The Department of Corporations, California's investment and financing authority, under the direction of the California Corporations Commissioner, licenses and regulates a variety of businesses including securities brokers and dealers, investment advisers and financial planners, and certain fiduciaries and lenders. The Department also regulates the offer and sale of securities, franchises and off-exchange commodities.

Given this responsibility, the Department has a three-part mission:

• Ensure an efficient and accessible financial services marketplace in California.
• Educate the public about the risks and rewards in investing and finances.
• Enforce California's financial services laws to protect the public from fraud.