Sharon and President’s Council ring closing bell at NYSE

Sharon was at the New York Stock Exchange in Manhattan on Monday, April 27, in celebration of Financial Literacy Month. The President’s Council was recognized by NYSE Euronext, for having made tremendous progress at laying groundwork toward improving financial literacy in the United States. The Council, in its 2008 Annual Report to the President, recommended financial education for kindergarten through college students, identified ways to support employers as conduits of financial education to employees, increase access to financial services for millions of underserved Americans, identify and promote a standardized skill set that would be taught by financial education and promote awareness of the state and importance of financial literacy. Council members took part in a panel discussion about the current financial crisis in America, which is rooted in part in financial illiteracy. They also discussed strategic measures such as making financial literacy relevant to youth, tying financial literacy to business partnerships to boost and help stabilize consumer confidence and employee enrichment and fusing financial literacy into the mortgage and credit products. “It is of the utmost importance that we address financial literacy to ensure that this current crisis never happens again,” said Lechter. “Education gives people confidence in their financial decisions and the fundamentals aren’t being taught anymore. The course of the ship is changing and it will ultimately ensure stability and a healthy U.S. economy.” Council members heard directly from SEC Commissioner Luis A. Aguilar and participated in a private pre-bell reception before the closing bell ceremony. Other notable participants were Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and NYSE EVP Regulation, Robert A. Marchman.