The Knowledge We Gain & Share

Individuals and families must grapple with a bewildering variety of financial decisions. Even basic decisions require financial knowledge and competency, while more complicated decisions can challenge experts. In consultation with federal agencies, the FINRA Foundation sponsors the National Financial Capability Study to benchmark indicators of financial capability and evaluate how these indicators vary with demographic, behavioral, attitudinal and financial literacy characteristics. The study examines:

• Making ends meet
• Planning ahead
• Managing financial products
• Financial knowledge and decision-making

The study began in 2009 and has been renewed every three years. The fourth and most recent wave of the study was conducted in 2018. All data and reports from the study are freely available. Together they provide one of the most detailed and important portraits available of Americans' financial knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviors.