NEWTOWN, PA — A new financial literacy credential program is being launched as Americans post the lowest financial knowledge scores recorded in the 10-year history of a widely cited national assessment, according to data from the TIAA Institute-GFLEC Personal Finance Index.
The index found that U.S. adults correctly answered just 47% of questions on a 28-question financial literacy assessment in 2026.
The results also showed weaker performance among younger adults. Gen Z respondents scored 38% on average, while 37% fell into the survey’s lowest financial literacy category.
Overall, 25% of U.S. adults were classified in the very-low literacy tier, up from 20% in 2017.
Against that backdrop, financial advisor Marc R. Butler has introduced Master Your Money Certified, a three-tier credential program designed to assess financial knowledge and application.
The program is based on Master Your Money, Secure Your Future, a book co-authored by Butler and Eric Butow that was named a finalist for a 2026 MAIA award.
According to Butler, the program is structured around three credential levels—Completion, Knowledge, and Applied—and requires participants to pass assessments rather than simply complete coursework.
“For a decade, the data has shown financial literacy stagnating. Now it’s actively declining — and the share of Americans at the very bottom of the curve is growing,” Butler stated. “Hoping people will figure it out on their own clearly isn’t working.”
The credential is being positioned for adoption by universities, including financial aid offices, first-year seminar programs, and business school courses, while also being offered directly to individual learners.
Butler is a financial advisor with Anthony Petsis & Associates in the Philadelphia region and an advocate for financial literacy education.
The announcement comes as policymakers, educators, and financial institutions continue to examine ways to improve financial knowledge amid growing concerns about consumer debt, retirement readiness, and long-term financial planning.
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