How do you prove a financial wellness program works?

Measure participants' financial health before and after, compare them with a similar group that didn't participate, and claim only what that comparison supports. A look-alike comparison group can show that participants improved more than similar non-participants; it can't, on its own, prove the program caused the difference.

Why can't we just compare this year's average to last year's?

Because the whole membership changes for reasons that have nothing to do with your program: the economy, rates, who joined and who left. If the average shifts, you can't tell how much of it was your work. Proving a program means isolating the people it reached and comparing them with people it didn't.

What is a comparison group, and what can it claim?

A comparison group is a set of members who look like your participants, for example on age, products held, and starting financial health, but who didn't take part. If participants improve more than the comparison group, that is evidence the program is associated with the improvement. It isn't proof of cause, because people who choose to join a program may differ in ways you can't see. Only a randomized design, where chance decides who is offered the program, supports a causal claim.

What should we be careful about claiming?

• "Members are better off because of us" is a causal claim. Say it only if your design supports it.
• "Participants improved more than similar members who didn't participate" is a claim a comparison group can support.
• Percentages from small groups move a lot by chance. Report how many people each number is based on.
• Public claims about member outcomes should be ones your method can defend under scrutiny, including from examiners.

What does good evidence look like?

The Financial Health Network's published case study with Virginia Credit Union (December 2025) is one example: in VACU's 2024 member research, Financially Healthy members adopted 32% more products than Financially Vulnerable members. That is a connection between financial health and the relationship, reported as one, and it is the kind of finding a board can use.

How does Attune help?

The FinHealth Record™ keeps each member's FinHealth Score® results over time alongside what they were offered and what they took up, so participants and comparison groups can be measured the same way. To talk through a measurement plan for your program, book a call.

More answers for measuring financial health and proving programs work: Prove your financial wellness program works.