Financial Literacy Month 2026: SEC and Treasury Push for Early Investing and Debt Reduction
The SEC and U.S. Treasury Department marked Financial Literacy Month in April 2026 with new resources and outreach events. SEC Chairman Paul Atkins encouraged Americans to focus on early investing, living within their means, and building emergency funds. A GreenPath survey found that 44 percent of consumers rely on family and friends for financial guidance.
The Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Treasury Department marked Financial Literacy Month in April 2026 with new resources, outreach events, and a push for Americans to take concrete steps toward financial independence.
SEC Chairman Paul Atkins released a statement encouraging Americans to focus on five core habits: investing early, living within their means, investing consistently over the long term, reducing debt, and building emergency funds. The SEC's Office of Investor Education released an investor bulletin titled "Investor.gov Tips for 2026" and conducted outreach events including presentations to military personnel and webinars for older adults.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said financial education "unlocks opportunity for every American" and announced that federal agencies would use the month to highlight events and resources. MyMoney.gov serves as a central hub for financial education tools from multiple federal agencies.
A survey by GreenPath Financial Wellness found that about 44 percent of consumers rely on family and friends for financial guidance, and nearly 31 percent seek no guidance at all. The survey also found that 29 percent of consumers do not track their spending, a figure that rises to 38 percent among those earning under $20,000 annually.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer proclaimed April 2026 as Financial Literacy Month in the state, citing recent bipartisan legislation requiring a personal finance class in the high school curriculum.
The National Financial Educators Council reported an average score of 67.4 percent on its National Financial Literacy Test, and found that over 88 percent of high school graduates believe financial education is as important as or more important than traditional core subjects.
