The Tennessee Securities Division is joining the Financial Industry Regulator Authority (FINRA), the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) and the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy (SEC OIEA) in urging financial investors to provide their financial firms with a “trusted contact.”

Every year during Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 3-9), fire departments across the country unite to raise awareness about a crucial fire safety message that can help save lives and property. This year’s fire prevention theme is “Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety” where all Americans are urged to focus on the importance of learning the sounds that their smoke and carbon monoxide alarms make. I remind Tennesseans to install working smoke alarms inside and outside every sleeping area and on every level of your home Test your smoke alarms monthly and change the batteries at least once a year. Replace your smoke alarms every 10 years. Conduct family fire drills and make sure everyone living a house knows the way out of every room.

August 14 is National Financial Awareness Day! And while the origins are not exactly clear, the goal of this holiday is to serve as a reminder to ensure your and your family’s finances are a top priority.

In Tennessee’s hot real estate market, many potential homebuyers and buyers’ agents are going above and beyond making financial offers in order to separate themselves from the pack and attract the attention of sellers.

From news stories to social media, talk about Tennessee’s record-setting pace and prices for home sales seems to be everywhere. The strong interest in the Volunteer State’s housing market is proof that Tennessee has the right mix of leadership, employment and recreational opportunities when it comes to attracting prospective homebuyers.

Mental health and substance use disorders are very real, life-threatening, debilitating illnesses. And, with proper care, they are often treatable.

Ahead of National Senior Fraud Awareness Day on Saturday, May 15, the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance’s (TDCI) Securities Division reminds Tennesseans that social isolation, whether voluntary or involuntary, has a direct contribution to the financial exploitation of older investors.

Each year in April, National Teach Children to Save Day encourages children to develop responsible saving habits.

April is Military Saves Month – a campaign where hundreds of organizations come together to collectively encourage the military community to focus on their financial wellbeing.

Today, we celebrate the Tennessee State Board of Examiners for Architects and Engineers 100th anniversary. The board is a part of the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance’s Regulatory Boards Division. Since the board was founded on April 9, 1921, we have carried out the mission and purpose of safeguarding life, health and property. The programs and services we have developed set the standards of practice for architects, engineers, landscape architects and interior designers in our state.

I am proud Governor Bill Lee has proclaimed this week as Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in honor of all the selfless work our state’s 911 operators do every day to keep our first responders and citizens safe. If you ask the men and women who answer millions of 911 calls each year about their remarkable work, they will probably tell you they are just doing their job. However, the truth is they are helping to save many lives throughout our communities. With all the emergencies Tennessee has faced over the past year, from natural disasters to a global pandemic, I encourage Tennesseans to use this time to celebrate and thank those who dedicate their lives to serving the public. Our 911 telecommunicators are always there to answer the call and to provide service to their fellow citizens 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year.

The Securities Division of the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance is proud to sponsor the 2021 EVERFI Financial Literacy Bee - a financial capability challenge and scholarship available for high school students to participate in from April 1-15, 2021.

The March tornadoes from last year tragically resulted in the deaths of 25 people, injuries to many more and significant damage to many homes, vehicles and buildings across Middle Tennessee. In the aftermath of the devastation, we saw selfless volunteerism that captures the best of what it means to be a Tennessean and we saw communities come together to mourn the lost, celebrate their memories and collectively rebuild.

February is Earthquake Awareness Month. Earthquakes frequently occur in Tennessee because of our two seismic zones – the New Madrid Seismic Zone and the East Tennessee Seismic Zone. While most earthquakes that occur in Tennessee are small, scientists estimate that there is a 25-40% probability of a magnitude of 6.0 or greater occurring in the central U.S. within a 50-year window. Overall, about 200 earthquakes occur in the central U.S. every year, many of which go unnoticed. While earthquakes most often occur with little to no warning, there are steps you can take to protect yourself and your family now. This month, I ask that Tennesseans prioritize earthquake preparedness before a disaster strikes in order to reduce their vulnerability.

With travel limited due to the coronavirus, timeshare owners may be having second thoughts about their purchases. Making a long-term commitment to an annual vacation spot may have seemed like a better idea before a global pandemic. Additionally, the pandemic limited some travel and caused many consumers to reevaluate personal budgets. While many consumers are pleased with their timeshares, some owners of timeshares want to know their options.