Making Wealth Possible for All
Commonwealth is a national nonprofit building financial security and opportunity for financially vulnerable people through innovation and partnerships.
NEW RESEARCH
Brewing Financial Security: Lessons from the My Starbucks Savings Program
This case study examines the design, implementation, and key insights of My Starbucks Savings (MSS)—Starbucks’ employer-sponsored emergency savings program. In response to direct partner feedback, Starbucks launched the MSS benefit to help partners save and grow for their future. This built on a well-established foundation of existing financial well-being resources from 401(k) match, student loan navigation tools, shares of company stock, 100% tuition coverage for a bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University, and more. This case study was developed through Commonwealth’s partnershipwith Starbucks, a valued employer partner in BlackRock’s Emergency Savings Initiative (ESI).
Featured
Roadmap to Education Savings at Scale
Commonwealth’s latest roadmap explores practical, research-backed strategies to help states, employers, and financial institutions expand 529 engagement and education savings access for families living on low and moderate incomes. Grounded in real-world pilots, the roadmap highlights actionable opportunities across employer engagement, policy innovation, and saver support to strengthen long-term financial security and build generational wealth.
Re-Imagining Workplace Banking
Commonwealth’s partnership with Truist Bank, as part of BlackRock’s Emergency Savings Initiative (ESI), demonstrates that well-designed emergency savings programs are a practical and effective strategy for acquiring new customers, deepening customer relationships, and reducing financial vulnerability.
Emergency Savings Does Not Weaken Retirement Savings
Emergency savings is becoming core workplace infrastructure. Emergency savings in the workplace has moved from a “nice to have” to a standard pillar of retirement security.
Research & Insights
At Commonwealth, we share our original research and practical solutions—through briefs, research reports, videos, and infographics—to provide you with innovative ideas, practical insights, and the tools you need to act.
Featured Research
Retail Investors on the Rise: What Billions of Transactions Reveal About Today’s Retail Investors Living on Low and Moderate Incomes
Through a collaboration between Commonwealth, The BlackRock Foundation, and the JPMorganChase Institute (JPMCI), billions of transactions and more than 25 million checking accounts were analyzed to learn more about how and why people choose to invest, giving a further macro-view into the pattern of today’s retail investors living on low-to-moderate income (LMI).
Building an Emergency Savings Program That Works: A Strategic Approach for Employers
This case study with The Fresh Market offers strategic guidance for employers on building and launching a multi-solution emergency savings benefit program. Dive into the details of implementing both digital and in-person emergency savings solutions, as well as providing access to the $1,000 emergency withdrawal provision under SECURE 2.0
Driving Impact: How a Large Healthcare Employer Created Emergency Savings and Retirement Outcomes at Scale
Discover how a major healthcare employer, in partnership with Commonwealth as part of BlackRock’s Emergency Savings Initiative, achieved record engagement with a workplace emergency savings program thereby supporting retirement plan participation offering valuable lessons for employers to optimize their benefits.
Events & News
Our speakers’ programs and media placements provide an opportunity to discover new data, receive expert insights, and strategize for organizational success. Join us in conversation as we work towards a more equitable and prosperous financial future for all people living in the United States.
recent news & upcoming events
The Wall Street Journal: More Working-Class Americans Than Ever Are Investing in the Stock Market
Commonwealth CEO Timothy Flacke is quoted in this article from the Wall Street Journal with findings from our report, Understanding Today’s Retail Investor: Examining the Behaviors, Motivations, and Challenges of New Investors Living on Low and Moderate Incomes.
Breaking the Savings Paradox
In a webinar held on June 10, 2025, Commonwealth, BlackRock, Compass Financial Partners, a Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC Company, and Voya Financial discussed the wide-ranging needs of employees in a geographically diverse workforce, and how a suite of emergency savings and liquidity options can best serve workers, and where the new provision fits into those options.
Rethinking Retirement: How SECURE 2.0 Provision Can Protect & Reinvigorate Plan Participation
How often have you heard someone say they’re not saving for retirement because they can’t afford to risk locking up their money for the long term? What if they had more financial flexibility when the unexpected arises? A provision within the SECURE 2.0 legislation offers an opportunity to add this near-term financial flexibility to retirement savings. One of the policy’s provisions allows employees to withdraw up to $1,000 penalty-free from their 401(k)-retirement account once a year for financial needs relating to personal or family emergency expenses.
Our Partners and Supporters
To advance innovation and systemic change, we collaborate with employers, financial services firms, fintechs, foundations, policymakers, retirement recordkeepers, payroll platforms, and workplace solutions providers. Financially vulnerable people living in the United States face complex challenges, and together with our partners, we make financial security possible for millions of people.
