Yes, Financial Health Does Matter

Apr 25, 2019

In 2005, no one was talking about Financial Health, including us.

Fast forward to 2019 and it is Financial Health Matters Day! It’s exciting to see that there is a movement afoot that is tackling this large issue and bringing attention to the increased need to help those that experience financial challenges. And it’s about time.

In fact, it was at my very first CFSI Emerge Conference held in LA in 2015 that I first heard the term. And I had a very Oprah like Aha Moment. You see financial health is definitely at the core of our company and the work that my co-founder Dr. J. Michael Collins and I have been doing for our entire careers. We just didn’t have a name for it.

Today, we are celebrating that so many companies in diverse market segments are coming together to share that they too understand that if we are to do well, we must consider the financial health of our customers and our employees. With nearly half of Americans living paycheck to paycheck, it’s time to develop concrete strategies and solutions that can truly impact people’s financial lives in big ways. We have the research and technology to do so, now let’s develop the will.

As Jennifer Tescher, President and CEO of CFSI, so eloquently states in a recent American Banker piece, “What financially vulnerable people need is access to high-quality products and experiences built to help them succeed by people who truly understand their financial situations and foibles. They need real-time advice and guidance, tailored to their specific situation and immediately actionable. They need to be able to trust that financial institutions have their best interests in mind and are working with policymakers to eliminate systemic barriers that prevent them from achieving financial health.”

So today, ask yourself, “What does the future of financial health look like to you?” And I’d urge you to take the next step and ask, “What can I do to help further accelerate strategies at my company to bring solutions forward that deliver true impact to those that need it most?”

Because it can be done and the time is now.

We don’t have to go it alone. Partnerships allow us all to combine our strengths and resources to improve the financial lives of people across our country.