What we know and what we should know about financial satisfaction: a systematic literature review and future research agenda

Purpose The primary purpose of this study is to synthesize the literature on financial satisfaction by examining the research trends, methodologies, designs and themes. Furthermore, a framework outlining the antecedents and consequences of financial satisfaction is displayed along with presenting an agenda for future research. Design/methodology/approach By adopting a systematic approach, 303 articles are shortlisted from Scopus, published between 1979 and 2022. This review presents the themes and theories of financial satisfaction, time trends in publications, popular data sets, measurement methods of financial satisfaction and prolific countries publishing on financial satisfaction. Furthermore, the intellectual structure of the subject is explored, along with offering a framework through content analysis. Findings The content analysis identifies the antecedents and consequences of financial satisfaction along with detecting the interlinkages between them. The framework delineates seven typologies within the antecedents and five typologies within the consequences of financial satisfaction. Finally, the discussion is summed up after identifying the potential areas for future research. Originality/value Financial satisfaction refers to the self-perception of individuals of their financial situation. Given the exponential increase of research on financial satisfaction during recent years (especially post-COVID era), this research is, according to the authors’ limited knowledge, the first to provide a synthesis on this topic, with a leading focus on the antecedents and consequences of financial satisfaction. This synthesis draws upon several broad factors as antecedents of financial satisfaction, such as socioeconomic, social, psychological and behavioral. The prominent broad outcomes of financial satisfaction are factors related to well-being, behavioral and psychological aspects.