Defending Main Street
Protecting Consumers, Investors, Retirees and Markets from the Predators
Financial Reform and Stability
Preventing Financial Crashes and Economic Collapse While Protecting Your Pocketbook, Our Shared Prosperity and America’s Limited Resources
Accountability
Returning the Law to Wall Street While Watching the Watchdogs, Defending Democracy, Transparency and Open Government
Advocacy and Outreach
Supporting the productive economy, creating wealth and broad-based prosperity while reducing systemic threats, inequality and economic insecurity
“Dennis Kelleher and his team at Better Markets have consistently pushed for financial reform that will help protect the U.S. economy from another financial crash. They are strong partners in the fight to level the playing field for middle-class families and have been persistent fighters for the American people, their jobs, savings and retirements.”
“Better Markets has served as a valuable and important voice pushing for fairness in our financial system.”
“Dennis Kelleher over at Better Markets, a huge presence in Washington, DC. A nonprofit, of course, established to make finance and government serve society a little bit better.”
“Dennis Kelleher [is] one of the most powerful lobbyists on financial regulatory reform.”
“It's more important than ever that consumers and taxpayers have strong advocates like Dennis and Better Markets to stand up for ordinary Americans.”
“Kelleher, a former attorney at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, has become well-known for his critique of both Wall Street banks and regulators who he has often accused of failing to hold the banks accountable for wrongdoing.”
“Dennis is one of the most plugged in and important names here in Washington as the founder and leader of the investor advocacy group Better Markets. His views can not only drive fear into the heart of Wall Street, but they are also driving the conversation on Capitol Hill, especially on the most pressing topics concerning market abuse, risk and the integrity of the financial system.”
Shaping the news, amplifying the public’s voice and analyzing new policies so Main Street doesn’t get left behind.
Comment
Letters
Better Markets filed more than 450 Comment Letters at the financial regulatory agencies and self-regulatory organizations.
Rule
Citations
Better Markets was cited over 170 times in final rules, showcasing the impact our subject matter experts make on the rulemaking process.
Court
Filings
Better Markets argues for strong regulation, effective remedies for investors, and a rulemaking process that complies with the law.
Print
Articles
Better Markets subject matter experts are continually sought after to amplify the public’s voice and to analyze new policies so Main Street doesn’t get left behind.
Wall Street banks are trying to return to the dangerously low levels of capital that they had in 2007, right before the financial crash. Read our fact sheet:
Wall Street Banks Are Trying to Return to Dangerously Low 2007 Capital Levels, Again Endangering...
Let’s be clear about what is happening with capital at the largest U.S. banks: those banks and their army of ...
bettermarkets.org
13 years ago today, the SEC's rule requiring a consolidated audit trail (CAT) took effect. The CAT makes our securities markets safer and is an important tool for investor protection. Now, the SEC and its industry allies are trying to kill the CAT.
The SEC Must Not Kill The CAT | Better Markets
Introduction On May 6, 2010, nearly $1 trillion of stock market value was temporarily lost.[1] Some stocks inexplica...
bettermarkets.org
Glad to see bipartisan leadership from @sencortezmasto and @senjohncurtis reminding the @CFTC that sports gambling operators can’t escape state and tribal law by masquerading themselves as “event contracts.” It’s time for the @CFTC to act!
Cortez Masto, Curtis Push CFTC for Answers on Enforcement of Illegal Gaming in Event Contracts -...
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and John Curtis (R-Utah) led four of their Se...
www.cortezmasto.senate.gov
Our September newsletter covers our State of Economic and Financial Policymaking conference earlier this month, as well as our work on community banks, private market assets, the important role state regulators play in consumer protection, and more.
Better Markets Month in Review Newsletter – September 2025 | Better Markets
Below is the opening of our monthly newsletter. View the full newsletter online here. Hi friend, If one thing is...
bettermarkets.org
In a new report, we explain how every American with a bank account, credit card or mortgage loan is impacted by the Supreme Court’s decisions. The Court must use its power to level the playing field between large corporations and Main Street Americans.
The Supreme Court’s Impact on the Economy and Main Street Americans’ Financial Lives | Better...
Below is the Introduction to the report. Read the full report here. Introduction Anyone who has a savings or che...
bettermarkets.org
“It’s astonishing how spineless the masters of the universe and big bad billionaires really are. If they’re going to cravenly capitulate over the independence of the Fed, it’s pretty clear they will not stand up for anything.” -@DennisKelleher in @nytimes
Why Corporate America Is Caving to Trump
When broadcasters like CBS and ABC surrendered to the president, it looked as if they lacked backbone. The explanation runs much deeper.
www.nytimes.com
Despite the critical role community banks play in supporting our local economies, they face an unlevel playing field. Existing policies benefit the largest banks, leaving community banks struggle. In a new report, we suggest policy changes to remedy this.
Strengthening Community Banks Creates an Economy That Works for All Americans | Better Markets
Below is the introduction of the report. Read the full report here. INTRODUCTION: Community Banks’ Indispensable Rol...
bettermarkets.org
The CFPB’s proposal to exempt subprime auto lenders from the possibility of Bureau supervision should be rejected. It would have robbed 1.36 million customers, including 50,000 service members, from $75 million in restitution and penalties.
CFPB’s Proposal is an Auto Lender Giveaway: New Framework Would Have Robbed 1.36 Million Customers,...
WASHINGTON, D.C.— Amanda Fischer, Policy Director and COO of Better Markets, issued the following statement in conne...
bettermarkets.org
Jared Bernstein, Former Chair of the President’s Council of Economic Advisors, is closing out the State of Economic and Financial Policymaking Conference with a keynote address.
.@jentaub, BMAAB Co-Chair & Prof. of Law, Wayne State University joins @anatadmati, Prof. of Finance and Economics, Stanford GSB; @ProfHilaryAllen, Professor, American University College of Law; and Patricia McCoy, Professor of Law, BC Law School to discuss "innovation and…
Antonio Weiss, Former Counselor to the Secretary of the United States Treasury and Partner, SSW Partners LP offers joint keynote on private credit and systemic risk with @Markzandi, Chief Economist, @economics_ma. Watch now: https://tinyurl.com/BMAAB2025
Better Markets COO and Policy Director @amandalfischer.bsky.social celebrates the impactful work of scholars within the Better Markets academic network, including Academic Advisory Board Co-Chair @simonhrjohnson.bsky.social, awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Economics.…
The Better Markets Academic Advisory Board is using informed scholarship to building vital bridges between academia and the public sphere. Learn more here:
State of Economic & Financial Policymaking Conference | Better Markets
The Better Markets Academic Advisory Board (BMAAB) held its first annual conference on September 19th, 2025. The day...
tinyurl.com
.@ProfKateJudge, Co-Chair, Better Markets Academic Advisory Board & Columbia Law Professor joins @Jeremy_Kress, Assoc. Professor U-Mich Business and Co-Faculty Dir. U-Mich Center on Finance, Law & Policy; and @IrvingSwisher, Exec. Director, @employamerica to discuss what's next…
Thomas Ferguson, Professor Emeritus, University of Massachusetts Boston, offers a research update on "Crypto's Political Economy." Follow along here: https://tinyurl.com/msukfkd4
Today's State of Economic & Financial Policymaking Conference is underway with a keynote address from SEC Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw. Tune in now! https://tinyurl.com/msukfkd4
The State of Economic & Financial Policymaking Conference begins at 9am today! You can still join us virtually. https://bettermarkets.org/analysis/better-markets-academic-advisory-board-state-of-economic-financial-policymaking-conference/
The @SECGov is hosting a roundtable today on its 'Trade-through rule,' which prohibits the execution of trades on one exchange at prices inferior to prices at another exchange. https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/meetings-events/roundtable-trade-through-prohibitions
The SEC continues to fail at its mission to protect investors by giving corporate America one if its top priorities: mandatory arbitration. This will force investors into a biased, unfair forum to keep them from going to court with their grievances.
SEC Allowing Corporations to Force Harmed Investors into Biased Arbitration Star Chambers Is Wrong...
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Benjamin Schiffrin, Director of Securities Policy for Better Markets, issued the following statement in...
bettermarkets.org
ICYMI: "A Trump controlled Fed will make short term political decisions to benefit Trump, not the 10s of millions of hardworking Americans who depend on the Fed to make data-driven decisions to keep prices under control while maximizing employment." -@DennisKelleher…
This week! Join us on Friday, September 19 for the State of Economic & Financial Policymaking Conference, hosted by our Academic Advisory Board—bold ideas, expert panels. https://bettermarkets.org/analysis/better-markets-academic-advisory-board-state-of-economic-financial-policymaking-conference/
"The Senate’s confirmation today of Trump’s unqualified White House employee, Stephen Miran, to a short-term position on the Fed while he keeps his White House job is shameful and an inexcusable dereliction of its constitutional duty to properly consider nominees." -…
One week away: the State of Economic & Financial Policymaking Conference. Hear panels and keynotes with bold ideas, expert insights, and collaborative dialogue on the future of economic and financial policymaking. Register here: https://bettermarkets.org/analysis/better-markets-academic-advisory-board-state-of-economic-financial-policymaking-conference/
Read our new Substack post about the SEC's recently released rulemaking agenda: https://bettermarkets.substack.com/p/chair-atkins-agenda-is-the-industrys
The private funds industry wants its assets to be sold to the public but still deemed "private." This cannot be the case. Our new report explains why there is no such thing as private market assets in the hands of the general public.
There’s No Such Thing as Private Market Assets in the Hands of the General Public | Better Markets
Our new report, “There’s No Such Thing as Private Market Assets in the Hands of the General Public,” explain...
bettermarkets.org
The Administration is gutting the federal agencies that oversee the markets, rolling back important rules, and abandoning enforcement actions. Our new report shows how the states play a vital role in the face of this dangerous trend.
More Than Ever, the States Have a Vital Role to Play in Investor and Consumer Protection | Better...
As Federal Protections Against Financial Fraud and Abuse Are Gutted, the States Help Fill the Void Federal deregulat...
bettermarkets.org
Join us on September 19 for the State of Economic & Financial Policymaking Conference, hosted by our Academic Advisory Board—bold ideas, expert panels. Register here: https://bettermarkets.org/analysis/better-markets-academic-advisory-board-state-of-economic-financial-policymaking-conference/
Bitcoin ATMs reprise a painful history in finance, writes BM board member @DedrickM and @DennisKelleher via @ft
Bitcoin ATMs reprise a painful history in finance
The machines located in Latino, Black and low-income neighbourhoods offer a promise of inclusion but involve high costs
www.ft.com
The @SECGov's first rulemaking agenda under Chair Paul Atkins should worry retail investors -- it reflects the SEC’s continued preoccupation with integrating crypto into the mainstream financial system. Read our full statement:
SEC Chair Atkins’s Rulemaking Agenda Prioritizes the Crypto Industry and Wall Street Over Main...
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Benjamin Schiffrin, Director of Securities Policy for Better Markets, issued the following statement in...
bettermarkets.org
Fed Governor nominee Stephen Miran appears in front of the Senate Banking Committee today. Unfortunately, Miran lacks the necessary experience to be an effective Fed Governor, and his allegiance to Trump and his radical policy views make him unfit for this important position.
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please contact [email protected] or 202-618-6433.
Help us fight for the public interest in our financial markets, protecting Main Street from Wall Street and avoiding another costly financial collapse and economic crisis, by making a donation today.
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