Global leaders chart a roadmap for financial health
At a high-level meeting held in New York, leaders from the technology and financial sectors concurred that the next major goal for financial inclusion is to advance toward sustainable financial health, fully integrated into people’s digital lives.
The event was co-organized by Martín Migoya, co-founder and CEO of Globant, and Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, in her capacity as the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development (UNSGSA).
Held behind closed doors, the meeting brought together representatives from institutions such as Bank of America, Google, Mastercard, Visa, the World Bank, FICO, ING Netherlands, Nexo, Wells Fargo, Featurespace, Xapo Bank, and Argentina’s Ambassador to the United States, Alec Oxenford, among others.
The objective was to explore how to foster more robust financial health, focusing not only on access to services but also on individuals’ economic resilience, stability, and trust in the digital era.
Inclusion Is Not Enough.
Queen Máxima emphasized:
“The global community has made significant progress in expanding financial access, but access alone is not sufficient. We must ensure that financial inclusion leads to tangible improvements in people’s lives, including increased resilience, confidence, and well-being.”
Martín Migoya, in turn, highlighted technology’s role in inclusion:
“We have seen what technology can do for financial inclusion, but access is only the first step. People also need education and digital tools to achieve a state of financial health. This enables them to improve their quality of life, face unexpected challenges, plan for the future, and feel secure. By bringing together the right tools and services, customer insights, data, and innovation, the technology sector can help us move from inclusion to impact.”
User-Centered Design Focused on Health.
During the discussion, participants stressed that financial health extends beyond apps or payment systems. They agreed it must become a global priority and be addressed as an integral part of digital product design.
In the United States, only 31% of households were financially healthy in spring 2025, revealing a vast opportunity to embed financial health features in digital platforms, employer tools, and financial services.
Another key point was the impact of artificial intelligence, data, and behavioral science on cultivating healthy financial habits. AI-powered tools, combined with nudging strategies and personalization, are transforming how people make economic decisions.
Participants agreed this can build long-term trust if implemented ethically and with a user-centric approach.
Partnership for Impact.
The meeting concluded with a call to action for banks, tech companies, regulators, and multilateral organizations to collaborate on scaling the integration of financial health.
“No single actor can solve this challenge alone,” was one of the consensus conclusions.
Key Takeaways.
1) Financial health must be a global priority.
Digital infrastructure has facilitated access, but now a focus on stability, resilience, and wealth creation is needed. Policies should go beyond credit to strengthen economic security in a complex global context.
2) Digital design must empower.
Embedding financial health features into technological platforms and everyday products can facilitate saving, investing, and debt reduction. Designing with this focus increases individuals’ sense of control and financial sustainability.
3) AI and financial behavior: key allies.
Tools leveraging artificial intelligence, alternative data, and gamification are transforming how financial habits are formed. When applied ethically, these technologies can build long-term trust and maximize impact.
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