Financial Literacy Month: SEC and FDIC Push Resources to Help Americans Build Emergency Funds and Avoid Scams
The Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation are highlighting free financial education tools during April's National Financial Literacy Month. Key messages focus on emergency savings, long-term investing, and protecting against fraud.
April is National Financial Literacy Month, and federal agencies including the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation are pushing free resources to help Americans improve their money management skills.
The SEC's Office of Investor Education and Assistance is directing people to Investor.gov, where tools cover starting early, living within your means, consistent investing, paying down high-interest debt, and building an emergency fund. The agency also released a Financial Literacy Month Quiz and an investor bulletin with tips for 2026.
The FDIC hosted a webinar on April 22 titled "Money Smart Moves: Banker Led Strategies for Financial Education and Well Being," showcasing how financial institutions use the agency's Money Smart program to strengthen financial knowledge in their communities. The program offers free, non-biased resources for all ages, covering budgeting, saving, credit, banking, and fraud prevention.
The Financial Literacy and Education Commission, chaired by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, held a public meeting earlier this year focused on "Trump Accounts," a new savings vehicle designed to give every American child a stake in the stock market. The Treasury also published a request for information to update the U.S. National Strategy for Financial Literacy.
Experts say the basics of financial health have not changed: spend less than you earn, build an emergency fund covering three to six months of expenses, pay off high-interest debt, and invest consistently for the long term.
"Financial literacy is not about being rich," said one financial educator. "It is about having enough knowledge to make decisions that keep you out of crisis and moving toward your goals."
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer proclaimed April 2026 as Financial Literacy Month in the state, noting recent legislation requiring a personal finance class in Michigan high schools.
