Secretary Scott Bessent spoke at an event for students at the Treasury Building for “Financial Literacy Month.”
I’d like to begin by thanking Visa for its help in coordinating this event, along with the SPARK Institute, the American Bankers Association, and more than one dozen other financial institutions, fintech firms, and industry partners that have showcased their displays at our financial literacy fair.
Most importantly, I’d like to thank the students here in Treasury’s historic Cash Room, as well as your parents, teachers, and school leaders, for choosing to champion financial literacy education.
We live in the greatest country on Earth, and financial literacy is what fuels the American dream. As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary this year, I believe that embedding financial literacy into the fabric of our great nation is more important than ever.
In today’s world, financial literacy is a necessity, just like reading and writing, which is why I’m encouraged to see you all here today.
President Trump’s leadership has been a driving force in our efforts to cultivate financial literacy across the country, and we here at the Treasury Department are very proud to host ongoing initiatives and events just like this.
Understanding how to make informed financial decisions and mastering how to save, budget, invest, and plan can unlock opportunity for every American. Your age is the perfect time to begin. At the Treasury Department, we’re committed to providing you and your peers with resources to help jumpstart that journey.
I’m sure none of you are online very often. You can visit MyMoney.gov to access educational tools from across the federal government, and I hope when you leave here today, you will encourage your friends and families to do the same.
Additionally, the president has launched Trump Accounts, a new type of investment account for kids across the country just like you. Trump Accounts will further your financial literacy and help you all save for the future.
These accounts will provide all American children the opportunity to build wealth from a young age. Through Trump Accounts, you’ll have a direct stake in the American economy and can track your savings and investments in real time.
I will ask each student here to encourage your parents to sign you up for an account today. They have Form 4547. Don’t miss out on this historic opportunity.
Our goal as a department is to help you make informed financial decisions, whether that means saving, investing, or planning for major life milestones like higher education, home ownership, and much later down the road, retirement.
It’s up to each of us to build a better foundation of financial knowledge so that we can assure the United States thrives for the next 250 years.
While Financial Literacy Month technically ends this week, we will continue to promote financial education all across the country all year, so we can help put all Americans on the path to their own financial prosperity.
Thank you for being here and for your engagement with financial literacy. I hope you enjoy the rest of today’s fair and the financial soccer match.
It’ll be interesting to see who the Messi of financial soccer is.
And with that, I will turn it back over to Mike Giailla, who will be our emcee for today’s game of financial soccer.
