Jeff Atwater
Florida Chief Financial Officer
These days, dealing with daily financial pressures can seem overwhelming to most
Florida families. Learning how to make good financial decisions can protect your
hard-earned dollars and allow you the freedom to do more of what you love.
Whether you are starting a new career, buying your first home, or just trying to
put gas in your tank, I want you to know that as your CFO, I am committed to
ensuring you have the tools you need to build a strong financial future.
As CFO, I oversee the Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS). My
department serves consumers and taxpayers through its work in 13 different
divisions and additional initiatives I set forth. A world of information and
assistance is provided by the department on issues ranging from insurance
education and assistance, fire prevention and safety, and even unclaimed cash
and property. I have also established additional priorities to assist
Floridian's including fighting fraud, consumer protection, and fiscal
transparency.
One of the 13 divisions I oversee, the Division of Consumer Services, helps
consumers make informed insurance and financial decisions. My dedicated and
experienced staff are continuously trained and informed about any changes that
occur in 26 different categories of insurance. Consumers can contact a
specialist directly by telephone between the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the
statewide, toll-free number 1-877-MY-FL-CFO (693-5236) .
Consumers can also visit
www.MyFloridaCFO.com for 24-hour
access to our online Insurance Library, consumer guides, a calendar of free
consumer workshops offered around the state, or to ask a question of an
insurance specialist. Other items available include:
- Verify Before You Buy - Check agent and company information
and licensure before purchasing an insurance policy.
- Complaint Comparison - Consumers can compare the number of
complaints an insurance company has compared to the number of policies they have
in force.
- Disaster Assistance - The Division also offers information
on protecting your home and family in the event of a natural disaster.
Additionally, I oversee the Division of Insurance Fraud, a sworn law
enforcement agency which serves and safeguards citizens and businesses in
Florida against acts of insurance fraud and the resulting impact those crimes
have on taxpayers, both personally and financially. Our investigators are
certified law enforcement officers with the authority to enforce the criminal
laws of Florida in relation to insurance transactions.
Florida's Division of Insurance Fraud leads the nation in the recovery of
insurance fraud related losses through court-ordered restitution. If you or
someone you know has been the victim of insurance fraud please visit
www.MyFloridaCFO.com or call our
Fraud Hotline at 1-800-378-0445.
Individuals who provide tips can remain anonymous and are eligible for a
reward of up to $25,000 for information that directly leads to an arrest and
conviction in an insurance fraud scheme. The Department of Financial Services to
date has awarded almost $250,000 to approximately 40 citizens as part of its
Anti-Fraud Reward Program.
My department further serves and protects Floridians by ensuring state dollars
are spent according to state law, licensing and regulating insurance agents and
agencies, ensuring employers provide workers' compensation coverage as required
by law, regulating funeral homes and cemeteries, and rooting out public
assistance fraud. To find out if the Department's Bureau of Unclaimed Property
is holding unclaimed cash or property for you, call 1-888-258-2253
or visit
www.FLTreasureHunt.org.
I hope you learned more about my office and the many ways we serve you everyday.
I invite you to visit my website at
www.MyFloridaCFO.com to learn more.
Rest assured that I am committed to serving you by keeping your hard-earned
money in your pocket, where it belongs.
Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, a statewide elected official and
officer of the Florida Cabinet, oversees the Department of Financial Services
including the Division of Insurance Fraud. CFO Atwater's priorities include
fighting financial fraud, abuse and waste in government, reducing government
spending and regulatory burdens that chase away businesses, and providing
transparency and accountability in spending.