HR.com’s HR Research Institute has announced its State of Financial Wellness Advisory Board for 2027, assembling a panel of HR, benefits, and financial professionals to shape upcoming research and industry insights on employee financial literacy and well-being. The board’s work will focus on understanding employees’ financial challenges, evaluating the effectiveness of workplace financial wellness programs, identifying best practices, and exploring the role of tools, metrics, and emerging technologies such as AI in improving financial well-being.
“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 announcement matters because financial stress remains a persistent workforce issue that can undermine productivity, engagement, and retention, and many employers lack clear evidence on which interventions actually work. By convening experts from diverse backgrounds—including Enriched Academy, BrightDime, Purchasing Power, Baker Tilly, Transportation Federal Credit Union, Center for Employment Training, Logica Research, Fringe, and independent consultant Rahkim Sabree—the advisory board aims to ground future guidance in both research and practical experience.
The findings and insights will be explored at a follow-up virtual event in the new year, offered free to the HR community. The State of Financial Wellness 2027 Virtual Event March 10, 2027 is designed to equip HR professionals with actionable insights to strengthen financial wellness initiatives and better support employees’ financial health. The research builds on the HR Research Institute’s annual “State of the Industry” reports, including the most recent HR.com’s State of Employee Financial Wellness 2026. For organizations seeking to benchmark their efforts, free research reports and infographics can be downloaded at hr.com/researchinstitute. The board’s guidance is expected to help HR leaders move beyond generic wellness offerings toward strategies that address employees’ real financial pressures, with implications for benefits design, financial education, and the use of data and AI to measure impact. As financial wellness becomes a more central component of total rewards and employee experience, the 2027 research is positioned to provide timely, evidence-based direction for employers navigating a complex benefits landscape.
