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Latino families across the country already possess many of the core habits, values, and strategies that the HWP knows support long-term wealth building. Yet, these strengths are often overlooked in the national conversation. To better understand how Latino households actually navigate their financial lives, the NAHREP and the Hispanic Wealth Project conducted a qualitative study of 24 Latino adults in Orange County, CA and Houston, TX. Through in-depth interviews, the Latino Financial Practices study explored how participants learn about money, make financial decisions, and chart pathways toward wealth.

What emerged was a vivid picture of everyday financial discipline shaped by family responsibility, resilience, and commitment to generational progress. These lived experiences matter – not only because they shape financial outcomes, but because they reveal the cultural wisdom already at work in Latino households.

For a deeper dive into the study’s methodology, participant quotes, and detailed findings, the full “Latino Financial Practices” study is available in the 2025 State of Hispanic Wealth Report.

Wealth-Building Starts at Home
Most participants did not grow up with formal financial education or access to professional advisors. Instead, they learned by observing parents stretch limited budgets, taking on financial responsibilities early in life, and navigating money through trial and error. These early experiences cultivated skills that continue to shape their financial lives, including careful budgeting, caution around debt, resourcefulness, and a strong sense of planning for the future. Far from being a barrier, this lived-experience financial education has fostered a practical, grounded approach that many participants now hope to pass on to their own children.

Understandings of Wealth and Financial Decisions are Driven by Values
Participants consistently described wealth not as material abundance, but as a sense of stability and control. To them, wealth means peace of mind, the ability to handle an emergency, and the capacity to provide for children and elders. Family responsibility was a central motivator; financial decisions, ranging from saving diligently to working multiple jobs, were guided by the goal of creating a secure, lasting future for loved ones. These values shape not only how Latino families manage money, but how they define the purpose of wealth itself.

Everyday Practices That Support Wealth-Building
Despite varying income levels, participants shared similar financial habits that help support long-term stability. Many carefully track and stick to budgets, prioritize essential expenses, and save consistently, even in small amounts. Older participants often relied on cash for day-to-day spending, while younger Latinos increasingly embrace digital tools and online resources to manage money. The combination of discipline and adaptability was a defining theme: participants often juggled complex financial realities, including supporting extended family, navigating high living costs, or managing multiple jobs, with strategic planning and foresight.

Barriers That Make Wealth-Building More Difficult
Even with strong habits and the desire to build wealth, many participants faced structural barriers that constrained what was possible:

• High housing and living costs, leaving little room to save
• Limited access to credit, including thin credit files or low scores
• Fear or mistrust of financial institutions, shaped by past experiences
• Lack of access to advisors or culturally relevant information
• Economic instability, making long-term planning feel out of reach

These barriers highlight a critical reality: discipline and strong values are not enough on their own. Systems, tools, and pathways must support Latino households’ financial aspirations.

Why These Findings Matter
The Latino Financial Practices study underscores that Latino families already possess many of the foundational elements needed for wealth-building. Their existing strengths, including resilience, discipline, family orientation, and long-term thinking, are powerful starting points for any financial education, homeownership, or entrepreneurship initiative. To further support Latino wealth creation, policies and programs should:

• Build on existing financial strengths
• Offer guidance that is culturally relevant and grounded in lived experience
• Address structural barriers such as credit access and institutional mistrust
• Provide tools that turn strong habits into long-term gains

Latino families are already doing so much right. The opportunity ahead is to ensure that their values, habits, and aspirations are met with the support and access they deserve. The insights from this study offer a roadmap grounded not in assumptions, but in the voices and experiences of the community itself. When systems align with the realities of Latino households, the everyday discipline we heard in these interviews can be transformed into meaningful generational wealth.

If you are interested in exploring the study in greater depth, including participant stories, thematic analysis, and methodology, please read the full “Latino Financial Practices” study in the 2025 State of Hispanic Wealth Report.

Disclosure: Please note that the information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice.

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