Gerri Walsh

Moving the Needle Toward Lifetime Financial Security for All | Global Conference 2024

Cheryl Evans, Kahlil Byrd, Teresa Ghilarducci, Alex Rodriguez, Adam Roseman, Gerri Walsh

A diverse panel of experts and policymakers addressed the systemic causes of U.S. financial insecurity, arguing that individual financial literacy is insufficient to counteract rising poverty rates among the middle class and unbanked workers. Proposals featured include the bipartisan Retirement Security for All Americans Act, which would mandate automatic government-matched contributions, alongside innovative private-sector solutions like income-passport data platforms for non-traditional workers and student debt-to-wealth pathways. Collectively, the discourse emphasized that reversing this trend requires institutional shifts to replace the current "do-it-yourself" model with automated safety nets and broader access to tax-advantaged savings.