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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

Additional research insights