Highlights From the FINRA Foundation National Financial Capability Study
Financial Capability in the United States
Appendix: NFCS Topic Areas
This report highlights only a portion of the topics covered in the NFCS. In addition to detailed demographic
information, below is a list of financial capability topics included in the 2021 study. The full survey instrument
can be found at www.FINRA Foundation.org/NFCS.
Making Ends Meet
Covering monthly expenses
- Spending and saving
Satisfaction with personal finances
Financial well-being
Financial anxiety
Behavioral signs of financial stress
Covering medical expenses
Financial fragility
Income volatility
Informal work activities
- Intergenerational wealth transfer
Pandemic-related stimulus payments
Pandemic-related job loss
Planning Ahead
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Rainy day funds
Retirement planning and retirement
accounts
Saving for college
Investing
Managing Financial Products
- Banking and payment methods
Home ownership and mortgages
Credit card behaviors
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Student loans
Non-bank borrowing
Overall debt
Credit scores
Financial Knowledge
Financial literacy
Self-perceptions of financial
knowledge
- Financial education
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Risk preferences
Financial self-efficacy
Personal finance technology
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