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.
Parents and Caregivers Saving for Today and the Future
How ADP’s Solution Facilitated $1.5 Billion in Emergency Savings
Payroll service providers are well-positioned to help companies of all sizes provide quality emergency savings products to their employees. Providing an emergency savings option through the workplace is key to improving financial security and building wealth for workers living on…
How Truist Used Prize-Based Incentives to Generate $37 Million in Savings
Banks and other financial services providers are well-positioned to provide the emergency savings tools that are key to improving financial security and building wealth for Americans living on low and moderate incomes (LMI). Emergency savings reduces the financial impact of…
Designing Automated Finance for Customers Living on Low to Moderate Incomes
The use of software to automate business and financial processes is one the most significant transformations of the information age. While much of the development in this area has focused on making organizations more efficient by streamlining internal processes, the…
A Wealth Building Blueprint
After an additional year of research, our Wealth Building Blueprint is updated to reflect the progress we’ve made and future paths for our wealth building work.
How Retail Investing Platforms Can Create a More Inclusive Investing Environment
Commonwealth’s pilot with Public.com provides research and recommendations for investing platforms looking to create a more inclusive investing environment.
Evaluating the Impact of Income Volatility Benefits on Gig Workers
The Financial Benefits Project explores the financial needs of gig workers and outlines recommendations for employer benefits that reduce the impact of income volatility.
Emergency Savings Features That Work for Employees Earning Low to Moderate Incomes
Research from Commonwealth and DCIIA RRC identifies how emergency savings solutions can be best designed and offered to workers earning low to moderate incomes.
Emergency Savings & Retirement
Emergency savings is crucial to building financial security. Unfortunately, millions of people lack access to these proven tools from employers, financial institutions, and other actors. Providing an emergency savings account product through the workplace is key to raising financial security…
The Impact of the Enhanced Child Tax Credit on Lower-Income Households
Commonwealth, SaverLife, and Neighborhood Trust assessed the impact of the enhanced Child Tax Credit on eligible families’ financial health.
Tech for Good Toolkit
Commonwealth’s Emerging Tech for All (ETA) initiative aims to ensure that the design of new financial technologies integrates the needs, wants, and aspirations of people living on low to moderate incomes (LMI). We are shedding light on these perspectives by…