Our Research
Commonwealth conducts original qualitative and quantitative research with financially vulnerable people—including Black, Latinx, and women-led households who disproportionately experience financial insecurity. We also interview industry experts and academics. We take what we learn and translate findings into actionable insights and practical solutions designed to change systems to work better for financially vulnerable people. We work with community groups, employers, financial services firms, fintechs, policymakers, and workplace solution providers to design and test real-world, practical solutions that not only work for individuals and families, but are also scalable and address the business needs of our partners.
We share the results of our work to provide you with innovative ideas, practical insights, and the tools you need to act. Explore our publications below.
Brewing Financial Security
This case study examines the design, implementation, and key insights of My Starbucks Savings (MSS)—Starbucks’ employer-sponsored emergency savings program. In response to direct partner feedback, Starbucks launched the MSS benefit to help partners save and grow for their future. This…
Roadmap to Education Savings at Scale
529 college savings plans are tax-advantaged education savings accounts that can help families build educational wealth, support long-term financial security, and create pathways toward generational wealth-building. While millions of Americans use 529 accounts to save for future education expenses, many…
A Foundation for Long-Term Security
Emergency savings plays a critical role in retirement security, yet it is often treated as separate from long-term financial planning. This brief brings together years of research, real-world data, and employer experience to show how short-term financial stability directly supports…
Retail Investors on the Rise
Through a collaboration between Commonwealth, The BlackRock Foundation, and the JPMorganChase Institute (JPMCI), billions of transactions and more than 25 million checking accounts were analyzed to learn more about how and why people choose to invest, giving a further macro-view…
Preparing for Care
Unpaid elder caregiving is a growing reality for millions of American households, yet many people step into caregiving roles without the financial preparation or support they need. Preparing for Care: Financial Insights for Future Caregivers, Employers & Providers examines how…
Building an Emergency Savings Program That Works
This case study with The Fresh Market shares lessons from testing two emergency savings solutions—one digital and one in-person—while also offering access in the retirement plan to the SECURE 2.0 Act’s $1,000 emergency withdrawal provision—providing employers with practical guidance to…
Driving Impact
Discover how a major healthcare employer, in partnership with Commonwealth as part of BlackRock’s Emergency Savings Initiative, achieved record engagement with a workplace emergency savings program while supporting retirement plan participation.
Earning Trust with Every Interaction
Conversational AI has enabled financial services providers to support customers 24/7 at a scale that would be impossible with live agents, and has become a ubiquitous part of the digital banking landscape. Yet significant opportunities remain for this technology to…
Transforming Workplace Benefits into an Engine for Financial Health
This new national report draws on a survey of over 2,000 workers earning low-to-moderate incomes (LMI) across key industries to understand their financial priorities, access to workplace benefits, and the opportunity for employers to improve financial outcomes through intentional benefit…
Unlocking Opportunity
U.S. Bank and Commonwealth teamed up in a bold, cross-sector partnership to help clients turn tax refunds and bonuses into lasting savings. Using behavioral science and a test-and-learn approach, the pilot introduced a simple pre-commitment feature that encouraged saving at…