Dustin Tyler Joyce
March 5, 2007

The federal government is aware of the need for better financial education and is committed to helping Americans gain a better understanding of personal and family finances. That was the message delivered by Dan Iannicola, Jr., the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Financial Education, to the Council for the New American City (CNAC). He spoke about the government’s efforts and praised the work of the Mayors’ National Dollar Wi$e Campaign at CNAC’s meeting on January 26, 2007, during the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Winter Meeting in Washington (DC).

At the meeting, Iannicola distributed copies of Taking Ownership of the Future: The National Strategy for Financial Literacy. The document was prepared by the Financial Literacy and Education Commission, established by Congress in 2003. The commission is led by the Treasury’s Office of Financial Education and consists of 20 federal agencies working together to promote financial education. The strategy outlines core financial curriculum areas that should be addressed, groups on which to focus education efforts, and steps to increase collaboration throughout the government and with other organizations.

Iannicola also spoke on the other work of the Office of Financial Education. Through the mymoney.gov Web site and the 1-888-MYMONEY hotline, the federal government offers a “one'stop shop” for free personal finance information. For agencies and local organizations, the Office of Financial Education offers a Technical Assistance Center to support financial education efforts. The center can be reached at 202-622-9372 or www.treasury.gov/financialeducation.

To learn more about financial education and the Conference of Mayors’ financial literacy efforts through its National Dollar Wi$e Campaign, call 202-861-6759, visit www.dollarwiseonline.org, or send e-mail dollarwise@usmayors.org.