The FINRA Foundation encourages researchers, media, policymakers, and other stakeholders to explore the NFCS datasets. NFCS data files are available in .dta, .csv and .sav file formats. Note that datasets in .dta and .sav format have variable descriptions and value labels within the datasets for ease of use. All dataset downloads include a PDF data dictionary with additional coding information, survey questionnaire, and methodological information including sampling and data collection practices . The methodological documents and questionnaires can also be separately accessed.
Components of the NFCS
The NFCS State-by-State Survey
The State-by-State NFCS examines the financial experiences, attitudes, behaviors, and knowledge of a large, diverse representative sample of U.S. adults. National and state-level findings are drawn from online surveys of over 25,000 American adults, with 500 respondents in each of the 50 states (and Puerto Rico in the 2021 NFCS). Findings from the survey are weighted to be representative of Census distributions according to the American Community Survey. National figures are weighted to be representative of the national population in terms of age, gender, ethnicity, education, and Census Division. State figures are weighted to be representative of each state in terms of age, gender, ethnicity, and education.
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The NFCS Investor Survey
The NFCS Investor Survey takes a closer look at the investing decisions of adults in the U.S. who own investments outside of retirement accounts. The survey explores the behaviors, attitudes, perceptions, knowledge, and influences of a subsample of NFCS respondents who indicated on the State-by-State Survey that they had a taxable investment account. The Investor Survey can be appended to the State-by-State Survey for deeper analysis of the financial capabilities of U.S investors.
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