About Us
About the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the FINRA Investor Education FoundationFinancial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)FINRA, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, is the largest non-governmental regulator for all securities firms doing business with the U.S. public. Created in 2007 through the consolidation of NASD and NYSE Member Regulation, FINRA is dedicated to investor protection and market integrity through effective and efficient regulation and complementary compliance and technology-based services. FINRA touches virtually every aspect of the securities business—from registering and educating all industry participants to examining securities firms; writing rules; enforcing rules and the federal securities laws; informing and educating the investing public; providing trade reporting and other industry utilities; and administering the largest dispute resolution forum for investors and registered firms. About the FINRA Investor Education FoundationThe FINRA Investor Education Foundation is the largest foundation in the U.S. dedicated to investor education. Its mission is to provide investors with high-quality, easily accessible information and tools to better understand the markets and the basic principles of saving and investing. To further this mission, the Foundation awards grants to fund educational programs and research aimed at segments of the investing public who could benefit from additional resources. To date, the Foundation has approved $10.4 million in grants and an additional $10.2 million in direct investor education programming. Formerly known as the NASD Investor Education Foundation, the FINRA Investor Education Foundation is a nonprofit, 501(c)(4) organization established in December 2003 in response to both the current environment in the markets and a survey showing that investors still have fundamental questions and misunderstandings about important investment issues. In 2007, the Foundation's parent, NASD, consolidated with NYSE Member Regulation to form FINRA, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. At that time, the NASD Investor Education Foundation became the FINRA Investor Education Foundation—but its mission of serving investors remains the same. FINRA and the FINRA Investor Education Foundation do not sell investment products, promote products or firms, or offer specific investment advice. For more information about the Foundation, please visit www.finrafoundation.org.
SaveAndInvest.org: A Financial Education Program for Military Personnel and Their FamiliesFinancial preparedness is a key component of military readiness. Whether on-base or deployed overseas, it is crucial that military personnel have access to financial education information that will enable them to make prudent saving and investing decisions for themselves and their families. Addressing a NeedThere are thousands of service members who report having problems paying bills and struggle to make ends meet; studies show that a lack of understanding of personal finances and poor management practices contribute to the difficulties. In addition, serious financial problems can have a negative impact on service members' careers, potentially resulting in the loss of security clearance, criminal or non-judicial sanction, or adverse personnel actions, including possible discharge from the military. A lack of financial knowledge also leaves military personnel susceptible to financial problems. In December 2004, First Command Financial Planning, Inc. was fined $12 million for making misleading statements in the sales of systematic investment plans to military personnel. More than $5 million has been returned in the form of restitution to investors. With the remaining funds, the NASD Investor Education Foundation—now the FINRA Investor Education Foundation—developed SaveAndInvest.org—a financial education program to improve the saving and investing knowledge of military service members to give them the tools and information they need to make critical saving and investing decisions with confidence. Managing Money with ConfidenceSaveAndInvest.org is a multifaceted program. It includes:
- An online resource center that serves as a centralized, trusted source for unbiased information on saving and investing, including original content, interactive tools/games, links to financial education resources, frequently asked questions, and more
- On-the-ground training to support the military's current Personal Financial Management program through a coordinated and uniform financial education program, including the training and continued certification of personal financial managers and other volunteers
- Educational toolkits for trainers and investors offering multiple levels of personal financial information On-base activities and events to motivate families to take responsibility for their financial well-being
- A long-term public outreach campaign, including print, radio and television public service announcements and earned media outreach to raise awareness of the tools, information and services available to military personnel and their families
To learn more at SaveAndInvest.org, please contact us.
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