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These synopses are intended only as aids to the reader in identifying the subject matter covered. They may not be relied upon as authoritative interpretations.

An Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) account is a type of tax-advantaged savings account that an eligible individual can use to pay for qualified disability expenses. The eligible individual is the owner and designated beneficiary of the ABLE account. An eligible individual may establish an ABLE account provided that the individual is blind or disabled by a condition that began before the individual’s 26th birthday.

The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Bulletin to educate investors about ABLE accounts. An Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) account provides a tax-advantaged method to save for disability-related expenses. Contributions are not tax deductible for federal income tax purposes, but your investments can grow tax free and remain so when withdrawn and used for disability-related expenses. Similar to 529 college-savings plans, ABLE programs are administered by the states.

To accompany Hands-On Learning to Build Financial Habits: Federal Resources to Encourage School-Based and Youth Savings Programs, this document is intended to provide information on non-governmental research and resources that may be useful to financial institutions, state, local, or tribal government officials, teachers and school leaders, and others interested in establishing such a program. This document includes a description publicly available websites, reports, research papers, and other readings on child savings that may help practitioners learn about best practices and techniques.

With support from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED), the Center for Financial Security at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (CFS) and the New York City Department  of Consumer Affairs Office of Financial Empowerment (OFE) partnered on a pilot program to test the effect of  pairing of financial access and an average of one to two hours of financial counseling on the financial capability of a population transitioning off of public benefits in New York City

With support from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED), the Center for Financial Security at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (CFS) and the New York City Department  of Consumer Affairs Office of Financial Empowerment (OFE) partnered on a pilot program to test the effect of  pairing of financial access and an average of one to two hours of financial counseling on the financial capability of a population transitioning off of public benefits in New York City.

MyRA (My Retirement Account) is a program offering a new retirement savings account for individuals looking for a simple, safe, and affordable way to start saving. Savers will be able to open an account with as a little as $25 and contribute $5 or more every payday. MyRAs balances will never go down, and there will be no fees. MyRAs will be initially offered through employers and will be backed by the full faith and credit of the United States.

This article highlights the results of an FDIC study of the effectiveness of the Money Smart financial education program.