Inside the World of Matthew Pierce Hanson: Finance, Family, and a Life in Focus

Basic Information

Early Life and Education

Public reporting places Matthew Pierce Hanson at the University of Chicago, where he completed his undergraduate studies around 2001. The UChicago experience is often described by alumni as a crucible: rigorous, analytical, and formative. That frame fits Hanson’s publicly documented path—one that led naturally into the precision-driven world of finance. While details of his pre-college life are not widely shared, the stepping-stone of UChicago marks the beginning of his public footprint.

Career in Finance

Hanson’s career began in investment banking at Bank of America Securities in Chicago. It’s an arena where numerical fluency meets strategic judgment, and it’s where he intersected professionally with Rebecca Jarvis early on. Over time, he continued in finance roles and earned the CFA charter—an exacting credential that speaks to mastery in investment analysis, ethics, and portfolio management. The CFA designation is both a signal and a standard: thousands of hours of study, three levels of rigorous exams, and a commitment to professional conduct.

Though he maintains a low profile compared with his journalist spouse, descriptions of Hanson as a “finance professional” and “investment-banking alumnus” appear consistently in public coverage, anchoring his reputation to a field known for discretion and depth rather than splashy headlines.

A Partnership with Rebecca Jarvis

The arc of Hanson’s personal story is intertwined with that of Rebecca Jarvis, the ABC News chief business, technology, and economics correspondent. Their relationship matured after college, with a shared chapter in Chicago’s finance ecosystem. In December 2010, their engagement became public, culminating in a January 28, 2012 wedding at the McNamara Alumni Center in Minneapolis. The ceremony was memorable not just for its setting, but for the presence of Hanson’s father, the Rev. Craig Hanson, who participated in the service—a moment that blended family, faith, and celebration.

Their partnership has since become a theme running through family milestones and public moments, with Hanson frequently appearing alongside Jarvis at events and in occasional media features tied to her work.

Family Life

Hanson and Jarvis welcomed their daughter, Isabel Noemi, on February 20, 2019. Years later, in November 2023, they welcomed their son, Leo, via surrogate—a deeply personal chapter the family chose to share publicly, with Jarvis speaking about infertility and the surrogacy pathway. The candor resonated widely. In an age when family-building often takes many forms, their story became both a beacon and a bridge, inviting empathy and conversation while maintaining clear boundaries around privacy.

The couple’s family life, as glimpsed in photos and official features, presents a portrait of warmth and steadiness. Hanson rarely courts the spotlight, but he’s present at the center of these milestones—quietly foundational, the kind of presence that keeps the gears of family and career aligned.

Public Presence and Media Moments

While Hanson himself doesn’t project a prominent public persona, his appearances alongside Jarvis at red-carpet events and in family features give a sense of him as a grounded counterbalance to the on-air demands of journalism. The highlights—wedding anniversary notes, birth announcements, occasional event photos—form a subtle mosaic of a private life shared selectively. In the background, his finance career and CFA credentialing remain steady tentpoles.

Family at a Glance

Timeline of Notable Moments

By the Numbers

• 2 children: Isabel (2019) and Leo (2023)
• 1 CFA charter: a globally recognized professional credential
• 1 alma mater shared in spirit with his spouse’s professional world: the University of Chicago
• 1 wedding date etched in memory: January 28, 2012
• 20+ years since his undergraduate degree, reflecting a long arc of experience in finance

How Finance Shapes the Narrative

Finance is often portrayed as a world of screens and spreadsheets, but its essence is judgment under uncertainty. Hanson’s public profile—investment banking roots, a CFA charter, and a long-running career in the industry—suggests a comfort with complexity and a respect for discipline. Those traits translate well beyond boardrooms. In family life, the same patience and problem-solving are evident in the choices and timing around major milestones, from marriage to parenthood.

The Private Balance

For public figures and their families, attention can feel like a tide—predictable yet ungovernable. Hanson seems to have found a balance: supportive presence, minimal personal exposure, maximum focus on the people and projects that matter. The result is a life that reads as intentional. It’s the kind of balance that doesn’t shout, but holds fast, like a well-weighted keel beneath a busy sail.

FAQ

Who is Matthew Pierce Hanson?

He is a finance professional known publicly as the husband of journalist Rebecca Jarvis.

What is his educational background?

He earned an AB from the University of Chicago in 2001.

What does he do professionally?

He has an investment-banking background and is listed as a CFA charterholder, indicating a career in finance.

When did he marry Rebecca Jarvis?

They were married on January 28, 2012, in Minneapolis.

Do they have children?

Yes, they have two children: daughter Isabel (born February 20, 2019) and son Leo (born November 2023 via surrogate).

Where did the wedding take place?

At the McNamara Alumni Center in Minneapolis, with his father participating in the ceremony.

Is his net worth publicly known?

No, there are no authoritative public disclosures of his net worth.

Is he active on social media?

He maintains a low public profile; most family updates appear through mainstream features rather than personal accounts.

What is notable about his professional credentials?

He holds the CFA charter, a globally respected credential in investment management.