Most organizations heavily invest in financial wellness programs offering education modules, budgeting tools, and Earned Wage Access. Yet, many employees remain trapped in a cycle of financial instability. Why? Because financial education alone isn’t enough. And tools alone aren’t enough either.
Drawing on new research from a survey of more than 4,000 workers, Stream’s spring Financial Literacy paper reveals a powerful insight: Without the map of financial literacy, even the best infrastructure gets used reactively instead of strategically. Teaching and tooling, on their own, don’t create financial wellbeing. But together when literacy provides direction they fundamentally shift behavior.
In this webinar, Stream’s Caroline Mae Woodson will explore how to bridge the Benefits Gap and unlock the Literacy Advantage - showing how pairing intuitive tools with foundational knowledge moves employees from survival mode to long-term planning.
What You’ll Learn
The “Confusion Tax” and How to Stop Paying It
Why higher earners without literacy often use benefits less efficiently than lower-earning, literate peers paying 17% more in fees.
Establishing a Behavioral Floor
How literacy creates systemic stability, making workers more likely to automate payments and escape manual crisis management.
Strategic Irrigation vs. Firefighting
How to transform Earned Wage Access from a reactive fire extinguisher into an irrigation system that supports long-term wealth building.
Who Should Attend
CHROs, VPs of Benefits, Total Rewards leaders, and HR innovators who want to maximize the ROI of their financial wellbeing strategy and move their frontline workforce from daily survival to sustainable stability.
Stop providing just the tools. Start providing the navigation.
Meet the Presenter
-
Caroline Mae Woodson
Caroline Mae Woodson is an Impact Comms & Engagement Lead with Stream. She believes impact is more than a metric—it’s a human story. On Stream’s Impact Team, Caroline explores how financial technology shapes real people’s lives and advocates for tools that cultivate genuine financial wellbeing. She sits at the intersection of behavioral psychology, product development, and clear communication - translating research into strategy and strategy into stories people can understand. She authored the 2025 State of Financial Wellbeing Report and partners closely with research teams to uncover what people truly need—and how to reach them in ways that matter.
Outside of work, Caroline is devoted to telling stories of all kinds. She has published two poetry anthologies, hosts her own podcast, produces for a D.C.-based theatre company, and drinks an inordinate amount of Earl Grey tea.
SHRM certification has approved this webinar for 1 PDC toward SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP recertification. A program code will be provided at the end of the webinar.