Recently, the SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy (OIEA) has released three Investor Alerts related to investment scams. 

Relationship Investment Scams

Social Media and Stock Tip Scams

Natural Disasters and Investment Scams

Against this backdrop, we would like to take this opportunity to remind you about imposter scams. Specifically, scammers may impersonate financial professionals by, for example, creating a fake version of a public FINRA BrokerCheck report for a legitimate investment professional. The scammer might then send the fake report to potential investors, using their name and registration number to solicit potential investors. More information about imposter scams can be found at https://www.finra.org/investors/insights/be-alert-signs-imposter-investment-scams

If you have concerns that someone is using your name or information as part of a potential scam, contact Cambridge’s Disclosures and Dispute Resolution Team (disclosures@cir2.com), and alert FINRA by calling the BrokerCheck hotline at (800) 289-9999 or emailing BrokerCheck@finra.org. 

Judy Sypult joined Douglass Financial Services in February 2025 as a Client Services Assistant. As the CSA, she assists the Financial Advisor Assistant with key processes as it relates to client operations and helps prepare client tax return paperwork and invoicing.

Judy grew up in the Pontiac and Cornell area and graduated from Pontiac Township High School in 1989.  She married her husband, Keith M Sypult in May 1996.  She's a very proud mom of 2 adult children. Rachael is 26 years old and lives in Phoenix, AZ and Connor, a 24-year-old from Pontiac, IL.  She loves spending time with her family and also enjoys being outside working in her yard and planting flowers.  In her free time you will find her relaxing in her hot tub.  

Effective wealth transfer within families hinges on open communication and early financial education. Research from The Northern Trust Institute reveals that families who engage in detailed discussions about inheritance are better positioned for successful wealth transitions. Notably, 79% of respondents have provided their children with financial education, yet 48% still express concerns about the next generation's preparedness to manage wealth.

To bridge this gap, it's crucial to initiate conversations that clarify the family's financial landscape and the responsibilities that come with it. Emphasizing core family values and shared goals can further strengthen these discussions, ensuring that wealth serves to maintain lifestyles, support descendants, and contribute to philanthropic endeavors. By fostering an environment of transparency and continuous learning, families can navigate the complexities of wealth transfer more effectively, aligning financial assets with the family's overarching mission and values

Our office is always looking to provide the most reliable and efficient ways to communicate with you. Here is a brief recap of the various ways we can be reached: 

TELEPHONE // Pontiac: 815-842-4393 // Bloomington: 309-290-3743 If no one is available to answer your call, you can always leave a voice message which we will receive and forward to the appropriate person in order to respond to you in a timely manner. 

E-MAIL // All our staff have an email address that is part of a Transport Layer Security (TLS) platform that allows us to send and receive messages in a secure manner. When we need to communicate non-public information electronically with you, we utilize the TLS system by using the words “secure” in the subject. Remember that if you are sending or returning any non-public information to our office, you must send the information in a secure manner from your own email program. 

TEXT MESSAGES // Both of our advisors can receive and send text messages using HEARSAY RELATE Business text messaging. Please remember that text messages are NOT ENCRYPTED and should therefore not contain confidential information. Please contact Denise or Susan if you would like to access this means of communicating with David or Darrell.

Please continue to reach us via our general office number 815-842-4393 (consider adding Douglass Financial to your phone contacts). From there, we are able to direct you to our Bloomington office and/or directly to the person you would like to reach.

100 Women for Good Bloomington-Normal is an impactful organization with a very simple concept. Gather 100 women, who are each willing to donate $100 three times a year to local nonprofit organizations. Selected local nonprofits promote their mission at a meeting and the members vote that night on who will receive $10,000. Such a HUGE impact. Chapters are popping up across the country, so if don't live in the area, you might find a local group. To learn more, check out their website: 100womenforgoodbn.org