The Latino wealth gap is one of the most urgent economic challenges of our time. For Latinos, who have long faced systemic exclusion from traditional financial institutions, financial technology (fintech) holds both promise and risk. Tools like buy now, pay later; earned wage access; cryptocurrency; and digital investment platforms are increasingly embedded in daily financial life, yet their impact on closing or widening the wealth gap remains an open question. 

To advance this conversation, Urban Institute and LatinoProsperity researchers will present new consumer research on how Latinos are engaging with fintech products, why they are turning to these tools, and what their experiences reveal about unmet needs and emerging opportunities. A panel of practitioners and policy leaders will then dig into the data, challenge assumptions, and map a path forward, exploring how fintech can be harnessed as a genuine engine for wealth building rather than just another avenue for financial exclusion. 

Speakers 

• Orson Aguilar, Founding President and CEO, LatinoProsperity
• Marisa Calderon, President and CEO, Prosperity Now
• Tonantzin Carmona, Fellow, Brookings
• Marlene Orozco, Senior Research Advisor, LatinoProsperity 
• Brenton Peck, Vice President of Financial Health Strategy, U.S. Bank 
• José A. Quiñonez, Founder and CEO, Mission Asset Fund 
• Luisa Godinez-Puig, Senior Research Associate, Urban Institute (moderator) 

We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals to engage fully. Please email [email protected] if you require any accommodations or have any questions about this event. 

This event is hosted by the Urban Institute’s Financial Well-Being Hub. For more on Urban’s funding policies, please visit urban.org/about/organizational-principles.