On Wednesday, January 14, 2026, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York hosted the fifth annual “An Economy That Works for All” event.
This hybrid event focused on the importance of financial inclusion. Speakers highlighted challenges and strategies for improving financial inclusion and explored how financial literacy and innovation can drive opportunities to promote the financial health of households. New York Fed President John C. Williams delivered opening remarks.
The event was of interest to community-based organizations, philanthropists, policymakers, as well as city and state agencies.
January 14, 2026
2:00pm-5:00pm
Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Auditorium
33 Liberty Street
New York, NY
This event was open to the public.
This event was open to the media. All remarks were on the record, with the recording to be made available afterwards. For media inquiries, please contact Ellen Simon at Ellen.Simon@ny.frb.org.
Agenda
| 2:00pm-2:10pm | Welcome and Introduction
Otho Kerr, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Community Impact Investing, Federal Reserve Bank of New York |
| 2:10pm-2:20pm | Opening Remarks
John C. Williams, President & CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of New York |
| 2:20pm-2:30pm | An Economy That Works for All: Accountability at Digital Speed
Mae Watson Grote, Nonresident Fellow, Urban Institute |
| 2:30pm-3:25pm | Advancing Financial Literacy and Economic Education
Talk by Mario Gutierrez, Director of Development, Working Credit Panel Discussion Moderator: Jack Gutt, Head of Communications and Outreach, Federal Reserve Bank of New York Steve Bumbaugh, Chief Executive Officer, The Council for Economic Education Daniel Mangrum, Research Economist, Federal Reserve Bank of New York Olivia S. Mitchell, International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans Professor; Professor of Insurance and Risk Management; Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy, The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania |
| 3:25pm-3:45pm | Break |
| 3:45pm-4:00pm | Fireside Chat: Student Perspectives on Financial Education Moderator: Heather Daly, Head of Economic Education, Federal Reserve Bank of New York Student members of the 2025-2026 Healthcare Energy, Education, Environment, Agriculture, and Technology (HE3AT) Program |
| 4:00pm-4:45pm | Financial Innovation and its Impact on Financial Inclusion Moderator: Christopher D. Armstrong, Head of Operations and Resiliency, Federal Reserve Bank of New York Nerissa Aslantas, Senior Product Manager, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston Sean Creehan, Lead for Financial Health, Inclusion, and Technology, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco Ambika Nair, Community Development Analyst, Federal Reserve Bank of New York |
| 4:45pm-5:00pm | Closing Remarks
Sushmita Shukla, First Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of New York |
