Empowering the Next Generation Through Financial Education

Good evening, everyone. Frank, thank you for that introduction. And thank you all for being here tonight and for your support of the SIFMA Foundation.

At SIFMA, we spend a lot of time talking about the importance of strong, efficient capital markets. Capital markets help businesses raise capital, support innovation, create jobs, and help millions of Americans build long-term financial security.

But efficient markets alone are not enough. Investors need the knowledge and confidence to participate in them. They need to understand how informed financial decisions can help them reach their goals. And the earlier that understanding takes hold, the better.

That is why the SIFMA Foundation's work matters. The SIFMA Foundation gives young people practical experience with personal finance, investing, and the role capital markets play in everyday life, and its reach has never been greater.

Over its 49 years, the Foundation has helped equip some 24 million people with the knowledge and skills to navigate the capital markets, and the 49^th year was no exception with a record number of students, nearly one million, participating its array of programs including the Stock Market Game. Equally impressive is the reach to more than 20,000 educators across 15,000 schools. And I would be remiss if I did not mention the thousands of industry professionals who volunteer as part of the program. As the SIFMA Foundation approaches its 50th anniversary next year, its reach is growing exponentially, and your contribution tonight is critical to continuing that trend.

The SIFMA Foundation is also looking ahead. With the creation of Trump Accounts, children have a new way to start saving and investing early in life. To help families make the most of that opportunity, the SIFMA Foundation has launched Family InvestQuest, a beginner-friendly simulation modeled on the Trump Account format.

What has always impressed me about the SIFMA Foundation is its ability to connect education with opportunity. These programs don't simply teach students what a stock is or how a market works. They help young people see themselves as participants in the economy, whether as investors, entrepreneurs, employees, business owners, or future leaders.

That mission comes to life in SIFMA and the SIFMA Foundation's Capitol Hill Challenge when together we match student teams with every Congressional district. Since 2004, SIFMA's Capitol Hill Challenge has matched more than 8,500 Members of Congress with schools in their districts and reached nearly 180,000 students.

Every June, we bring the top ten Capitol Hill Challenge teams to Washington to meet their Senators and Representatives and learn about their government. Students benefit. Teachers benefit. Communities benefit. And policymakers see firsthand the impact financial education can have in their own districts.

The Capitol Hill Challenge is now generously presented by the Charles Schwab Foundation, which expanded its commitment to the SIFMA Foundation earlier this year, and we thank them for that.

The SIFMA Foundation provides educators with tools, resources, and support that bring personal finance and investing to life in the classroom. The lessons students take away go well beyond a competition. They build critical thinking, confidence, judgment, and decision-making skills that will serve them throughout their lives.

None of this would be possible without the dedication of the SIFMA Foundation Board and staff. Throughout the year, the board, led by Chair Rich Daly, Vice Chairs Lisa Hunt and Larry Thomas and Treasurer Todd Diganci, work tirelessly with the Foundation staff to drive and grow the program.

I commend the entire board, including my SIFMA board colleagues Lisa and Ken Cella as well as my SIFMA staff colleague Lisa Bleier who serves in the SIFMA seat for their hard work and determination. Their involvement speaks volumes about our industry's ongoing commitment to this work, and much of the growth I described tonight traces directly back to their leadership.

And of course, the SIFMA Foundation staff, led by Melanie Mortimer, continue to innovate and expand the SIFMA Foundation's impact and reach, year after year.

I also want to recognize FINRA with whom the Foundation has launched a new strategic alliance. FINRA brings a long-standing commitment to investor education and protection, and their partnership will allow the Foundation to continue its expansion to touch even more lives in a meaningful way.

Lastly, I want to congratulate tonight's Education Honoree, Fred Tomczyk. Fred is a past SIFMA board member when he served as CEO of TD Ameritrade. Throughout his career, at TD Ameritrade and at Cboe, he has championed broader access to the markets and helped individual investors participate with confidence. It's hard to think of a more fitting honoree. Congratulations, Fred.

And finally, thank you to everyone in this room. Your support creates opportunity. It strengthens confidence. And it helps ensure that more people can participate in and benefit from the capital markets that help drive our economy.

And now, it is my pleasure to welcome SIFMA Foundation Chair and Broadridge Executive Vice Chair Rich Daly.