Methods and apparatus for promoting financial behavioral change

Abstract

Some embodiments of the invention provide tools for promoting a user's financial well-being by encouraging positive financial behavior through timely feedback, counseling and instruction. For example, some embodiments of the invention may provide real-time (e.g., in response to a transaction being performed, or in response to the user indicating he/she is contemplating a transaction) useful analysis and advice designed to encourage the type of ongoing financial behavior that leads over time to financial well-being.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer system configured to provide feedback to a user of a mobile device about the user's financial behavior, the computer system comprising:
 at least one computer processor programmed to;
 identify, from among transactions performed by the user during an ongoing period, transactions of a particular type, each transaction of the particular type having an associated transaction amount; 
 identify at least one prior period comparable to the ongoing period; 
 identify, from among transactions performed by the user during the at least one prior period, transactions of the particular type, each transaction of the particular type having an associated transaction amount; 
 compare the transaction amounts for the identified transactions performed during the ongoing period to the transaction amounts for the identified transactions performed during each at least one prior period; 
 determine, as a result of the comparing, that the user is contemplating performing a transaction; and 
 in response to the determining, send to the mobile device a promotional offer relating to the contemplated transaction.