At a time when the cost of living is rising and economic uncertainty is felt, saving has become a challenge for many families. But it is also an opportunity: to gain autonomy, plan the future and reinforce financial security. And it all starts with knowledge.
Financial literacy is an investment with a guaranteed return. Understanding how to manage a budget, evaluate financial products or prepare for retirement are skills that give people more control over their decisions. A financially informed society is also a more confident and resilient society.
The Insurance and Pension Funds Supervisory Authority (ASF) has placed financial literacy at the center of its mission. In addition to supervising and regulating the market, it develops initiatives that help citizens make informed decisions. The Consumer Portal1 provides guides, simulators and clear information on rights and duties, while new rules reinforce the transparency of commissions, returns and risks, making products more comparable and understandable.
But literacy is only effective when it reaches everyone. It is essential to adapt the language and communication channels, taking the message to different audiences – from young people to the elderly and the most vulnerable, from families to small businesses. In addition to its own initiatives, the ASF is also involved in the National Financial Training Plan (PNFF), together with the Bank of Portugal and the CMVM, which has promoted access to financial information in an inclusive way. The PNFF mobilizes schools, local authorities, companies, associations and other institutions, transforming financial knowledge into everyday practice. Through initiatives such as “Financial Education Week” and the “Todos Contam2” portal, more informed and responsible financial behavior is promoted among different audiences, in a simple and accessible way.
Long-term savings play a central role in this context. In a country where demographic aging is a reality and where many of those who leave working life face substantially lower disposable income, resulting in lack of protection, it is essential to reinforce additional savings. Long-term savings products, such as insurance and pension funds, are instruments that offer security, diversification and professional management – transforming regular decisions into future stability.
Promoting financial literacy is more than teaching how to save money: it is empowering each citizen to save intelligently, which makes sense in the present and protects the future. Learning to save strategically means channeling low-yield resources into long-term instruments. Every informed decision is an opportunity to reinforce financial peace of mind and prepare for the future with autonomy and confidence.
Learning to save is preparing for the future – and the future always starts in the present.
President of ASF – Insurance and Pension Funds Supervisory Authority