As some of the country's largest employers pull back on essential benefits, products and platforms built by financial services providers have a greater opportunity to support workers.

Two months after joining the Financial Health Network, Michael Thompson attended EMERGE for the first time and left energized for what’s ahead.

Explore key takeaways from EMERGE 2026, where 450+ attendees tackled financial health challenges from responsible AI and industry standards to community trust and new pathways to economic stability.

DEI in the workplace has evolved dramatically over the last few years. As a new administration takes office, how can employers navigate the changing landscape and make sure they’re doing right by their workers? Yemi Rose, founder and CEO of financial wellness platform OfColor, sits down with Financial Health Network Vice President Matt Bahl to discuss his own journey as a DEI leader and strategies to prepare for what’s next. Don’t miss their conversation on the final episode of our EMERGE Everywhere Workplace mini-series.

While the American dream is still alive, it’s no longer accessible to everyone. It has become harder to raise a family, earn a livable wage, and create generational wealth. What can we do to help more Americans believe in this dream again and improve their financial lives? Good jobs, and more of them, may be the solution. In this episode of our special EMERGE Everywhere Workplace mini-series, Transfr Inc. Founder and CEO Bharani Rajakumar and bestselling author of “The Pursuit of Happyness” Chris Gardner discuss why the American dream feels out of reach for many, how good jobs can turn around this outlook, and what organizations can do to help Americans obtain a good job.

As the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)’s recent rule effectively banning noncompete agreements sends shock waves across the business world, this often misunderstood employment tool is in the spotlight. Typically considered the sole province of executives, nearly 1 in 5 workers are subject to a noncompete – including some fast food workers. So are these agreements essential to protect a company's proprietary assets, or are they a blunt tool whose utility has been overextended to create anti-competitive practices? If the noncompete ban stands, what might this mean for workers, their financial health, and our broader economy? In the opening episode of our special EMERGE Everywhere Workplace mini-series, host Matt Bahl, head of workplace financial health, dives into the details of noncompetes with University of Maryland Associate Professor Evan Starr, whose research directly informed the FTC’s rulemaking. Note for Listeners: Since we recorded this episode, multiple conflicting lower court rulings have risen which all but guarantees noncompetes will be taken to the Supreme Court. Regardless, this episode focuses on the past, present, and potential future of noncompetes and their financial health impacts.