Siegel+Gale Provides Research for SEC's Financial Literacy Study

NEW YORK, Dec. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Global strategic branding firm Siegel+Gale (www.siegelgale.com) today announced that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) used research conducted by the firm to better understand the needs of investors. The research uncovered what investors want to know about financial professionals and investment products and services, and when and how investors want to receive such information.

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Mandated by the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the SEC study draws on numerous sources, including online survey research, focus group research, public comments to the SEC and a Library of Congress review of studies of financial literacy among US retail investors. Siegel+Gale conducted qualitative and quantitative research with retail investors, comprising a series of 12 focus groups and an online survey of 4,802 respondents.

The SEC report, "Study Regarding Financial Literacy Among Investors" identifies investor perceptions and preferences regarding a variety of investment disclosures. It demonstrates that investors prefer to receive investment disclosures before investing, rather than after. In addition, the study identifies information that investors find useful and relevant in helping them make informed investment decisions. This includes information about fees, investment objectives, performance, strategy and risks of an investment product, as well as the professional background, disciplinary history and conflicts of interest of a financial professional. The study also revealed that investors favor investment disclosures presented in a visual format, using bullets, charts and graphs.

About Siegel+Gale

Siegel+Gale (www.siegelgale.com) is the simplicity company. We seek it, defend it and embrace it in everything we do to help brands reach their true potential. Simplicity is the centerpiece of the strategies we develop that reveal the unique truths of an organization, the engaging stories we create that connect brands with their audiences and the meaningful experiences we deliver that are both unexpectedly fresh and remarkably clear.

Since 1969, Siegel+Gale has championed simplicity for leading corporations, nonprofits and government organizations worldwide. We have offices in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, London, Hamburg, Riyadh, Dubai, Shanghai and Beijing, but we're willing to fly just about anywhere. We're also not alone. As part of Diversified Agency Services, a division of Omnicom Group Inc., we have strong partners all around the world.

About Diversified Agency Services

Diversified Agency Services (DAS), a division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com), manages Omnicom's holdings in a variety of marketing communications disciplines. DAS includes over 200 companies, which operate through a combination of networks and regional organizations, serving international and local clients through more than 700 offices in 71 countries.

About Omnicom Group Inc.

Omnicom Group Inc. (www.omnicomgroup.com) is a leading global marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom's branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, digital and interactive marketing, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries.

Contact:

Jessica Abell
Siegel+Gale
[email protected]
212.453.0580

SOURCE Siegel+Gale