Take your next giant leap in research
FinELab is a research home for behavioral personal finance — the scientific study of how psychological states, financial stress, and risk perception shape everyday financial decisions at the individual and household level. We investigate why people make the financial choices they do, and what conditions support or undermine their long-term financial well-being. Explore our three core research areas: Research
To build this understanding, we develop financial intelligence: data-driven insights that connect human behavior to financial outcomes. Our research is organized around three core areas — financial stress, financial risk tolerance, and AI and machine learning applied to financial behavior — examined both independently and at their intersections. See how we apply these ideas in practice: Publications
We collaborate with financial service firms, community organizations, government agencies, and mental-health professionals to translate rigorous evidence into scalable tools and interventions — improving financial resilience, inclusion, and well-being for households across diverse contexts. Whether you are a researcher, practitioner, student, or community partner, we invite you to explore what we study, what we have found, and how to get involved.
Research
Our Research develops “financial intelligence” — a data-driven understanding of how people think, feel, and behave with money — and applies it to improve financial well-being. We use machine learning, AI, and advanced statistical methods on large survey, administrative, and text data to study financial stress, risk tolerance, algorithmic decision environments, and access to professional financial help, with special attention to vulnerable and rural households. Through funded collaborations with industry, community organizations, and public agencies, we design and test tools and interventions that make financial systems more inclusive, ethical, and supportive of long-term consumer well-being.
Learn MoreGet Involved
We welcome students, collaborators, and community partners who care about financial well-being and the future of AI in finance. Students can contribute to ongoing projects using surveys, experiments, and machine-learning methods, and gain hands-on experience with real-world data and industry collaborations. Financial institutions, nonprofits, and public agencies are invited to partner with us to co-develop research projects, pilot tools, and translate evidence into practice that improves consumers’ financial lives.
Learn More