Across Europe, millions of citizens remain hesitant to save and invest.

Their scepticism is mostly rooted in low financial literacy, limited confidence in financial institutions, and persistent concerns about fairness, transparency, and misselling. Today, as digital finance, neobrokers, finfluencers, AI-driven financial content, and a wider variety of investment products become the norm, investing has become more accessible and user-friendly than ever before, yet it remains complex. While these innovations offer new opportunities, they can also leave some citizens unsure about how to navigate them effectively and safely.

Bridging this gap requires investor education

Improving financial literacy, restoring trust in markets, and guaranteeing that retail investors receive fair, value-for-money outcomes are crucial steps. These efforts are vital for increasing long-term savings, encouraging retail participation in capital markets, and advancing the EU’s wider goals under the Savings & Investment Union.

To initiate a discussion on this matter, BETTER FINANCE is organising an online discussion:

Investor Education & Trust: Reconnecting European Citizens with Finance and Capital Markets

Date: 17 March 2026 | Time: 10:00 – 12:30 | Location: Online

The online webinar will analyse why confidence in the financial sector remains fragile. The event will also investigate how independent, evidence-based investor education can serve as a foundational element of a more inclusive, resilient, and citizen-centric European financial system.

The discussion will focus on real-world barriers, behavioural challenges, regulatory responsibilities, and practical solutions to ensure that investor education initiatives are credible, effective, and genuinely aligned with the interests of retail investors.

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Programme

10:00 – 10: 10 | Welcome & Introduction

Investor Education as a Public Interest Objective

Aleksandra Mączyńska, Managing Director, BETTER FINANCE

10:10 – 10:30 | Keynote Speech

The European Commission’s Financial Literacy Strategy: Building Capability, Trust and Participation

Alexandra Jour-Schroeder, Deputy Director-General Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union at the European Commission

10:30 – 11:45 | High-Level Round-table Discussion

Main Barriers and Practical Solutions to Investor Education in Europe

Anne Gaignard, CEO, Place des Investisseurs (moderator)

Camille Beaudoin, Chair of the IOSCO Committee on Retail Investors and Director of Financial Education Expertise and Partnerships, Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF), Québec

Alexandra Jour-Schroeder, Deputy Director-General Financial Stability, Financial Services & Capital Markets Union, European Commission

Chiara Monticone, Senior Policy Analyst & Coordinator, OECD/INFE

11:45 – 11:55 | Interactive Q&A with Participants

Anne Gaignard, CEO, Place des Investisseurs

12:00 – 12:20 | Presentation

Practical Examples of Investor Education Initiatives from BETTER FINANCE Member Organisations on the ground

12:20 – 12:30 Conclusion & Policy Takeaways

Aleksandra Mączyńska, Managing Director, BETTER FINANCE

More speakers will be announced in due time!

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Register for the event using the form below. You will receive a Zoom link a few days before the conference.