Workers reported stronger financial outcomes across several key measures
WASHINGTON, D.C. — July 7, 2026 — New research published today by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) and the FINRA Investor Education Foundation (FINRA Foundation) finds that workers who participated in workplace-based financial education programs tended to report higher levels of financial knowledge and stronger indicators of financial capability than workers who did not participate.
The new EBRI/FINRA Foundation research report, “From the Break Room to the Bank: The Relationship Between Workplace-Based Financial Education and Financial Capability,” examines the associations between workplace-based financial education and workers’ financial knowledge and capability. The paper is the first in a three-part series using data from the FINRA Foundation’s 2024 National Financial Capability Study and supplemented with survey data from EBRI’s 2025 Workplace Wellness Survey.
“Financial capability affects nearly every part of a worker’s financial life, from managing everyday expenses to preparing for retirement,” said Craig Copeland, director of wealth benefits research at EBRI. “This research suggests that workplace-based financial education can be an important avenue for helping workers build knowledge, confidence and stronger financial behaviors. The findings also point to a key opportunity for employers: increasing participation in these programs among workers who would benefit the most from them.”
Financial capability includes a broad range of knowledge, behaviors and milestones, including managing daily expenses, navigating financial products, planning for major life decisions such as homeownership and preparing for retirement. The report notes that employers may benefit from helping reduce workers’ financial stress and improve their financial stability. Workplace-based financial education programs may include webinars, educational materials, smartphone apps and one-on-one coaching or counseling.
The findings come as employers are increasingly focused on workers’ financial stress and overall financial well-being. While the research found that workplace-based financial education was associated with stronger financial knowledge and financial behaviors, participation remains relatively limited, as only 9% of workers were found to have participated in such a program according to the 2024 National Financial Capability Study, suggesting an opportunity for employers to better connect workers with these programs.
Key findings in the report include:
- Participants in workplace-based financial education programs were much more likely to rate their financial knowledge as five or higher on a seven-point scale than those who did not participate: 85% of participants rated their financial knowledge at that level, compared with 63% of nonparticipants. Furthermore, those who participated in this type of program were also more likely to score higher on a five-question assessment of financial knowledge. This held even among those with lower household incomes and educational attainment.
- Workers who had participated in a workplace-based financial education program tended to show higher indicators of financial capability than workers who had not: Participants were more likely than nonparticipants to report spending less than they earned, being more satisfied with their current personal finances and feeling confident they could achieve a financial goal.
- These positive relationships between participation in workplace-based financial education and these measures of financial capability persisted even when controlling for gender, race, educational attainment and household income in regression analyses.
- Because higher-income workers generally fared better than lower-income workers on the measures examined in the report, increasing take-up among lower-income workers and workers with lower educational attainment may be especially useful for improving financial capability. The workplace may provide a setting for financial education that can reach lower-income workers.
“Workplace-based financial education can meet people where they are — both literally and financially,” said FINRA Foundation Interim President Christine Kieffer. “The findings underscore the potential value of connecting workers with practical financial knowledge through trusted workplace channels, while also highlighting the importance of expanding access and participation in financial education programs so that working adults from any income level or educational background can realize these benefits.”
About the FINRA Investor Education Foundation
The FINRA Investor Education Foundation empowers Americans with the knowledge, skills and tools to make sound financial decisions throughout life. Through a combination of research and educational programming, the FINRA Foundation helps Americans build financial stability, invest for life goals and guard against fraud and financial exploitation. For more information about FINRA Foundation initiatives, visit www.FINRAFoundation.org.
About EBRI
The Employee Benefit Research Institute is a nonprofit, independent, unbiased resource organization that provides authoritative, objective information on critical issues related to employee benefit programs in the United States. For more information, visit www.ebri.org.
