Field Experiments on the Impacts of Financial Planning Interventions for Recent Homebuyers

Abstract

Low and moderate-income households are less likely to plan for long term financial goals, including retirement. Targeting low and moderate income households with efficient and effective financial education and planning interventions is challenging because intensive financial planning services are costly, individuals are not likely to seek out financial planning services, and research demonstrates that those who do seek financial counseling are typically those who are already motivated to be successful. Our goal is to overcome these inherent problems by conducting a randomized field experiment that integrates new technology to provide replicable, theoretically based financial planning interventions to low and moderate-income households during a teachable stage in the life-cycle: the purchase of a first home. Through a unique partnership with the Ohio Housing Finance Agency a pilot group of 600 homebuyers will be randomly assigned to varying combinations of financial planning interventions to be completed during the first year after home purchase. During this study period, this project will design and validate the interventions, including an online financial assessment tool, interactive financial education modules, and telephone based financial coaching. Low income households will be randomly assigned to the interventions. Ongoing follow-up with homebuyers and outcome evaluation will be completed in subsequent years.