After Doubling Participation In 2012, Investor Education in Your Workplace® To Train Another 3000 Nationwide This Spring

Testing Confirms Strong Impact of Workplace-Based Training Program; More than 15,000 Workers at Nearly 400 U.S. Companies Have Benefited From Program Backed by IPT and IPI.

WASHINGTON, April 2, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A workplace investor education program will train over 3000 employees at more than 50 companies in 10 states plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico when online classes commence May 6, 2013.   Now in its fourth year, Investor Education in Your Workplace® (www.investorprotection.org) has established a proven track record spanning 15,690 employees at 375 banks, credit unions, and other corporations.

In May 2013, IEiYW® will re-launch in Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Iowa, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico and Washington State.   

Data collected from the IEiYW®, Spring and Fall 2012 sessions shows that 7,342 employees at 169 companies completed 53,850 online courses.  The average knowledge improvement across all categories was 32 percent. The highest knowledge improvement was expressed in mutual fund investment, where respondents showed a 56 percent increase from pre-test to post-test.  Students showed a 49 percent improvement in retirement plan options from pre-test to post-test.

Personal attitudes expressed by IEiYW® participants show an enormous shift to a more positive response.  When the Spring 2012 participants were asked about investing for retirement, there was a 98 percent increase in the number of them who had a positive response.  When asked about stocks and bonds, there was a 107 percent increase in positive response.  There was a 50 percent increase in the number of respondents who said they currently had a formal financial plan.  After completing the IEiYW® program, 90 percent of respondents said they felt more knowledgeable about all of the topics presented.  Fall 2012 results of this nature will also be available soon.

Investor Protection Trust President Don Blandin said: "We are thrilled by all of the positive results for those who participated in the spring 2012 Investor Education in Your Workplace® program.  The shift in attitudes and the elevated scores on the exit tests show that the online training is very effective.  In many instances we interviewed students who said that learning personal finance in the office was their last option to acquire the skill set.  Workers with family obligations, second jobs and on tight budgets said the online classes at work were easy to follow.  Investor Education in Your Workplace® is extremely effective because employees have a dedicated focus on the course material while they are in the office environment.  The program is beneficial to both the employers and the individuals who enroll." 

ABOUT THE GROUPS

The Investor Protection Trust is a nonprofit organization devoted to investor education. More than half of all Americans are now invested in the securities markets, making investor education and protection vitally important. Since 1993 the Investor Protection Trust has worked with the states and at the national level to provide the independent, objective investor education needed by all Americans to make informed investment decisions. The Investor Protection Trust strives to keep all Americans on the right money track. For more information, go to http://www.investorprotection.org.

The Investor Protection Institute is an independent nonprofit organization that advances investor protection by conducting and supporting unbiased research and groundbreaking education programs. IPI carries out its mission through investor education, protection and research programs delivered at both the national and grassroots level in collaboration with state securities regulators and other strategic partners. IPI is dedicated to providing innovative investor-protection programs that will make a meaningful difference in the financial lives of Americans in all walks of life and at all levels of sophistication about financial matters. For more information, go to http:/www.protectinvestors.org. 

ABOUT IEiYW®

Investor Education in Your Workplace® provides investor education and protection to individuals in their workplace. The Investor Protection Trust is collaborating with the Investor Protection Institute, state securities regulators and state credit union associations to provide online investor education and protection curriculum to credit union employees in participating states. The program was piloted with credit union employees and educators in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and North Carolina. The pilot programs have shown strong results including a 27 percent improvement in knowledge for teachers in Wisconsin and a 38 percent and 47 percent improvement in knowledge for credit union employees in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, respectively. The IEiYW® program has now been expanded into 14 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico and to additional employer groups. Course topics include: saving & investing, personal finance, investing basics, investment strategies, investment risks, retirement planning, retirement plan options, mutual funds, financial advisors and putting it all together.

SOURCE Investor Protection Trust and Investor Protection Institute, Washington, D.C.