SMMC News & Events Blog
This blog highlights news, events, and informative articles on personal finance from University of Illinois System's Student Money Management Center. Feel free to navigate to different categories with the list of topics on the right or search for a specific topic next to the view all link below.

  • Podcast: How App Design Shapes Financial Behavior and Why It Works - Part 2, Designed to Spend

    Jul 28, 2026 10:00 am by Andrea PellegriniPodcastsEducationNewsStudent Loans
    How App Design Shapes Financial Behavior Part 2

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    • How App Design Shapes Financial Behavior Part 2

    Making Cents of Money: How App Design Shapes Financial Behavior and Why It Works 

    Part 2: Designed to Spend

    In Part 2 of Making Cents of Money’s series on user experience (UX) design, Andrea and Kimber take a closer look at the subtle tools financial apps use to influence your decisions (choice architecture, gamification, social comparison, etc.). The question isn’t if these strategies are being used; it’s how many you encounter every time you unlock your phone.

    You can also listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

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    Prior Related Episodes

    Other Investing Education Resources

    Besides SMMC's Investing web page, you can also visit Investor.gov to learn about investing from the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission. Additional blog posts from SMMC focused on investing topics include:

    References

    • Carroll, G., Choi, J. J., Laibson, D., Madrian, B. C., & Metrick, A. (2009). Optimal defaults and active decisions. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 124(4), 1639–1674.
    • Chaudhry, S. M., Khan, F. U., et al. (2021). Design patterns of investing apps. International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction.
    • Chernev, A., Böckenholt, U., & Goodman, J. (2015). Choice overload: A conceptual review and meta-analysis. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 25(2), 333–358.
    • Choi, J. J., Laibson, D., Madrian, B. C., & Metrick, A. (2004). For better or for worse: Default effects and 401(k) savings behavior (NBER Working Paper No. 8651).
    • Farronato, C., Fong, J., & Larkin, I. (2025). Choice architecture and consumer welfare. Management Science.
    • International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO). (2023). Online choice architecture: How digital design is used to influence investors (IOSCO PD794).
    • Johnson, E. J., & Goldstein, D. (2003). Do defaults save lives? Science, 302(5649), 1338–1339.
    • Lai, L. (2024). Playful finance: Gamification and intermediation in fintech. Journal of Financial Regulation, 10(1), 1–35.
    • Lusardi, A., & Mitchell, O. S. (2014). The economic importance of financial literacy: Theory and evidence. Journal of Economic Literature, 52(1), 5–44.
    • Rakovic, M., & Inal, Y. (2023). Exploring design in investment apps. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 170, 102944.
    • UK Financial Conduct Authority. (2024, July). Review of online choice architecture and vulnerability (Regulatory Discussion Paper).
    • Savitha, B., Kunjukunju, A., et al. (2022). Factors influencing adoption of fintech budgeting apps. International Journal of Bank Marketing, 40(5), 1058–1079.
    • Tariq, B. (2024). Cognitive factors and actual usage of fintech innovation. Journal of Financial Services Marketing.
    • Veigas, P. (2023). A comprehensive analysis of nudging in digital platforms. Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics, 104, 101986.
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