---------
Net revenues 148,504 126,994 16.9 134,229 10.6
---------- ---------- --------- ---------- ---------
Non-interest expenses:
Compensation and
benefits 94,024 77,187 21.8 89,497 5.1
Non-compensation
operating expenses 30,776 28,414 8.3 33,959 (9.4)
---------- ---------- --------- ---------- ---------
Total non-interest
expenses 124,800 105,601 18.2 123,456 1.1
---------- ---------- --------- ---------- ---------
Income before income
taxes $ 23,704 $ 21,393 10.8 $ 10,773 120.0
========== ========== ========= ========== =========

As a percentage of net
revenues:
Compensation and
benefits 63.3% 60.8% 66.7%
Non-compensation
operating expenses 20.7% 22.4% 25.3%
Income before income
taxes 16.0% 16.8% 8.0%
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Institutional Group Segment
Institutional Brokerage and Investment Banking Revenues (Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(in 000s) 3/31/12 3/31/11 % Change 12/31/11 % Change
---------- ---------- --------- ---------- ---------
Institutional
brokerage:
Equity $ 44,172 $ 52,398 (15.7) $ 40,598 8.8
Fixed income 45,296 38,323 18.2 39,741 14.0
---------- ---------- --------- ---------- ---------
Institutional
brokerage 89,468 90,721 (1.4) 80,339 11.4

Investment banking:
Capital raising:
Equity 31,550 23,005 37.1 10,109 212.1
Fixed income 10,813 3,041 255.6 13,222 (18.2)
---------- ---------- --------- ---------- ---------
Capital raising 42,363 26,046 62.6 23,331 81.6
Advisory fees 15,605 9,060 72.2 28,728 (45.7)
---------- ---------- --------- ---------- ---------
Investment banking $ 57,968 $ 35,106 65.1 $ 52,059 11.4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

(2) Includes net interest and other income.

Investor Relations Contact
Sarah Anderson
(415) 364-2500
Email Contact

SOURCE: Stifel Financial Corp.

http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/emailprcntct?id=A91C7B2790E644F3

Copyright 2012 Marketwire, Inc., All rights reserved.

/quotes/zigman/242086/quotes/nls/sf

Add to portfolio

SF

Stifel Financial Corp.

US

: U.S.: NYSE


$
32.42

-0.43
-1.31%

Volume: 407,026
May 17, 2012 4:01p

P/E Ratio24.30
Dividend YieldN/A

Market Cap$1.76 billion
Rev. per Employee$282,894

/quotes/zigman/242086/quotes/nls/sf

Add to portfolio

SF

Stifel Financial Corp.

US

: U.S.: NYSE


$
32.42

-0.43
-1.31%

Volume: 407,026
May 17, 2012 4:01p

P/E Ratio24.30
Dividend YieldN/A

Market Cap$1.76 billion
Rev. per Employee$282,894

/quotes/zigman/242086/quotes/nls/sf

Add to portfolio

SF

Stifel Financial Corp.

US

: U.S.: NYSE


$
32.42

-0.43
-1.31%

Volume: 407,026
May 17, 2012 4:01p

P/E Ratio24.30
Dividend YieldN/A

Market Cap$1.76 billion
Rev. per Employee$282,894

Financial Glossary

Words used in this article:





Fight Financial Fraud With Tricks of Your Own



DO retirees have GPS devices that tell con artists where they live? It often seems so.

Enlarge This Image





Thomas Fuchs

Older investors are often besieged by swindlers because they tend to have higher net worth and are more accessible to crooks than younger Americans. They also may have cognitive impairments that cloud their judgment, according to a report in February by the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. It found, “The ability to make effective financial decisions declines with age as dementia and other types of cognitive impairment increase.”

Over all, investment fraud is a growth business. Last year, when the Federal Trade Commission said it received 1.8 million complaints, it noted that its largest single category involved identity theft — a crime that frequently victimizes older Americans.

With the Internet providing more opportunities for swindles and the new federal JOBS act possibly waiving some regulatory requirements for small businesses seeking investors, the potential for even more fraud looms. Retirees and their families would do well to call upon financial advisers and lawyers, and perhaps law enforcement authorities, for guidance.

Such advisers might collaborate in communitywide efforts to flag and curtail fraud. Compounding an escalation in investment fraud is the fact that many retirees now have inherited money from their parents. This “demographic bulge,” according to the Center for Retirement Research, will make this generation tantalizing to swindlers. “It’s pretty clear this will be a rising problem in the future,” said Kimberly Blanton, who researches and writes a blog for the center.

A new provision of the JOBS law (for Jump-Start Our Business Start-Ups) allows people to pool their money for a business — a way of investing also known as crowdfunding. This imposes less rigorous rules on small companies going public, which will be able to offer shares directly to the public with less oversight by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

In a case predating the new law that nevertheless illustrates the fraud risk in such offerings, the S.E.C. recently charged a California man with violations of antifraud laws for promising to sell stakes to investors in technology start-ups — the “next Google.” Benedict Van of San Jose settled charges with the agency without admitting or denying guilt. Mr. Van was censured by the agency, which did not require him to pay back $7 million solicited from investors because he had spent it all on operating expenses and rent.

Lou Straney, an instructor for certified fraud examiners, said he worried that retirees struggling to increase their incomes would fall prey to swindlers offering investments in start-ups. “This is incredibly dangerous,” said Mr. Straney. “Fraudsters will seize on this and try to sell promissory notes based on growth from fictitious companies.”

Mr. Straney, who also investigates investment misconduct and fraud, said that in recent years promissory notes had dominated the list of swindles involving retirees. The premise is simple: a broker or adviser offers a high-yield note that could be linked to anything from a commodity to a life-insurance settlement. Once they have received a few million dollars from investors, they stop selling the notes, close their operations and disappear.

Much of what propels retirees to take more risk is the search for yield. With all insured vehicles and short-term bonds still returning in the low single digits, millions of investors are tempted to chase products with higher returns. That may lead them into high-fee products that pay brokers from 2 to 10 percent in commissions, Mr. Straney said.

News headlines also inspire fraud merchants to act. Whenever the price of a commodity soars, that creates an increased opportunity to sell investments. Two of the top investor traps seen by the North American Securities Administrators Association, a state regulators group, involved energy or gold and other precious metals.

Some energy investments, for example, falsely promise to garner a share of profits from untapped oil and gas reserves. Precious-metals swindles have long relied upon special coins, stakes in dormant mines and new extraction equipment to hook unsuspecting investors.

Even bad news attracts swindlers. Distressed real estate schemes have been common following the housing downturn. Foreclosed properties sold as investment pools are linked to promissory notes. In one Florida swindle last year, $2.3 million was solicited from investors to buy, refurbish and resell properties. The operator of the swindle later pleaded guilty to fraud.

Protecting retirees from investment fraud requires a comprehensive effort. The Investor Protection Trust, along with other groups, has urged families to engage professionals to monitor and intervene when financial fraud is suspected.

Part of a family intervention involves regular conversations with retired family members and friends. Are they being solicited for investments? What kinds of pitches are they receiving? Are the solicitors asking for Social Security numbers or bank account information? Those are glaring red flags.

Many swindles involve outright identity theft or phishing, where personal information is used for such thievery as emptying bank accounts or stealing tax refunds.

It is worthwhile to ask health care and legal professionals serving older investors to stay alert for any telltale signs of fraud and to report them to authorities. While victims are reluctant to talk about their misfortune once they have been cheated, they often boast of being offered superior returns while the swindle is unfolding.

Due diligence is also essential. If any offer of abnormally high return is received, have it checked out by an independent third party, like a certified public accountant, chartered financial analyst or fee-only certified financial planner. Most responsible advisers are also fiduciaries, meaning they are legally responsible for representing a client’s interests above their own.

Typically, inquiries like “How are outsized returns produced?” or “Can I see audited financial statements of a company making an offering?” can stop operators at the initial pitch. While any statement or document can be falsified, if the sellers evade a barrage of detailed questions, that is a good sign that they are not legitimate.

The backgrounds of brokers and advisers should also be checked. State securities regulators will tell if brokers or advisers are registered and what is in their background files, like previous lawsuits or criminal charges. See the site nasaa.org for a list of regulators.

With regulators and other watchdogs constantly outnumbered by would-be swindlers, the onus is on investors and their families to vet any potential vehicle. With more eyes on investors, many swindles can be avoided.

Same-Sex Marriage Support From Obama Hailed By Financial Planners, Who Caution …