Financial Literacy
Financial literacy is fundamental to economic opportunity, community well-being, and a strong democracy. Yet, too many Americans lack the skills to make informed financial decisions about saving, investing, and planning for the future.
SIFMA and the SIFMA Foundation are committed to addressing this challenge from the ground up – equipping young people with the tools and confidence to understand the market economy, manage money wisely, and invest for lifelong success.
Key Focus Areas
Building Financial Capability for Youth
Through a robust portfolio of curriculum-based, online educational programs, the SIFMA Foundation reaches more than 600,000 students each year, teaching the fundamentals of saving, investing, and long-term planning.
Strengthening Classrooms and Communities
The Foundation’s flagship Stock Market Game™ delivers proven academic gains, increasing student performance in math, economics, and personal finance. Independent research shows participating students score significantly higher on financial literacy tests and report greater classroom engagement. Teachers also benefit, gaining new knowledge and motivation to plan for their own financial futures.
Partnering Across Sectors
Since its inception, the SIFMA Foundation has served over 23 million students of all backgrounds through public-private partnerships that unite schools, government, and the financial industry. Every year, 16,000 industry volunteers participate through initiatives such as Invest It Forward®, InvestWrite®, and the Capitol Hill Challenge™, which engages every member of Congress in financial education outreach.
Building a Talent Pipeline
SIFMA member firms’ support of financial education fosters wealth-building opportunities and strengthens the future workforce. By reaching students early and often, the SIFMA Foundation and the SIFMA Invest! platform help cultivate a pipeline of financially capable young professionals prepared to succeed in the capital markets and beyond.
The Bottom Line
Financial literacy is the foundation of economic empowerment. Through SIFMA’s programs and industry partnerships, we are helping young people develop lifelong financial skills, inspiring educators, and strengthening the link between financial knowledge, opportunity, and prosperity for all.
