Blog
Access Commonwealth’s latest thinking, new ideas, and practical insights from our team of innovators, researchers, and business experts.
25 Years In and Looking Ahead
Commonwealth’s Bold Vision
Earlier this year, Commonwealth set a bold four-year strategic plan to drive systemic changes in workplaces, financial services, and emerging technologies, enabling 10 million working families to build $15 billion in equitable financial security and wealth by 2027. Achieving this…
Benefits for the Future: Reimagining Workplace Benefits
Commonwealth and JPMorganChase Announce New Initiative That Strengthens Workers’ Financial Security Through Innovative Workplace Solutions The workplace is a major component of an employee’s financial security, especially for those earning a low to moderate income (LMI). Significant research exists, including…
Workplace Emergency Savings Policy
The passage of two emergency savings provisions as part of the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 underscores Congress’s clear recognition of emergency savings’ critical role in enhancing retirement security and overall financial well-being. As of January 1, 2024, these provisions—optional…
Inclusive Investing Partner Spotlight: Stash
Introduction Recent developments in the retail investing space, including the widespread adoption of commission-free trading and better UI on mobile and desktop platforms, have made it easier than ever to become an investor. Despite increased accessibility, significant gaps remain between…
Inclusive Investing Partner Spotlight: Ellevest
Introduction Recent developments in the retail investing space, including the widespread adoption of commission-free trading and better UI on mobile and desktop platforms, have made it easier than ever to become an investor. Despite increased accessibility, significant gaps remain between…
Inclusive Investing Partner Spotlight: Public
Introduction Recent developments in the retail investing space, including the widespread adoption of commission-free trading and better UI on mobile and desktop platforms, have made it easier than ever to become an investor. Despite increased accessibility, significant gaps remain between…
Saving for College AND Emergencies? Pilot Program Shows It’s Possible
Postsecondary education remains one of the most important pathways to wealth building, but it remains out of reach for many, especially those with low and moderate incomes (LMI). Over the last two decades, the inflation-adjusted cost of attending in-state public…
Chatbots Can Be a Tool for Improving Financial Well-Being
The design of new financial technologies often focus on people with greater resources, overlooking the needs of households living on low and moderate incomes (LMI)—deepening inequity and limiting access to the next generation of financial tools and services. Commonwealth’s Emerging…
Chatbot or Human? Research Shows Preference is Based on Task
The financial industry is increasingly adopting new technologies such as chatbots powered by generative AI. However, their design often prioritizes the needs of consumers with higher incomes over those of households living on low and moderate incomes (LMI)—deepening inequality and…
Rethinking Tax Incentives as Pathways to Workplace Emergency Savings
For generations, America has deployed the tax code to encourage workplace savings—tax-advantaged retirement plans and health savings accounts, for example. In “Can Tax Incentives Boost Workplace Emergency Savings?”, we explore how we might use a similar approach to support savings…