Data and research
A holistic approach to financial health
Human centered, data driven, and action oriented
Research that matters
As a member-first organization, we collaborate with our members to publish and share groundbreaking reports and insights that leverage the financial data and personal experiences they entrust us with.
Through survey data, rapid polling responses, innovation tests, and other diverse research methods, we’ve honed our skills at generating actionable insights to inform our work and that of the financial health field.
And while we conduct research about specific topics like climate change and housing, we also monitor and share different aspects of our members’ financial health such as how well they are meeting basic needs, saving, and managing debt — including how these issues relate to our policy agenda. These insights can be found on our Financial Health Dashboard (coming soon).
Cumulatively, these efforts help us to tell a larger, more complete story of the systemic issues that impede the financial health journeys of our members while offering actionable recommendations to improve their financial health outcomes.
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We conduct intervention research to understand the best ways - as informed by behavioral science - to help our members take action to improve their financial health. For example, what’s more effective: for us to encourage tax time savings pledges (pre-commitment) or for us to suggest saving a certain amount of one’s refund (anchoring)? Will publishing educational articles encourage members to seek services from our nonprofit referral partners or will impact be better if we make overt suggestions?
In the spirit of using our findings to take action, we use these member-informed insights to improve our platform and therefore the experience of our members. Additionally, we share our findings with other organizations so they can also take action and improve financial services and products for their own communities. -
Through our work, we seek to understand how members make financial decisions, such as why and when they use new financial products like “Buy Now Pay Later.” We look at whether they are aware of and able to access public benefits.
Again, in the name of ‘action,’ we use findings from this strategy to make recommendations to financial services providers and state and federal government agencies about the best ways to support, empower, and protect people with low-to-moderate incomes.
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We are deeply committed to understanding how our members are affected by the systemic challenges that intersect with and impact their financial health.
From climate change, the high costs of housing, transportation, and groceries to childcare, student and medical debt, and more — we are looking at the bigger picture to understand the financial health challenges these systemic challenges cause in our members’ lives.
Collaborating closely with our members to amplify their personal experiences and priorities, we marry their voices with our findings to advocate for changes in public policies and employer and company practices that will better serve them and their financial health goals.
Recent work and publications
We are regularly updating our research library with new reports, insights, resources and findings. Be sure you are signed up for our research newsletter to be notified of new content from the SaverLife team.
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Understanding the Consumer Experience
The use of financial technology (“fintech”) has grown rapidly over the past decade, and most recently options such as fintech banking, Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL), cash advance, and earned wage advance (EWA) applications have exploded onto the market. These solutions are widely used by SaverLife members (members) and offer new tools that may better meet their financial needs than mainstream financial products but are these products helping or harming their finanical health?
Supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, this is the first in a series of two reports.
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Housing and financial health
Supported by the Melville Charitable Trust and additional philanthropic contributions from Deutsche Bank, SaverLife has conducted new research exploring the intricate relationship between housing costs and financial health. This study reveals how these two factors interact and significantly influence one another. Housing costs are expensive and put a strain on the financial stability of individuals living on low-to-moderate incomes (LMI). These housing costs can also cause a ripple effect on other aspects of their financial health, including how well they’re able to take steps toward achieving their shorter-and-longer-term goals.
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Climate change and financial health
With the support of the Wells Fargo Foundation, SaverLife has launched The Downpour, a research initiative aimed at uncovering the ongoing effects of climate change on the financial well-being of households with low to moderate incomes. By combining qualitative and quantitative data, we highlight the experiences of our members and assess the effectiveness of existing policies in mitigating climate change's impact on their lives while also building climate resilience. This is the fight of our lives.
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Microentrepreneurs and financial health
In Spring 2022, SaverLife, with the support of the Wells Fargo Foundation, launched a comprehensive marketing and outreach campaign to learn more about the self-employed. In particular, we wanted to better understand the aspirations and pain points of microentrepreneurs: individuals who start a side hustle, launch a small business, or take on gig work to cover some or all of their income through self-employment.
Additional research insights
