Two of the financial industry's most prominent educational bodies are joining forces to address a growing disconnect: young Americans have unprecedented access to markets, but often lack the basic knowledge to navigate them. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the SIFMA Foundation announced a five-year partnership aimed at expanding investing education for school-age students, a direct response to data showing a significant gap between market access and financial literacy.
The urgency stems from the proliferation of commission-free trading apps, social media "finfluencers," and new government-backed savings vehicles that have put investment decisions into the hands of a generation that grew up online. A SIFMA Foundation survey underscores the problem: while 92% of parents believe it is critical for children to learn about investing, 78% say they lack the confidence to teach investing basics at home. Additionally, 76% of parents think financial education should begin before high school.
"Expanding access to financial education is fundamental to what FINRA stands for," said Marcia Asquith, executive vice president for board and external relations at FINRA. "FINRA Foundation research demonstrates that investment literacy has a meaningful correlation to better financial outcomes, including greater retirement preparedness and lower fraud susceptibility."
The partnership builds on the SIFMA Foundation's Stock Market Game, a simulation program that has reached more than 24 million students since its 1977 launch. The game allows students to manage a simulated portfolio, research companies, and make team-based investment decisions, reinforcing math and personal finance skills. The new alliance will explore extending this model through digital tools designed for younger, digital-native audiences, though no specific platforms were announced.
"Reaching young people early empowers them to make informed decisions, build confidence and take greater control of their future," said Melanie Mortimer, president of the SIFMA Foundation. Rich Daly, founder chair emeritus of Broadridge and chairman of the SIFMA Foundation, added: "Together, we can provide access to opportunity for every child through financial education, equipping all with the knowledge and understanding that they, too, can participate in the markets."
For financial advisors, the initiative has direct relevance. Clients increasingly arrive at meetings having already made investment decisions through apps, AI chatbots, or social media advice, often without the vocabulary to assess risk or distinguish between asset classes. As FINRA research shows, only 18% of investors grasp advanced risk concepts, a statistic that highlights the need for earlier education. Programs that build foundational knowledge earlier in life have the potential to produce better-informed clients down the road.
The alliance also comes as more states mandate personal finance education in high schools, and federal policy discussions around financial literacy gain momentum alongside new savings incentives for young Americans. Advisors have long flagged financial illiteracy as a client problem, with more than two-thirds acknowledging it as an issue in their practice, as surveys have shown.
The combined approach is intended to create a pipeline of education from a student's first exposure to investing through retirement planning in adulthood. Specific programming under the alliance is expected to be announced in phases. The question now is whether formal education can keep pace with the speed at which new investment products and platforms are reaching younger audiences.
