WASHINGTON, D.C.— Statement from Dennis M. Kelleher, Better Markets’ Cofounder, President, and CEO, on the 15^th anniversary of Better Markets’ founding on October 1, 2010. Read more about 15 years of Better Markets’ impact and activities in the new Better Markets 15^th Anniversary Report.

“Fifteen years ago, when the horrific damage of the 2008 financial crash was still crushing tens of millions of Americans across the country, we started Better Markets as an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit advocacy organization with a bold mission: stand up for hardworking Main Street Americans and fight for an economy that will work for everyone, not just Wall Street, CEOs, corporations, and special interests with their armies of lobbyists. I’m not going to lie: it’s been hard to oppose their access, influence, power, and allies across Washington. But with a talented and deeply experienced staff of professionals, Better Markets became a uniquely powerful and effective counterweight to the financial industry’s special interests seeking to bend the rules and laws to maximize profits at the expense of Main Street American’s prosperity.

“Quantitatively, since our founding, Better Markets has:

• Participated in more than 500 rulemakings at the financial regulatory agencies.
• Been cited expressly in more than 180 agency final rules while influencing hundreds more.
• Filed almost 100 briefs in courts across the country seeking to protect consumers, investors, markets and financial stability.
• Testified and provided expert advice hundreds of times from Congress and the financial regulatory agencies to global forums and private briefings.
• Been quoted in more than 6000 articles on all the key economic and financial policymaking matters.

“Nevertheless the economic and financial systems remain too often rigged against Main Street Americans, and Better Markets will continue to fight for broad-based wealth creation rather than wealth extraction and a financial system that supports the real productive economy, not just the already rich. We’re also responding to new challenges — from the integration of AI into finance, the influence of the crypto industry, and the explosive growth of nonbanks, to new threats to retirement savings, the climate crisis, and the persistent exploitation of underserved communities. Today and in the future, our work remains the same as the day we were founded: provide a powerful and compelling counterweight in the halls of power in Washington policymaking on behalf of all hardworking Americans.”

Our new Better Markets 15^th Anniversary Report can be found here.

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Better Markets is a non-profit, non-partisan, and independent organization founded in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis to promote the public interest in the financial markets, support the financial reform of Wall Street and make our financial system work for all Americans again. Better Markets works with allies—including many in finance—to promote pro-market, pro-business and pro-growth policies that help build a stronger, safer financial system that protects and promotes Americans’ jobs, savings, retirements and more. To learn more, visit www.bettermarkets.org.