It isn’t all about the packages, boxes or bags My brother Dan and stepfather have bonded over the years over a shared love of fishing. Each summer, my brother returns home to the Wisconsin lakes from California for a week of fishing, with a goal of hooking that prized musky. While our family has caught some nice size fish, including muskies, there’s always that one ‘that got away’ swimming in the depths, albeit taunting them. Our large, blended family gets together each holiday season....

As an HR manager, business owner, or financial decision-maker, you probably avoid prying into employees’ personal lives. However, financial stress can consume your employees’ energy, making them less productive at work. That can lead to health problems, sick days, and other problems that affect your business. How can you turn this losing proposition into a win-win? Financial coaching can help bring peace of mind back to your employees by giving them tools to help them with major financial...

Financial Literacy Month is observed each April. As we turn our attention to financial literacy, it is important to consider how critical relevant financial education is to employees during a time of rising inflation.  Many Americans weren’t privy to an education grounded in the basics:  Budgeting and smart spending Establishing emergency savings  Responsible use of credit Planning for and investing in the future These key pillars of financial health are all critical elements to helping an...

Financial wellness involves and achieves independence. No matter how much one works and earns as income, being tied down by debt and commitments provides no real freedom. Financial wellness works the same way as wellness for the body; when everything is working correctly, and there are no concerns, a person is healthy. When vulnerabilities, leverage, debt, and financial stress cause losses and struggles, the body becomes sick and can’t perform as well. Most people in the U.S. today are...

59% of employees are more stressed about money than any other life stressor combined, as reported by the PwC 2019 Employee Wellness Survey. The reasons for this financial stress range from not having enough money in savings and being unable to meet monthly expenses, keep up with debt, or pay for college. One in four employees ranks a financial wellness benefit, including access to unbiased counselors, as the most desired employer benefit. Your employees are stressed about the cost of...

The New American Workspace:Millenialsat the Gate By David Kilby Millennials are the new core workforce. Their concept of “work” is different than the traditional. They bring bold, new approaches of what work should be, how and where it should be performed, and what the rewards for work should be. Summary: Millennials are the new core workforce. Their concept of “work” is different than the traditional. They bring bold, new approaches of what work should be, how and where it should be...

Financial Stress Affects All Employees, Regardless of Income This probably won’t surprise you: Four in 10 US consumers reported trouble paying at least one bill or expense in the past year. This might: 18% of those with a household income above $100k said they had trouble affording an expense. Financial stress affects all employees, regardless of income level. Although a company may compensate its employees well, the rising costs of living and tuition place a seemingly endless burden on...

Early Wage Access Can Be Dangerous As A Stand-Alone Benefit No matter what the moniker – early wage access, earned wage access, on-demand pay, instant pay, work-today-get-paid-tomorrow – the concept is the same. Employees have control over their cash-flow by accessing the wages they’ve earned early, prior to payday. Back in January 2020, I wrote an article discussing the pros and cons of offering an early wage access service to employees. One critical element that continues to come to the...

The Value of Financially Literate Employees Financial literacy is “the ability to understand and effectively use various financial skills, including personal financial management, budgeting, and investing,” according to Investopedia. This statement insinuates that an individual must not only have the knowledge, but the ability to translate that knowledge into action. Problem One: Knowledge 65% of Americans believe schools should provide financial education, but only 21 states currently...

Creating a More Equitable Financial Future for All Financial Literacy Month, observed each April, takes on new meaning this year as millions of Americans struggle to cope with the financial impacts of the pandemic. In 2020, 40% of American consumers had trouble paying at least one bill or expense, underscoring the importance of having a solid financial education to navigate these challenging times. At FinFit, we are committed to creating a more equitable financial future for all. According...