September 30, 2025

Better Markets Month in Review Newsletter – September 2025

Below is the opening of our monthly newsletter. View the full newsletter online here.

Hi friend,

If one thing is clearer than ever, it’s that America needs a strong and stable financial system that supports the real productive economy, that creates jobs and small businesses, that generates broad based opportunity, security and prosperity, and that fuels rising living standards. But we can all agree that that’s not what we have today, and too many hardworking Americans are being left behind. That’s why on September 19 we brought together some of the country’s leading thinkers, scholars, and policymakers to address the fundamental economic and financial challenges facing the country. Together, we considered how to ignite real change for Main Street Americans.

The first annual Better Markets Academic Advisory Board (BMAAB) State of Economic and Financial Policymaking Conference uplifted some of the best thinking out there on how to strengthen the financial and banking systems, facilitate broad-based wealth creation, and grow the real economy in a way that can benefit all Americans.

A theme running throughout the conference was just how badly the financial industry—Wall Street’s biggest financial firms in particular—wants to get its hands on the hard-earned money and retirement savings that Americans depend on. While hiding and disguising their self-interest, they say it’s good for Main Street Americans to buy high risk, speculative crypto and invest in dark, unregulated private markets. They never mention that they will pocket very high fees, provide very little disclosure, eliminate or reduce protections if you’re ripped off, and likely stick you with the worst performing products. To anyone not conflicted by the hope of enriching themselves with your money, the messages are clear: We must focus on the facts, prioritize Main Street Americans’ best interests, learn from past financial crashes, and ensure that sensible guardrails enable everyone to thrive.

I hope you’ll take some time to enjoy the insightful keynotes and compelling panels from the day.

WATCH HERE

SEC Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw giving the opening keynote address.

Of course, these types of activities—and, in fact, all of our work—are only possible due to your ongoing support and partnership. Next month, we’ll celebrate Better Markets’ 15th Anniversary, please consider contributing to Better Markets so we can continue to fight—against great odds—for economic and financial systems, and create security, opportunity, and prosperity for all Americans, not just the already wealthy and well-connected.