Articles & Essays

I came to Brussels for a family holiday and a change of pace. Fewer plans. Longer meals. Time to be together without rushing from one obligation to the next. December here invites that rhythm. The Christmas markets were full, the city was busy with visitors from...

By nearly every conventional metric, the economic starting point for young Americans has weakened, and the data read less like a setback and more like a structural fault line. Student loan debt now exceeds $1.6 trillion, according to the New York Federal Reserve....

As a financial ethicist at the Milken Institute, I spend my days in the space where numbers meet values. This is where the realities of financial systems intersect with the moral question of how we help people live longer, healthier, more secure lives. That is the...

The Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) has been a pivotal piece of legislation since its enactment in 1977. It aimed at addressing the systemic discrimination that marginalized low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities, particularly those affected by redlining. As we...

As retirees face significant changes in their economic environment, they must navigate a landscape where longevity expectations are rising. While individuals can expect to live longer, the shift from defined benefit (DB) pension plans to more volatile defined...

The Solidarity Economy (SE) represents a transformative approach to economic relations, emphasizing cooperation, mutual aid, and social justice over profit maximization. Rooted in anti-capitalist movements, particularly those emerging from Latin America in the 1980s,...

The relationship between health and wealth is complex and multifaceted, deeply rooted in social, economic, and environmental factors. Understanding this connection is crucial for addressing health disparities and promoting health equity. Let's explore the intricate...

Durable powers of attorney (DPAs) are critical legal instruments that allow individuals to appoint an agent to manage their financial and personal affairs in the event of incapacity. As the population ages and the likelihood of disability increases, the importance of...

In a world increasingly focused on wealth accumulation and financial success, the concept of legacy often gets overshadowed by the immediate pursuit of material gain. However, creating a meaningful legacy involves more than just financial success; it encompasses the...

As healthcare costs continue to rise, more organizations are investigating the financial benefits of investing in the health of their employees. Preventive care, which focuses on avoiding diseases before they occur, and wellness programs, which focus on lifestyle...

Imagine a couple, John and Linda, who have been married for over 30 years. They raised two children together and built a comfortable life. However, as they entered their 50s, they found themselves drifting apart. After much soul-searching, they decided to divorce, a...

Maternal depression is a significant public health issue that affects not only the well-being of women but also the economic stability of families. Research indicates that low-income pregnant and parenting women experience particularly high rates of depression, which...

Reverse mentoring is a transformative approach that flips the traditional mentoring model on its head, allowing junior employees to guide their senior counterparts. This innovative practice has its roots in the late 1990s, when General Electric's CEO Jack Welch...

In the digital age, scams have proliferated, with one of the most insidious being the "pig butchering" investment scam. This term, which evokes the image of farmers fattening pigs before slaughter, aptly describes how scammers lure victims into a false sense of...

Music has an extraordinary ability to resonate with our emotions and experiences, often serving as a powerful lens through which we can examine the complexities of life. Music often acts as a soundtrack to our lives. The themes found in lyrics can provide insights...

In an era where technology permeates every aspect of our lives, financial planning for longevity is undergoing a significant transformation, primarily driven by innovations in financial technology (FinTech). From robo-advisors to AI-based retirement calculators, these...

In recent years, the issue of student loan debt has gained significant attention, particularly as it affects older Americans. Research indicates that many individuals aged 51-61 carry substantial debt due to student loans and unpaid medical bills, which can severely...

In recent years, the conversation around personal savings and financial security has gained momentum, particularly in the rising economic challenges many Americans face. One proposed solution that has emerged is the concept of Universal Savings Accounts (USAs). These...

Behavioral economics is a field that combines insights from psychology and economics to understand how individuals make financial decisions. Unlike traditional economic theories that assume people are rational actors who always make decisions in their best interest,...

Design for Longevity (D4L) is an innovative framework that integrates principles from product lifecycle, financial planning, and gerontology to enhance the quality of life for aging populations. This approach is particularly relevant today as demographic shifts lead...

Defining the Middle Class "Middle Class" refers to a socio-economic group characterized by a certain income range, lifestyle, and resource access. In the context of the United States, middle-income households are defined as those earning between two-thirds and double...

Intergenerational living is a concept that involves mixing various age groups in the same community or house. It provides a setup that fosters interaction, mutual support, and understanding among different ages of residents, which includes children through young...

As life expectancy continues to rise, the concept of longevity risk—outliving one’s savings—has become a pressing concern for many retirees. One financial product that has gained attention as a potential solution is the lifetime annuity, often referred to as longevity...

As the workforce ages, many older workers express a desire to remain employed longer. However, this demographic faces unique challenges, particularly regarding the transparency of their needs at work. A qualitative study in the journal Work, Aging and Retirement...

As a concerned Gen Z parent, reading TIAA's recent Gen Z retirement report has been eye-opening... and thought-provoking. For those Gen Z parents out there and those interested in issues of financial longevity, let me share a bit of what I took away.A New Perspective...

As life expectancy continues to rise, the concept of financial longevity has become increasingly relevant. This term refers to the ability to sustain financial health throughout an extended lifespan, particularly as individuals live longer and healthier lives. The...

Auto-IRAs are emerging as a vital tool for low-income workers, providing them with a structured way to save for retirement while also offering a potential safety net for emergency expenses. With only about half of private sector workers covered by employer-sponsored...

In honor of the US Department of Labor's National Employ an Older Worker Week, let's take a moment to recognize and celebrate the immense value that older workers bring to the workforce. This week provides an opportunity to engage in dialog about ageism and make clear...

In the realm of healthcare, moral distress has emerged as a prominent concern for professionals across various disciplines. This term, originally rooted in nursing ethics, has transcended its origins to affect individuals in a multitude of professions, leading to...

Sunday, September 4, 2016 is a providential date for many reasons. Not only is it a beautiful capstone for the Year of Mercy thorough the international celebration of the canonization of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, but it is also the day that marks Labor...

Rich Dad, Poor Dad is one of this generation’s most iconic financial literacy books.  Written by Kiyosaki and Lechter in the late 1990s, it has sold over 26 million copies and been touted by celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey and Will Smith—not to mention Donald...

The hope is that each of us in our own vocation will be able to recognize social sins when we see them, and more importantly begin to more easily see pathways to respect, redemption and reconciliation. No matter what your ideology, there is common disdain for market...

Lessons from a conversation between theology and business A few years ago, I had an interesting conversation with one of our country’s most well-known and respected business leaders. It started as I was chatting with the man’s wife, and she asked me what I did for...

Ponder this: why should business care about virtues?  Some might argue that it shouldn’t.  However, I affirm that business must care, if for no other reason than that virtues are… simply put, good for business. Aristotle reminds us, “Virtue makes its subject...

What is clear, in each of the major monotheistic faith traditions, is that God matters. Each tradition understands and accepts the burden of man’s responsibility to God to not only be faithful but also be resourceful with the God-given gifts with which each has...

As the Third Global Forum on Local Development recently met in Turin, Italy, we are reminded that we all have a calling to community life.   Pope Francis, in addressing participants in the Forum, urges us all to consider that “political and economic action are a...

Clean water, air and adequate housing are not enough.  We must also strive for those other essential resources: “education, credit, insurance and markets.”  All of these things are part of a truly integral human development. One of the enduring lessons from...

In my recent business column in Catholic Stand, I explain that investment managers and theologians have much to teach each other about maximizing investment returns:  http://www.catholicstand.com/putting-faith-in-your-investments/ . Our challenge...

We are challenged to find God right where we are and in all things. Our work in the world gives us a community with whom to share our gifts in service. There are more of us then there are of them. More laity than religious, that is. Throughout history, the great...

On Valentine’s Day 2015, the world said good-bye to the 89 year old father of Italian chocolate, Michele Ferrero. He leaves behind a family business that is responsible for bringing the world Nutella, Mon Cheri, Tic Tacs and Ferrero Rocher, among other iconic...

In this column I argue that we have a duty to work and respect the work of others, whether that work has high or low objective value. Its intrinsic value is derived from its nexus to the human person doing the work. Work honors the gifts and talents that we receive...

In my latest business column at Catholic Stand, I argue that if we truly understand what happiness is, we will protect it, nurture it and grow it-- like all of our other capital assets: http://www.catholicstand.com/happiness-a-capital-asset/ . Economists have done...

Money provides the means to meet our basic needs — food, shelter, clothing, and transportation — but only if others are willing to produce the things that we need. While it is popularly thought that money makes us independent, the opposite is actually true. Currency...