Frequently Ask Questions

The Financial Services Commission (FSC) is an independent regulatory body that was created to protect investors and the non-banking financial sector. The FSC enforces regulations that fosters development of fair and efficient capital markets in or from within Belize.

Always verify if the company/ individual is registered with the FSC by conducting your own due diligence. Search or view the full list of registered companies by visiting the FSC website at: www.belizefsc.org.bz.

To engage in any activity in which funds/money is used to purchase a service or product in exchange for financial gain.

Refers to how well an investor can cope with and adapt to ups and downs in the market and difficult economic times.

Principles of Smart Investing include:

• Knowledge of investments
• Diversification
• Rational Decision Making
• Sustainability

A security is a financial instrument or asset that has value and can be used to generate financial gain. Examples include stocks and bonds.

• Types of securities include:
• Shares
• Instruments creating or acknowledging indebtedness
• Instruments giving entitlement to securities
• Certificates representing certain securities
• Rights and Interests in securities
• Futures
• Contracts for Differences
• Options
• Foreign Exchange Contracts
• Anything prescribed by the Regulations to be a security

Stocks and bonds are both investment types, but they represent different financial instruments.

• Stocks represent ownership in a company, giving the shareholder voting rights and entitlement to a portion of the company’s profits.
• Bonds, on the other hand, represent a loan made by an investor to an issuer (such as a service provider or government). Unlike stocks, bonds do not provide ownership in the company and typically do not come with voting rights.

Debt securities issued by local authorities such as city or town councils. These securities typically pay a fixed interest payment at specified periods and principal is repaid at maturity.

Municipal Securities can be issued in any of these forms:

• Municipal Papers
• Municipal Notes
• Municipal Bonds

The level or degree of uncertainty about the financial gain that you as an investor would earn from an investment. This means that there is a possibility that you as an investor may incur a loss from an investment.

A formal document that companies must file with the regulator when offering securities to the public. It provides detailed information about the company’s financial health, operations, risks, and management.

• Submit your complaint in writing/email to the company.
• Get a formal response from the company in writing/email – ask for a formal response from the company and document all respective persons, channels or timelines of communication with the company.
• Use the online complaints form to provide all necessary information and supporting documentation for review. Examples include but are not limited to invoices, contracts, receipts, letters or emails etc.