Three things: the nation, through the Financial Health Network's Financial Health Pulse®; your own results over time, measured the same way; and, for any program, similar people who didn't take part. Peer institutions can be a fourth, but only when they measure the same way. Every comparison works for the same reason: the same eight indicators and the same 0 to 100 scale.
Because a number without a reference point can't tell you whether you're doing well. An average of 62 might be better than the country or worse than last year; on its own, it says neither. A benchmark is what turns a measurement into a finding an executive can act on.
The Financial Health Pulse® 2026 U.S. Trends Report found 31% of U.S. households Financially Healthy, 53% Financially Coping, and 17% Financially Vulnerable in spring 2026, with the Vulnerable share up from 15% a year earlier. Compare the share of your customers or members in each tier, and their pillar results, against that national picture. Your customers won't look like the country on age or income, so where you can, compare groups that are alike, rather than reading the whole base against the national total.
Measure on a schedule, the same way every time, and ask two questions: is the share in each tier moving, and which people are moving up or down? Tracking the same people, not just the average, shows real change rather than a change in who answered. See how to measure member financial health credibly.
Only when they measure the same way: the same eight questions and the same scoring. Two institutions using homegrown scores can't compare results at all. Before trusting any peer benchmark, ask how it was built, which institutions are in it, and whether it can be filtered to customers like yours.
Compare the people a program reached with similar people it didn't reach, measured the same way before and after. National and peer benchmarks show where you stand; a comparison group is what connects change to a program. See how to prove a financial wellness program works.
Attune scores the FinHealth Score® with the Financial Health Network's methodology, the same way every time, reads results against the national Pulse distribution, and keeps each person's results over time in the FinHealth Record™. To plan your first comparison, book a call.
More answers for measuring financial health and proving programs work: Prove your financial wellness program works.
Roughly fortnightly. Writing on financial health infrastructure, the FinHealth Workflow™, and what we're learning building it.
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