Montana State Auditor James Brown Applauds $1.7 Million Approved by Montana Land Board to Support Public Schools

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Helena, Montana—At this month’s meeting of the Montana Land Board, an estimated $1.7 million in revenue was approved to directly support Montana’s public schools. This funding reflects the ongoing commitment of the Land Board to responsibly manage state trust lands for the benefit of Montana’s students and future generations. “The five members … Read more

James Brown, Montana State Auditor, Announces Multi-State Settlements with Major Broker-Dealers Over Excessive Retail Equity Commissions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Helena, Montana—James Brown, Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, in coordination with securities regulators from Alabama, Iowa, Massachusetts, Missouri, Texas, and Washington, today announced national settlements with five major broker-dealer firms—Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P. (Edward Jones), LPL Financial LLC (LPL), RBC Capital Markets, LLC (RBC), Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Inc. … Read more

Montana State Auditor James Brown Announces Executive Leadership Appointments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Helena, MT—James Brown, Commissioner of Securities and Insurance and Montana State Auditor, announced additions to the Agency’s executive leadership team, naming Kirsten Madsen as Deputy Securities Commissioner, Erin Snyder as Deputy Insurance Commissioner, and Jack Connors as Chief Legal Counsel. These appointments and previously announced leadership roles reflect Commissioner Brown’s commitment to … Read more

Commissioner James Brown and the Board of Land Commissioners Approve $12 Million in New Revenue to Benefit State Schools at May Meeting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Helena, Montana – At its regular May meeting, the Montana Board of Land Commissioners approved an estimated $12 million in new revenues to support Montana’s public schools and other state trust land beneficiaries. “Today’s project approvals are a testament to the careful stewardship of Montana’s natural resources and our unwavering focus on … Read more

Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, James Brown, Announces Settlement with Vanguard Over Target Retirement Fund Distributions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: David Sanders(406) 444-3778 Helena, Montana – James Brown, Commissioner of Securities and Insurance and Montana State Auditor, announced a settlement with Vanguard Marketing Corporation and The Vanguard Group, Inc., resolving an investigation into large, unexpected capital gains tax distributions from Vanguard’s Target Retirement Funds in 2021. The investigation, conducted in parallel … Read more

New Director of Government Relations Appointed at Montana State Auditor’s Office

Commissioner of Securities and Insurance Announces Personnel Moves FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Helena, Montana –The Office of the Montana State Auditor, Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, is pleased to announce Mr. Trevor Graff of Helena will serve as the Director of Government Relations effective immediately.  The Director of Government Relations is the agency liaison with other … Read more

State Land Board Adopts Commissioner Brown’s Motion to Provide Advanced Notice of Water Discussions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Helena, Montana – At today’s meeting of the Montana Board of Land Commissioners, Commissioner of Securities and Insurance and State Auditor James Brown introduced a motion aimed at increasing transparency and public participation in state land water rights proceedings before the Board.  The motion, which passed unanimously, will require the Department of Natural … Read more

Commissioner Brown interviewed at 3 PM (MST) on NY Radio WPAT930AM.com 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE3/17/2025 Helena, Montana—Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance James Brown was interviewed at 3 PM (MST) on NY Radio WPAT930AM.com. During the broadcast, he discussed the significance of digital assets and tokens. This live interview will reach a potential audience of 12.5 million people in New York City and surrounding areas. Commissioner Brown … Read more

EXTENDED DEADLINE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT: Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance James Brown is Seeking Comments on Digital Assets

Due to overwhelming interest, the deadline for public commenthas been extended to March 14, 2025, by 5 PM (MST) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Helena, Montana—The Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance (“Commissioner” or “CSI”) is actively seeking comments on Digital Assets including cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, Blockchain Tokens, and other related financial instruments. As digital assets become increasingly … Read more

Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance James Brown is Seeking Comments on Digital Assets

Before 5 PM, Friday, February 28, 2025 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Helena, Montana—The Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance (“Commissioner” or “CSI”) is actively seeking comments on Digital Assets including cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, Blockchain Tokens, and other related financial instruments. As digital assets become increasingly prevalent, establishing industry standards is critical to protecting investors from fraud and … Read more