ADULT FINANCIAL EDUCATION: WHAT DO (AND DON'T) WE KNOW ABOUT FOSTERING FINANCIAL CAPABILITY AND WELL-BEING?
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| Title: | ADULT FINANCIAL EDUCATION: WHAT DO (AND DON'T) WE KNOW ABOUT FOSTERING FINANCIAL CAPABILITY AND WELL-BEING? |
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| Authors: | Jennings, Amanda Brooke1 amanda@educace.org, Hughey, Paul D. paul.hughey@diplomasender.com |
| Source: | COABE Journal: The Resource for Adult Education. Spring2026, Vol. 15 Issue 1, p9-15. 7p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Program effectiveness (Education), *Educational equalization, *Economics education, *Learning strategies, Financial literacy, Economic security |
| Geographic Terms: | United States |
| Abstract: | Low levels of financial literacy in the United States, coupled with persistent disparities across demographics, have heightened calls for more effective adult financial education. Although strong associations exist between adults' financial knowledge, behaviors, and outcomes, far less is known about whether--and how--increasing financial knowledge leads to meaningful changes in financial capability and well-being. This article synthesizes the current research on adult financial education, highlighting the field's underlying assumptions, available curriculum models, and limited but informative evidence base on program effectiveness. Existing studies point to promising practices, such as providing actionable, timely information, supporting motivation, and offering ongoing guidance. Yet, no fully evidencebased adult financial education model currently exists, and much of what is known about educators, learners, and instructional strategies may not reflect the current state of adult education. We argue that the field lacks a comprehensive, contemporary understanding of who delivers financial education, who participates, what programs entail, and what outcomes they produce. We conclude by identifying critical gaps and proposing new lines of inquiry, including a shift toward community-centered conceptions of financial capability and wellbeing. Collaborative research and practice are needed to build an evidence base that advances equitable and effective adult financial education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of COABE Journal: The Resource for Adult Education is the property of Commission on Adult Basic Education and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Education Research Complete |
| FullText | Links: – Type: pdflink Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: ehh DbLabel: Education Research Complete An: 194631281 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: ADULT FINANCIAL EDUCATION: WHAT DO (AND DON'T) WE KNOW ABOUT FOSTERING FINANCIAL CAPABILITY AND WELL-BEING? – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jennings%2C+Amanda+Brooke%22">Jennings, Amanda Brooke</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> amanda@educace.org</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hughey%2C+Paul+D%2E%22">Hughey, Paul D.</searchLink><i> paul.hughey@diplomasender.com</i> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22COABE+Journal%3A+The+Resource+for+Adult+Education%22">COABE Journal: The Resource for Adult Education</searchLink>. Spring2026, Vol. 15 Issue 1, p9-15. 7p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Program+effectiveness+%28Education%29%22">Program effectiveness (Education)</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+equalization%22">Educational equalization</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Economics+education%22">Economics education</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Learning+strategies%22">Learning strategies</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Financial+literacy%22">Financial literacy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Economic+security%22">Economic security</searchLink> – Name: SubjectGeographic Label: Geographic Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22United+States%22">United States</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Low levels of financial literacy in the United States, coupled with persistent disparities across demographics, have heightened calls for more effective adult financial education. Although strong associations exist between adults' financial knowledge, behaviors, and outcomes, far less is known about whether--and how--increasing financial knowledge leads to meaningful changes in financial capability and well-being. This article synthesizes the current research on adult financial education, highlighting the field's underlying assumptions, available curriculum models, and limited but informative evidence base on program effectiveness. Existing studies point to promising practices, such as providing actionable, timely information, supporting motivation, and offering ongoing guidance. Yet, no fully evidencebased adult financial education model currently exists, and much of what is known about educators, learners, and instructional strategies may not reflect the current state of adult education. We argue that the field lacks a comprehensive, contemporary understanding of who delivers financial education, who participates, what programs entail, and what outcomes they produce. We conclude by identifying critical gaps and proposing new lines of inquiry, including a shift toward community-centered conceptions of financial capability and wellbeing. Collaborative research and practice are needed to build an evidence base that advances equitable and effective adult financial education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of COABE Journal: The Resource for Adult Education is the property of Commission on Adult Basic Education and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ehh&AN=194631281 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 7 StartPage: 9 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Program effectiveness (Education) Type: general – SubjectFull: Educational equalization Type: general – SubjectFull: Economics education Type: general – SubjectFull: Learning strategies Type: general – SubjectFull: Financial literacy Type: general – SubjectFull: Economic security Type: general – SubjectFull: United States Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: ADULT FINANCIAL EDUCATION: WHAT DO (AND DON'T) WE KNOW ABOUT FOSTERING FINANCIAL CAPABILITY AND WELL-BEING? Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Jennings, Amanda Brooke – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Hughey, Paul D. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 03 Text: Spring2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 27719375 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 15 – Type: issue Value: 1 Titles: – TitleFull: COABE Journal: The Resource for Adult Education Type: main |
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