Our 2022 U.S. Trends Report tells a far different story than prior years. Data from the nationally representative probability-based Pulse survey, fielded in April and May 2022, show that financial health declined for the first time in the project’s five-year history.

Consumer’s ability to access and electronically share their financial data has already demonstrated considerable financial health benefits. But our research among consumers, their financial app providers and data aggregators reveals seven “pain points” impeding data access and preventing consumers from sending their data where it can do them the greatest good. The Bureau’s pending rulemaking under Section 1033 of Dodd Frank can best serve financial health by incorporating a few basic principles that will enshrine consumers’ data access rights.

In collaboration with legal empowerment fintech Upsolve, we explore how incorporating a digital community into fintech tools can support user financial decision-making and improve customer satisfaction.

Our findings suggest that investing in the financial health of workers in low-wage jobs – defined as earning up to $17 per hour in hourly wages or up to $35,360 per year in annual wages – can be an effective strategy for employers to ensure a stable and productive workforce.

As many employees struggle with unmanageable debt, employers can make a difference by providing credit- and debt-related financial wellness solutions. Here are fiscal, legal, and regulatory considerations for businesses to keep in mind as they develop offerings to help employees manage debt, build credit, and improve their financial health.

Savings are a critical component of financial health, and new approaches can encourage consumer savings.

The Financial Health Network’s research has consistently shown a sizable gap in the financial health of men and women. Moreover, recent data found that while financial health improved overall for the country during the pandemic, the gap between men and women actually widened.

Direct government payments can provide meaningful support for the financial health of households. In the case of the 2021 expansion of the Child Tax Credit (CTC), advance CTC payments reduced monthly child poverty by nearly 30%, according to research from Columbia University.

When offered digital financial wellness tools, which workers use them most? Explore how various employee groups engaged with a mobile app rolled out by University Federal Credit Union in Austin, Texas.

This year’s annual FinHealth Spend Report examines how households in America managed their finances and accessed credit during the second year of the pandemic, analyzing year-over-year trends for more than two dozen financial products and services.

Data-driven understanding of employees’ needs can inform design and delivery of benefits programs that increase equity in employee financial health.