HR.com's HR Research Institute has announced the formation of its State of Financial Wellness Advisory Board for 2027, bringing together nine experts from HR, benefits, and financial backgrounds to guide research on employee financial literacy and well-being. The board will help shape research into employees' financial challenges, workplace financial wellness programs and their effectiveness, best practices, and the benefits of financial literacy initiatives, including the role of tools, metrics, and emerging technologies such as AI in improving employee financial well-being. The announcement matters because financial stress remains a significant workplace issue that can undermine employee well-being and performance. For vendors selling into the human resources industry, this initiative signals a growing demand for evidence-based financial wellness solutions and could influence product development and go-to-market strategies.
"Financial stress can have a significant impact on employees' overall well-being and their ability to thrive at work," said Debbie McGrath, CEO of HR.com. "This research will help HR leaders better understand employees' needs and identify practical, effective ways to build financial wellness strategies that make a meaningful difference." The advisory board's work is intended to provide HR professionals with actionable insights to strengthen financial wellness initiatives and better support employees' financial health.
The newly formed 2027 State of Financial Wellness Advisory Board features nine distinguished experts: Heather Coleman, Financial Wellness Queen at Enriched Academy; Dan Comisar, Strategy and Growth Officer at BrightDime; Shatrina Cosby, VP of Account Management & Development at Purchasing Power; Kim Duffy-Wylam, Managing Partner at Baker Tilly; Damond Fauconier, CHRO at Transportation Federal Credit Union; Marite Marlow, Chief Financial Officer at the Center for Employment Training; Lilah Raynor, CEO of Logica Research; Cassandra Rose, SPHR, Fractional CPO at Fringe; and Rahkim Sabree, AFC®, Financial Wellness Consultant, Keynote Speaker, and Author of Overcoming Financial Trauma.
The findings and insights from the research will be explored at a follow-up virtual event in the new year, offered free to the HR community. Those interested can register for the State of Financial Wellness 2027 Virtual Event March 10, 2027. The HR Research Institute releases annual "State of the Industry" reports across a variety of HR topic areas, including the most recent report on this topic, HR.com's State of Employee Financial Wellness 2026. This and other free research reports and infographics can be downloaded at hr.com/researchinstitute. The advisory board's guidance comes at a time when employers are increasingly seeking evidence-based approaches to financial wellness. By bringing together experts from diverse backgrounds, the initiative aims to identify practical strategies that can make a meaningful difference in employees' financial health. The research will also examine the role of emerging technologies, such as AI, in improving financial well-being, potentially offering new tools for HR leaders to support their workforce. For HR vendors, these developments underscore the importance of aligning offerings with research-backed practices and staying attuned to the evolving needs of employers and employees.
