January 2024

Greetings friends,

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Financial Health Network and the start of our financial health community. It’s a milestone that belongs to you – our partners, Members, supporters, and alumni – as much as it does to us.

I launched the Financial Health Network (originally the Center for Financial Services Innovation) in 2004 to answer the question, “How can technology help improve financial access for the millions of Americans without bank accounts?”

Over time, we recognized that by helping people improve their financial lives, we could improve their overall lives. And so our founding question has evolved into a cross-sector effort to advance financial health for all. Thanks to the financial health community, we collectively have made tremendous strides:

• • We’ve brought the financial health conversation front and center through research like Financial Health Pulse®, supported over the years by the Citi Foundation, Principal Foundation, Flourish, MetLife Foundation, and AARP Foundation.
  • We’ve built a movement of 500 organizations and counting who share our commitment to improving the financial lives of vulnerable Americans.
  • We’ve catalyzed solutions across the ecosystem, including the new Financial Health Support Certification Program in partnership with J.D. Power.
  • We’ve touched the lives of more than 200 million Americans through programs like the Financial Solutions Lab with JPMorgan Chase and Prudential Financial, BlackRock’s Emergency Savings Initiative, and the Worker Financial Wellness Initiative with JUST Capital and PayPal.

Accomplishments like these are ours to celebrate, but they’re also ours to build upon.

Together, it’s time to reflect on the progress we’ve made, rethink our systems and practices, and rewire our society to truly support financial health for all – especially the most vulnerable among us.

In a nation where 70% of Americans are not Financially Healthy, our movement must look beyond individual solutions to shape a financial system that helps everyone thrive. We must do better: for our customers, our employees, and our communities. 

This year, I invite you to join us in building the next chapter. It will be our most challenging work yet, but it’s key to creating a world where everyone can thrive financially. 

• • Partner with our team to build solutions by engaging our advisors, requesting custom research, or joining our Member community. Engage with us here.
  • Unite with fellow finhealth champions and plan for what’s next at EMERGE Financial Health 2024 – a once-in-a-lifetime celebration June 5-7 in our hometown, Chicago.
  • Learn from leaders across the ecosystem in a new lineup of EMERGE Everywhere podcast episodes launching later this month.
  • Follow along on LinkedIn, Instagram, and other channels as we share stories from our first 20 years, and tell your own finhealth story to inspire others across your network.

Above all, keep connecting with the Financial Health Network and with each other. Though the challenges before us are deep and systemic, together we can spark widespread change. Thank you for your passion, perseverance, and commitment to bettering the financial lives of all people. 

To 20 years and beyond,