Happy National Financial Literacy Month. In the U.S. April kicks off a national focus on financial education and financial inclusion. We are all about that! We hope it’s starting to look like spring where you are. Snag something delicious and settle in for:

• Five things we just heard – part 2 (the end)

• Fresh state metrics

• Updates from Colorado, Connecticut, New Jersey, Hawaii, Missouri, and some Global updates

• In the world of state-sponsored retirement programs, how much does culture matter? Expert Joel Metlen weighs in

We hear all the time about other countries’ innovative ways to improve financial security. Sometimes, we can adopt similar solutions, but other times, those ideas simply won’t work here in the United States. There are a lot of reasons for that - legal, logistical, and political - but one you can’t ignore is culture.

Last week we promised you the inside scoop from five rooms, five topics, but we only gave you room #1. These five hot topics are culled from conferences and calls thoughtfully curated and hosted by the Aspen Institute Financial Security Program, DCIIA’s Innovation Forum Team, Georgetown Center for Retirement Initiatives’ State Retirement Savings Program Network, NAST’s Legislative Conference Team, and even the Conference of the Western Region Chartered Financial Analyst Societies. So what’s behind those other doors? Good stuff you need.