Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

Date of Award

Summer 2026

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

College

College of Business

First Advisor

Sonya Lim

Abstract

This study examines retirement related financial behaviors among foreign-born immigrants living in the United States, with particular focus on the role of Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) status. Using a cross-sectional survey of 223 foreign-born respondents, including both ITIN and non-ITIN respondents, the study examined whether ITIN status, financial literacy, fintech usage, remittance behavior, demographic characteristics, and attitudes toward financial inclusion were associated with participation in formal retirement saving and likelihood of using retirement products if available. Binary logistic regression and multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to test the study hypotheses. The findings indicated that ITIN status was negatively associated with formal retirement saving, while financial literacy positively predicted participation in formal retirement saving. Female respondents were less likely than male respondents to report formal retirement saving. Support for undocumented immigrants’ access to financial services was positively associated with retirement product likelihood, while remittance variables were not significant predictors in the final models. The findings contribute to the literature on immigrant financial behavior and financial inclusion, while also suggesting broader policy implications regarding expanded access to retirement products for immigrants using ITINs.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.

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