What must solicited real-time promotions do at the outset?

At the outset of solicited real-time promotions, it is essential to identify the caller, their employer, and the purpose of the call. This requirement aligns with regulations aimed at ensuring transparency and protecting investors. By clearly stating who is contacting the investor and for what reason, the promotion helps create a better informed and more secure environment for the investor to make decisions. This practice builds trust and allows individuals to assess the legitimacy of the promotion they are receiving, which is a critical aspect of ethical financial communication.

The other options suggest practices that do not align with the goal of promoting transparency. For instance, providing historical performance data can be informative, but it does not fulfill the primary obligation of clear communication regarding identity and intent from the very beginning. Avoiding identification of the nature of the investment would be misleading, and focusing solely on benefits without disclosing who is promoting the investment can lead to potential misrepresentation and confusion for the investor.