Partner Projects
Systematic Review of Racial/Ethnic and Gender Differences in Financial Knowledge in the United States
Overview:
Published in the Journal of Financial Literacy and Wellbeing (2024), this study provides a rigorous evaluation of how financial knowledge is distributed across racial, ethnic, and gender lines. By synthesizing existing literature, the research highlights persistent "knowledge gaps" and emphasizes the need for intersectional approaches to financial education to better serve marginalized communities.
Funding:
This research was supported by a Visiting Fellowship with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). This collaboration between academia and federal oversight ensures that the findings directly inform consumer protection strategies and national financial education standards.
Publication:
Advancing Health & Financial Preparedness (CHIME/RCMAR)
Overview:
As part of the CHIME initiative, this project explores economic stability as a critical determinant of health for aging populations. The work includes the development and validation of the Retirement Knowledge Scale (RKS) to accurately measure financial readiness, as well as targeted research into cultural and linguistic disparities in retirement planning between Hispanic and Non-Hispanic White older adults.
Funding:
NIH/NIA – P30AG021684-16 (2023–2028); Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research IV / Center for Health Innovation and Maximizing Eldercare III. (Total Award: $590,036).
Publications:
Blanco, L., Choi, A., & Hays, R. (2025). Differences in Retirement Knowledge and Financial Preparedness between Hispanic and Non-Hispanic White Older Adults in the United States. The Gerontologist (Forthcoming).
Digital Retirement Outreach Programs Targeting Black, Hispanic, and White Workers (Working Paper)
Overview:
This project evaluates MyRetirement/MiRetiro, a culturally tailored digital intervention designed to bridge the racial and ethnic gap in retirement preparedness. Utilizing a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) of over 1,000 participants, the study examines how educational outreach combined with financial "nudges" (such as lottery incentives) impacts the saving behaviors of low-to-middle-income workers.
PIs: Luisa Blanco (Pepperdine) & Angelino Viceisza (Spelman/NBER)
Funding:
2024: SSA NB25-03 via NBER RDRC ($204,026) – Digital Retirement Outreach Programs
Targeting Black, Hispanic, and White Workers.
2022–2023: NBER RDRC/SSA ($151,216) – Designing Outreach Programs to Low-to-Middle
Income Black and Hispanic Workers.
Publication:
Study in progress; results forthcoming through the NBER Retirement and Disability Research Center.
St. Mary’s NSF Diabetes Management Project
Overview:
St Mary’s NSF project aims to empower individuals living with diabetes, along with their caregivers and families, by providing them with the knowledge, skills, and tools needed for effective diabetes management. The program includes education on diabetes care, focusing on how blood sugar works, how to monitor glucose levels, and recognizing and responding to high and low blood sugar. Participants also learn to use medical tools like glucometers and help build a routine for identifying meaningful patterns and trends. Participants are guided on how to build meal plans and strategies on how to count carbohydrates, the roles of physical activity, sleep, and stress management in maintaining healthy blood sugar levels. The program also encourages connecting and collaborating with their health providers to create a tailored care plan to improve their diabetes management. Ultimately, the goal is to encourage participants to actively engage in and make informed decisions in managing their health.
Funding:
National Science Foundation (NSF) (2023–2026). Total Award: $553,930.
Publication:
Study in progress.
The JBI Financial Well-Being Project
Overview:
The JBI Financial Well-Being Project explores how rising costs and economic pressures are affecting the financial lives of Hispanic adults. Building on earlier phases of the Mobile Financial Diaries study conducted by Dr. Luisa Blanco, the project follows participants over time to better understand how changes in prices influence day-to-day money management, financial stress, and short-term borrowing decisions. In this new study phase, with data collection in 2025 and 2026, we are especially interested in how recent price increases and holiday-related expenses have shaped household spending and whether families have needed to rely more heavily on short-term credit options such as payday loans. This research is conducted as part of a fellowship supported by the Julian Bond Institute, which promotes research focused on economic opportunity and community well-being.
Funding:
Supported by a fellowship through the Julian Bond Institute (JBI) at the Center for Responsible Lending.
Publication:
Study in progress (Data collection active 2025–2026).
Pew Trust: Retirement Knowledge & Wealth Inequality
Overview:
This Pew Trust project examines differences in retirement knowledge among workers who do not have access to a retirement savings account through their employer. Using data from the Pew Trust Wealth Inequality Study, we focus on adults ages 18 and older who face barriers to workplace retirement savings. The study explores how retirement knowledge varies across racial, ethnic, and gender groups, and whether differences in knowledge help explain disparities in retirement planning and saving behavior. We are also interested in understanding how knowledge relates to individuals’ willingness to participate in state-sponsored or alternative retirement savings programs. By analyzing patterns in knowledge and participation, the project aims to generate insights that can help inform the design of retirement savings pro
Funding:
Publication:
Study in progress.