Date: October 24-26, 2012
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
Financial Capability across the Life Course is hosted by Washington University’s Center for Social Development at the George Warren Brown School of Social Work and the Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging at the Institute for Public Health. The conference provides a valuable forum for interdisciplinary collaboration on efforts to advance economic security among older adults.
A key component of economic security is financial capability, which includes both the ability to make financial decisions (knowledge, skills, and financial literacy) and the opportunity to do so (access to financial products and services). Centered on the concept of financial capability, this unique conference will leverage insights from knowledge leaders to broaden understanding of the concept and to develop promising practices for achieving financial capability across the life course. In these efforts, contributions by experts in social work, gerontology, law, and other academic disciplines will complement those by policy makers and professionals from several national organizations.
Gail Hillebrand, associate director for consumer education and engagement in the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, will deliver the conference’s keynote address. Prior to joining the bureau, Ms. Hillebrand served as senior attorney in the West Coast office of Consumers Union and was founding chair of the California Reinvestment Committee.
Financial Capability across the Life Course is part of the Assets and Aging Action project, a multiyear effort by the Center for Social Development and the Friedman Center for Aging to identify and implement strategies for building assets and engagement among older adults. The project seeks to develop the foundational thinking and broad partnerships needed to construct an agenda, build knowledge, shape social innovations, engage policy makers, and galvanize program innovations.