Financial Institutions

Finance

Securities

Financial Education Programs

The American Savings Education Council (ASEC) is a nonprofit national coalition of public and private sector institutions undertaking initiatives to raise public awareness about what is needed to ensure long-term personal financial independence. ASEC works through its partners to educate Americans on all aspects of personal finance and wealth development, including credit management, college savings, home purchase, and retirement planning. ASEC's goal is to make saving and planning a vital concern of all Americans.

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc., a professional regulatory organization, fosters professional standards in personal financial planning so that the public values, has access to and benefits from competent and ethical financial planning.

An independent agency of the federal government, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) preserves and promotes public confidence in the U.S. financial system by insuring deposits in banks and thrift institutions for up to $100,000; by identifying, monitoring and addressing risks to the deposit insurance funds; and by limiting the effect on the economy and the financial system when a bank or thrift institution fails.

The Federal Reserve is the central bank of the United States of America. The Federal Reserve System consists of a seven member Board of Governors with headquarters in Washington, D.C., and twelve Reserve Banks located in major cities throughout the United States.

The oldest international organization devoted to investor protection. Organized in 1919, this voluntary association consists of 66 state, provincial, and territorial securities administrators in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Mexico. In the United States, NASAA is the voice of the 50 state securities agencies responsible for efficient capital formation and grass-roots investor protection and financial education.

SIPC Securities Investor Protection Corporation (www.sipc.org)

The Securities Investor Protection Corporation is an important part of the overall system of investor protection in the United States. SIPC either acts as trustee or works with an independent court-appointed trustee in a missing asset case to recover funds. SIPC's focus is restoring funds to investors with assets in the hands of bankrupt and otherwise financially troubled brokerage firms.