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The list of employee financial concerns includes stressful personal situations that distract employees’ attention from the work at hand. Thirty-nine percent of employers say that’s the item of most concern to employees, followed by increasing health care costs at 34% and the expenses and pressures of caring for family members (24%). Lackluster retirement savings come in sixth on the list, with 18% of employers choosing it as either the number one or number two issue for their employees. Reasons employers offer financial wellness programs To address these employee concerns, many employers — 70%...

Employers tend to direct retirement education toward those who will soon exit the workforce — Baby Boomers and Gen Xers. That makes sense considering the nearness of retirement for those groups. But it’s the Millennials who now make up the largest constituency in the American workforce, at one out of every three workers. And it seems they need a little help when it comes to saving for their eventual retirement. Life is in Full Swing Almost half of Millennials are worried about retiring on time, and two-thirds are concerned they will outlive their retirement savings. 1 Addressing the unique...

Tax season is upon us. While everyone’s financial situation is different, there are some basic guidelines to get you started. File Electronically This is the quickest way to get your tax refund. There are many online platforms that make filing your taxes safe and easy. You’ll need your account number and your bank routing number for a direct deposit. Personal Information The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will need to know who is filing and who is covered under your tax return. Be sure to have your social security number and date of birth ready for you and other members in your household...

Understanding Uncertainty: Retirement Plan Webinar View Full Webinar Presentation All of us are surrounded by fear of risk. When the media discusses investments, so much is driven by what an investor could lose or gain. Some investments are marketed as growth, guaranteed, or safe. What is risk? What risks are relevant in your retirement plan? What is considered investment risk and what is our own behavioral risk? What do you do as a saver to combat the short and long-term risks so pervasive in our society? With the right strategies, you can manage risk and help grow your retirement account...

On the surface, retirement readiness did not suffer significantly in 2020, according to a close examination of the 1.1 million participants in 1,076 plans reviewed for a recent white paper. Of course, the market experienced significant dips in the first quarter of 2020, but results were broadly positive the rest of the year. Overall, year-over-year retirement readiness was down fewer than two percentage points — concerning, but not devastating. The paper, John Hancock’s State of the Participant 2021, examined data for the year ending September 30, 2020, digging deeper to see how participants...