U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission chairman Christopher Cox announced that the SEC will partner with the Elder Law Journal of the University of Illinois College of Law and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago to present the Senior Investor Protection Symposium in Chicago on May 18.

The symposium will focus on the issues facing seniors as they prepare for and enjoy their retirement. The panelists will discuss how older Americans can protect themselves from investment fraud while financially preparing for the future.

“This symposium comes at an important time, as many unscrupulous individuals have targeted older Americans for investment fraud. And this problem is growing as the Baby Boomer generation retires, people are living longer, and defined benefit plans are giving way to people managing their own retirement funds,” said Cox. “At the symposium, we will discuss ways that seniors can protect their nest eggs so that they can enjoy a comfortable retirement.”

“Investor education is important for people of all ages, but older investors are often singled out as targets for micro-cap fraud, affinity fraud, identity theft, and other scams,” said SEC commissioner Paul Atkins. “They need to be armed with tools that will enable them to make sound investment decisions and to ask the right questions of those helping them to invest.”

The SEC will also offer a live audio and video webcast of the event on its Web site.