Overview

The Division of Securities is responsible for regulating the offer and sale of securities, franchise investment offerings, and corporate takeovers. It accomplishes this by requiring the registration of securities and franchise offerings, or by allowing certain exemptions from registration, and by requiring the professional licensing as well as monitoring activities of broker-dealers, securities agents, and investment advisers. Enforcement of Chapters 551-553, Wis. Stats., is achieved by field audits, surveillance, investigation of complaints, issuance of cease and desist orders, and making criminal referrals.

The mission of the Division is to protect the investing public of Wisconsin from fraud, deception, misrepresentation, unfair business practices, and less than full disclosure, in securities offerings, franchise investment opportunities, and corporate takeover offers. The Division also encourages the development of knowledgeable investors in Wisconsin through the "DFI Your Money Matters" Program. The Division promotes a favorable investment climate by working closely with business and industry officials and by sponsoring forums and workshops.

Through its Small Business Information Center, the Division provides assistance in understanding and complying with the Wisconsin Uniform Securities Law and in gathering information regarding franchise opportunities available in Wisconsin. At fiscal year-end 2008, the Division's Professional Registration and Compliance Bureau was responsible for supervising some 110,000 licensed securities sales agents, representing approximately 1,900 licensed broker/dealers. Also, there were 274 state-regulated investment advisers employing 636 investment advisor representatives, and 1228 federal covered advisers having a Wisconsin place of business and employing 7498 investment adviser representatives. In addition, the Division's Securities and Franchise Registration Bureau receives filings annually of over 911 franchise opportunities, more than 850 corporate-type securities offerings by registration or exemption, and over 21,000 mutual funds.

If you have any questions, please e-mail us or contact us by telephone at (608) 266-1064.