(Washington, DC) - Today’s financial crisis poses challenges for everyone, especially for older Americans facing retirement. With rising costs, reduced values in the real estate market, and the current economic distress, many wonder if they will ever be able to retire.

To address consumer concerns, the DC Public Library, in conjunction with the DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB), the Investor Protection Trust and the Financial Planning Association of the National Capital Area, presents the “Can I Afford Retirement?” investor education seminar series in your community. The first program is May 14 and it is for individuals at all levels of investment experience who are either approaching retirement or have recently retired.

WHAT: A free investor education event at Howard Law School. Prepare and protect yourself by learning the following:

• Investment strategies during times of financial crisis
• Proper preparation for retirement
• How to thrive on savings during retirement years
• Key questions to ask your financial adviser
• How to avoid investment scams

WHEN:  Thursday, May 14, 2009
             6 pm to 8:30 pm

WHERE:  Howard University School of Law (first four programs)
              Moot Court Room at Houston Hall
              2900 Van Ness Street, NW, Washington, DC

               Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library (fifth program)
               901 G Street, NW, Third Floor, Washington, DC

The first four events in this series of free investor education programs will be at Howard:   

• May 14, 6 pm – 8:30 pm, Taking the Mystery Out of Retirement Planning  
• May 28, 6 pm – 8:30 pm, Closing the Gap: Investment and Expense Strategies – Even for Late Starters!
• June   4, 6 pm – 8:30 pm, Investing Wisely to Avoid the Financial Risk of Longer Life Expectancy
• June 11, 6 pm – 8:30 pm, Protecting Your Investments – The Best Defense is a Wise and Safe Investor
• June 16, 6pm — 8 pm, Using Your DC Public Library and the Internet for Financial Education and Lifelong Learning (June 16 at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G Street, NW, Third Floor)

Free and open to the public, but pre-registration is requested on the Web site,
affordretirement-dc.org or by calling (202) 290-2184.

For media questions, call DISB’s Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist Michelle Phipps-Evans at (202) 442-7822.