Measurement for Systems Change: Lessons From the Financial Health Pulse^®

When we launched the Financial Health Pulse® research initiative in 2018, a portrait of financial health in the U.S. was just starting to take shape. While previous qualitative studies and large-scale surveys explored topics like income volatility and access to financial services, there were significant gaps in our understanding of our nation’s financial health challenges.  

Over the past six years, the Financial Health Network has conducted a nationally representative survey through the Pulse initiative to establish annual benchmarks for financial health in the U.S. – providing a critical evidence base that has sparked awareness and action to improve financial health for all. In this special retrospective, we reflect on how the Pulse has contributed to changes across the financial ecosystem and highlight key considerations for using measurement as a tool for systems change.