Why Noom Should Expand into Personal Finance

Adam Dudley
3 min readJun 18, 2023
Image by Bruno Berardi from Pixabay

In our modern world, personal finance is a consistent source of stress for many individuals. According to a study by the American Psychological Association, 72% of Americans reported feeling stressed about money at least sometime in the previous month. But what if there was a solution to alleviate this stress, a tool that could guide us in managing our money better? What if Noom, the health and wellness company renowned for its behavioral science-based approach, expanded into personal finance?

The Link Between Financial Stress and Health

Financial stress doesn’t just affect our wallets; it takes a toll on our health. Unchecked stress can contribute to health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes, according to the Mayo Clinic. If Noom, a company that has revolutionized the health and wellness industry, applied its successful model to personal finance, it could help people reduce financial stress and enhance overall well-being.

Behavioral Science in Personal Finance

We’ve seen how behavioral science can revolutionize industries. In personal finance, companies like Qapital have embraced behavioral science to guide users’ financial decisions, making saving money a seamless and enjoyable experience. Since its inception, Qapital has helped people save over $2 billion through its science-backed, goal-oriented strategies.

Imagine Noom, with its behavioral science expertise, stepping into this space, providing users with coaching informed by the financial psychology field and tools to track not only their food intake and exercise but also their spending and saving. This approach could empower people to take control of their financial lives, reducing stress and contributing to overall health.

The Power of Personalization

Noom’s potential financial offering should be customizable to fit the user’s lifestyle, life stage, and money habits, much like its current health and wellness approach. A one-size-fits-all method won’t suffice in the personal finance world. Qapital’s Dream Team feature is a testament to the power of personalization, allowing couples to customize their collaboration on finances and save toward shared goals.

This approach would align with Noom’s existing platform, emphasizing daily personalized lessons, one-on-one coaching, and user-friendly tracking tools. These same principles, applied to personal finance, could provide users with the knowledge and support needed for long-lasting financial health.

The Market Potential

The market for a behavioral science-based financial tool is significant. About 76% of Americans already use mobile apps to manage their finances, and half of the American adults are in a relationship or married, representing a potential user base of around 76 million just for a product like Dream Team. The increasing demand for psychology in financial planning further underscores the significant potential of incorporating behavioral science into financial technology.

Conclusion

Integrating personal financial management into Noom’s platform could provide an all-in-one solution for health and financial wellness, reducing stress and contributing to overall well-being. Given Noom’s success in changing behaviors related to health and wellness, there’s every reason to believe they could do the same for personal finance. As such, expanding into this area presents a compelling opportunity for Noom to further its mission of helping individuals lead healthier lives — financially and physically.

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Adam Dudley

On a mission to make the world a little better and brighter. Topics: Startups, Philosophy, Technology, Leadership, Strategy, Business, Health, Neuroscience, AI