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 require high school students to complete a personal finance course.

In a recent SHRM study, 83 percent of HR professionals reported that personal financial challenges had a large impact or some impact on overall employee performance. Only 13% of HR professionals viewed their employees as ‘very financially literate.’ Financial stress, many times due to a lack of financial literacy, is affecting millions of Americans.

Problem Two: Taking Action

Armed only with knowledge, employees will see little improvement without access to appropriate, effective and personalized tools and resources to help them facilitate positive behavioral changes that will lead to improved financial health.

Even with access to tools and resources, a program that lacks motivation to participate is likely to see the majority of employees at the starting line instead of running the race.

How Can You Help Your Employees?

The first step is to provide them with the tools and resources to honestly assess their current financial situation. Once they establish a personal baseline, they can set goals and determine an actionable plan that will allow them to make progress on their journey to financial health.

Finfit also offers multiple different employee financial programs. You can also click to our demo page to get started today!

Knowledge and insight into their personal financial state is step one. Utilizing appropriate educational tools and financial resources to change negative behaviors into positive behaviors is the key to that personal progression.

In a previous post, we outlined how you as the employer can determine if you have a successful and effective financial wellness program. Here are five elements to focus on:

Assess the financial status of employees.
Ask employees what financial success looks like for them.
Offer a variety of options to accommodate different learning styles.
Partner with a financial wellness expert.
Incentivize employees to participate.

By implementing a holistic financial wellness program for your employees, your organization will see the return on investment in key areas like productivity and retention. Financially healthy employees have lower stress levels and are able to focus on the task at hand, making them more effective. Lower stress levels, in turn, have been linked to lower health care costs and absenteeism. 60% of employees say they are more committed to their employer and more productive at work when their employer demonstrates a commitment to employees’ financial wellness.

Data doesn’t lie. Our retention analysis recently published by BenefitsPRO concluded that when organizations offer FinFit’s financial wellness program they are rewarded with:

18.8% increase in retention across salaried and hourly employees
$1,855 annual turnover cost-savings per employee*
Nearly $2 million saved annually for every 1,000 employees

We’d love to help your organization improve the financial health of your employees

FinFit Loans are issued by Celtic Bank, a Utah-Chartered Industrial Bank, Member FDIC. Loans subject to credit approval. Residents of Colorado, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, West Virginia, Nevada and Massachusetts are not eligible for loans. Nothing in this advertisement constitutes an offer or solicitation for loan products to residents of those states. Actual time it takes for loan approval dependent upon loan verification set up with your employer.

Funding time dependent upon funding method selected. Expedited funding may incur additional fees.

Student loan services are provided by unaffiliated third parties. FinFit loans issued by Celtic Bank do not include student loans.

Wage Now is fully funded and managed by an affiliate of FinFit. If any fees apply, those fees will be disclosed prior to entering into any agreements.
Residents of California, New York, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee and Vermont are not eligible for WageNow. This does not constitute an offer or solicitation for WageNow to residents of those states.

FinFit’s Financial Wellness Program, which includes educational content, a financial assessment and a financial dashboard, are free to registered members.
Services offered may incur fees and/or interest. All fees will be disclosed prior to entering into any agreements.
Products listed are a representation of FinFit offerings. Actual availability may vary. The products available to you and your organization will appear on your FinFit membership dashboard. Actual loan amounts and rates offered vary based on lender, credit worthiness and other factors.