Blog
Access Commonwealth’s latest thinking, new ideas, and practical insights from our team of innovators, researchers, and business experts.
Designing Financial Solutions for Elder Caregivers
3 Ways Financial Institutions Can Help End the Savings Crisis
All too often, we see financial capability focused on the role of the individual and how they can improve their own financial security. However, at Commonwealth, our research has shown that a lack of tools and opportunities is a primary…
Making the Most of the Tax Time Moment
As part of Commonwealth’s ongoing work focused on savings innovations, we have developed solutions to enable financially vulnerable tax filers to make the most of the critical tax time moment and the tax refund windfall. Last year, we conducted research…
The Power of Prizes: $2 Billion Moved Through the Walmart MoneyCard Vault
Two years after Prize Savings launched, we're excited that Walmart customers have moved $2 billion through the Vault, a safe and accessible savings pocket of the Walmart MoneyCard prepaid card. Making saving fun and exciting with innovative solutions like Prize…
5 Key Takeaways from Fintech for Social Impact
On March 19, over 200 leaders in financial services and fintech gathered at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston (Boston Fed) for a panel discussing the role of financial technology (fintech) in creating positive social impact. Commonwealth and Fintech Sandbox…
The Critical Role of Business Executives in Employee Financial Security
Employee financial security can help workers and companies of varying sizes and industries thrive together, not just in quarterly earnings but over a longer horizon. While we know that business executives alone don’t hold the power to fully transform industry…
Promoting Financial Security through Active Ownership
At Commonwealth, we are continuing to grow our understanding of strategies and tools that can help influence business leaders to invest in employee financial security. We previously shared our early thoughts on the role investors can play in promoting financial…
How CSAs and Baby Bonds Can Work Together to Close the Racial Wealth Gap
Last month, Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) announced his intention to introduce a bill to address massive income inequality in the United States. American Opportunity Accounts (AOAs), or “Baby Bonds” seek to aid in closing the racial wealth gap that underlies…
Relying on the True Experts to Address Financial Challenges
As the gig economy introduces uncertain income streams for millions of workers, income volatility has become more widespread. No one understands the challenges of this financial uncertainty better than the people impacted. That’s why when we partnered with The Workers…
Trends and Opportunities for Innovation: Payments
Commonwealth is always looking for changes in the landscape that could lead to either new financial challenges or opportunities for new innovative solutions. Over the last year we have engaged in an extensive research project and have identified four areas (payments, insurance, decision making, and new actors) that we will…
Trends and Opportunities for Innovation: Insurance
Commonwealth is always looking for changes in the landscape that could lead to either new financial challenges or opportunities for new innovative solutions. Over the last year we have engaged in an extensive research project and have identified four areas (payments, insurance, decision making, and new actors) that we will…