FINRA and SIFMA Foundation Launch Five-Year Alliance to Close Youth Investing Knowledge Gap
FINRA and the SIFMA Foundation announced a five-year alliance to expand financial education for young Americans. The partnership responds to a widening gap between young people's access to investment tools and their understanding of how markets work.
FINRA and the SIFMA Foundation announced a five-year alliance to expand financial education for young Americans, responding to a widening gap between access to investment tools and the knowledge needed to use them wisely.
The partnership was announced November 2, 2026. It builds on the SIFMA Foundation's Stock Market Game, which has reached more than 24 million students since its 1977 launch. The program gives students the chance to manage a simulated investment portfolio, research companies, and work through investment decisions as a team.
The alliance comes as commission-free trading apps, social media "finfluencers," and government-backed accounts such as Trump Accounts are putting investment decisions in the hands of younger Americans who may have little grounding in how markets work.
A SIFMA Foundation survey found that 92 percent of parents believe it is critical for children to learn about investing, yet 78 percent say they lack the confidence to teach investing basics at home. A separate 76 percent of parents believe 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 two organizations said they will explore how the Stock Market Game model can be extended through digital tools designed for younger audiences who grew up online.
"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.
More states are now mandating personal finance education in high schools, and federal policy discussions around financial literacy have gained momentum alongside new savings incentives for young Americans. Specific programming under the alliance is expected to be announced in phases.
