Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions

Madison La Follette team places first in regional Finance Investment Challenge Bowl

MADISON -- A team from Madison La Follette placed first in the 32-team Madison Regional Tournament of the Finance and Investment Challenge Bowl held on January 10 at Edgewood College. The La Follette team and the second-place team from Sauk Prairie High School advance to the state competition on May 8 in Menomonee Falls.

Members of the first-place team, from left to right in the photo above, are team adviser Anna D’Amelio, Hannah Grahn, Leah Pulley, Matlynn Eller and Garrett Phillips. Also pictured are Professor Bill Duddleston (third from right), Edgewood College; and David Mancl (right), director of the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions' Office of Financial Literacy.

The Finance and Investment Challenge Bowl is sponsored statewide by Asset Builders of America, a Madison-based non-profit that promotes financial literacy and wealth-building strategies. Sponsors of the event were M&I Bank, Edgewood College, Wells Fargo Bank, Madison South Rotary Foundation, Custer Financial Services, American Family Insurance, Lincoln Financial Group, MG&E, UW Credit Union, Guaranty Bank, Culvers Restaurants/Todd Drive and Starion Financial.

For more information about the program, visit www.ficbonline.org

New business formation increases by 2.3% in 2011

(Madison) – The number of new businesses formed in Wisconsin was up in the fourth quarter and grew by 2.3% in calendar year 2011, according to data released today by the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI). New business formation totaled 33,190 in 2011, compared to 32,458 in 2010.

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Appleton teacher recognized for completing financial literacy training

APPLETON -- Jenifer Petrie, a teacher at Einstein Middle School in Appleton, was recognized recently for successfully completing all three week-long sessions of Wisconsin’s National Institute of Financial and Economic Literacy, a teacher training best practice in financial literacy. Petrie poses with the walnut clock she received for the accomplishment, joining the “Clock Club” comprised of teachers who have completed all three training sessions. Petrie becomes the 230th member of the club out of 725 teachers who have attended the training over the past 11 years.

Joining Petrie for the presentation were, from left, Rita O’Brien, career and technical education program leader for Appleton Area School District; David Mancl, director of the Office of Financial Literacy at the Department of Financial Institutions; and David M. Boden, principal of Einstein Middle School.

On a related note, the Appleton Area School District last week was selected as one of the recipients of the 2011 Wisconsin Financial Literacy Award from the Governor’s Council on Financial Literacy.

More information about the financial literacy training program for teachers may be found at
wdfi.org/ymm/semandevents/education_series.

Governor’s Council on Financial Literacy selects recipients of statewide award

MADISON -- Members of the Governor’s Council on Financial Literacy met Friday to select the recipients of the 2011 Wisconsin Financial Literacy Award. Out of the 43 nominations considered by the Council, eight organizations and 14 individuals from across the state were selected to receive the award. The names of the recipients will be made public Monday. The mission of the Governor’s Council on Financial Literacy is to measurably improve the level of personal financial knowledge among Wisconsin citizens. Pictured, from left, are Council Co-Vice Chairs Ted Nickel, Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance, and Peter Bildsten, Secretary of the Department of Financial Institutions; Council Chair William E. Wilcox, MCE; and Council Executive Director David Mancl.