Initiative

The idea is to truly think forward - towards a horizon beyond tomorrow

What kind of mortgage is right for you? What are the potential pitfalls of a student loan? When should you start planning your pension?

Knowing what - and why - you choose

When it comes to financial decisions, it's important to know what we're choosing - and why. Because although we like to see ourselves as sensible and logical decision-makers, studies continue to show that our decisions are driven by many other (often subconscious) factors.

Is it too difficult to imagine and consider our future needs over our current needs? Does the abundance of choice help or hinder us? We’ve all been there.

That’s why we started the Think Forward Initiative (TFI), a multi-year movement bringing together experts representing governments, academics, consumers, and the financial and technology sectors.

We’re conducting research to find out how and why we make financial choices, and then applying these insights to develop actual tools that can help people. Our goal is a financially resilient society where people make conscious and informed choices about their money. With TFI, we aim to improve the lives of 100 million people.

To be most effective, TFI is set up with a research hub that will “discover” issues and an accelerator that will use innovation to “solve” them. The community is where TFI’s experts connect and collaborate, and how its progress and impact are communicated to the world.

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    "Empowering people is very core of ING's purpose. This initiative shows how seriously we believe in that. What really goes on in someones mind, both conscious and subconscious, when making financial decisions? Getting insights into this helps us to help them."

    Ralph Hamers, CEO ING

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    "We recognise the increasing value of data and cutting-edge information technology as key to delivering personalised experiences and enabling smarter financial decisions."

    Adrian McDonald, President EMEA, DELL EMC

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    "Household finance combines insights from several fields to understand how finance can be made to work better for people. The new CEPR Network on Household Finance shares with the TFI the commitment to 'economics in the service of society', making the partnership promising and worthwile."

    Richard Baldwin, President of CEPR

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    "We are proud to be part of the Think Forward Initiative as it accelerates the use of technology to create solutions that help people improve their life or in this case, to help people make better financial decisions."

    Steve van den Heever, Global Director Financial Services, Dimension Data

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    "We believe that Deloitte will make an impact that matters. By joining this initiative we will continuously update our knowledge on how and why we make financial decisions. This new idea will enable us to create innovative solutions for society."

    Hinko van Beek, Parner Deloitte

News

Improving Borrowing Behavior Through Social Media Analysis
Think Forward Initiative Research Challenge results
CEPR Network on Household Finance PhD Prize

In the media

CNN Interview with ING Chief Economist Mark Cliffe
Generation K: why today's teens are more careful with their money
Here's the divide between optimists and pessimists in the global economy

OUR TEAM

When it comes to financial decisions, it's important to know what we're choosing - and why. Because although we like to see ourselves as sensible and logical decision-makers, studies continue to show that our decisions are driven by many other (often subconscious) factors.

  1. Dagmar van der Plas Lead Think Forward Initiative

    Organisation: ING

  2. Dominic Keyzer Acting Lead Think Forward Initiative

    Organisation: ING

  3. Joep Arends Lead TFI Accelerator

    Organisation: Deloitte

  4. Erich Suni Melgar Lead TFI Community

    Organisation: ING

  5. Stefan van Woelderen Lead TFI Research

    Organisation: ING

  6. Maria Ferreira Sequeda

    Organisation: ING

  7. Laura Straeter

    Organisation: ING

  8. Jovanna Daalderop Programme Support

    Organisation: ING

  9. Roelof Derickx TFI Enabler

    Organisation: Dimension Data

  10. Mihaela Ion TFI Enabler

    Organisation: ING

  11. Monika Tsvetkova TFI/CEPR Events Coordinator

    Organisation: CEPR