ADVISORS TAKE STEPS TO MEASURE EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT IN FINANCIAL WELLNESS PROGRAMS
Troy L. Redstone AIF®, CFEI®, CBFA® - PHD. Retirement Consulting
President of the Retirement Advisor Council
Employee engagement is essential in determining the value of any Financial Wellness program. The purpose of this Research Report is to help retirement plan sponsors design a Financial Wellness Program Management Dashboard based on the practices of leading retirement plan advisors. The report provides a framework for monitoring progress and gives guidance to plan sponsors on the key indicators to monitor.
Depending on how your Financial Wellness program was conceived, employees may be able to access services through any one of several doors (i.e., the initial point of entry).
Employer commitment is a leading indicator of future employee engagement.
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Selection of metrics to which the program will be monitored short- and long-term
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Assignment of accountability / responsibility for monitoring implementation
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Assignment of accountability / responsibility for outcomes
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Scope of dedicated resources (staff, infrastructure, budget)
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Scheduling of periodic progress review meetings
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Program adherence
Employee engagement is essential in determining the value of any Financial Wellness program. The purpose of this Research Report is to help retirement plan sponsors design a Financial Wellness Program Management Dashboard based on the practices of leading retirement plan advisors. The report provides a framework for monitoring progress and gives guidance to plan sponsors on the key indicators to monitor.
Depending on how your Financial Wellness program was conceived, employees may be able to access services through any one of several doors (i.e., the initial point of entry).
One strategy for the most committed employers to drive engagement in Financial Wellness programs is to implement a rewards or points program that incents employees to use the program. Leading advisors surveyed in this report say that, on average, 19% of their clients with a Financial Wellness program use a rewards or points program to stimulate participant engagement. Programs such as these have been quite successful on the healthcare front, where employees earn points for having regular medical checkups or going to the gym. They make just as much business sense in helping employees achieve and maintain Financial Wellness.
Employee Engagement Metrics Used by Leading Plan Advisors
Most Commonly Used Employee Engagement Metrics
Percent of Advisors relying on the metric
Proposed Model Financial Wellness Program Engagement Metrics
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Number or Percent of Employees Who... |
Timing of measurement |
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Immediately at implementation |
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Start in the first month of implementation. Monitor weekly for the first six months. |
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Start in the first quarter of implementation. Monitor monthly for the first year. |
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Monitor quarterly – ongoing |
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Monitor quarterly – ongoing |
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Monitor quarterly – ongoing |
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Level 2 metrics entered at the portal can be tiered by type of information – information collected incrementally so a complete picture of the employee’s level of engagement can be drawn progressively.
Percent of employees who provided:
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Contact information
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Demographic information
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Home value / cost of housing
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Retirement plan information
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Beneficiary designation
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Banking information (assets)
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Banking information (debt – mortgage, credit card, student)
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Securities held (taxable and non-taxable accounts)
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Other assets
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Insurance information
The Necessity to Monitor Engagement by Segment
Percent of Plan Sponsors Tracking Engagement by...
Average percent of plan sponsors
*Data not always available in HRIS system
Enhancing the Financial Wellness of employees over time requires some analysis to identify segments of the population who are perhaps left behind or disengaged so action can be taken. Overall measurement alone does not foster progress. Employers who look deeper into employee engagement metrics by tracking employees by age, gender, employment location, and role or position can pinpoint segments of the population who are at greater risk of delayed retirement.
A majority (59%) of employers track employee engagement by age, which is understandable as employers will want to get younger employees on a path to saving while keeping a close eye on employees nearing retirement age. Somewhat fewer track by gender or job location (40% and 39%, respectively). A small number of employers (only 6%) track employee engagement by race. Not all employers track employees’ race in HRIS systems. The large number of employers who are not subject to affirmative action are not required to do so.
About the Survey
This report was commissioned by the Financial Literacy and Financial Wellness Promotion Committee. Chair: Wendy Daniels - Transamerica | Vice-Chair: Mark T. Ratay, CIMA®, PRP® – Morgan Stanley. The survey was conducted July 14-31, 2020. Seventy Council member advisors responded representing 8,209 plans and 4,052,300 participants.
Sincere Thanks to Contributors
401k Advisors Chicago
Stace Hilbrant AIF®, PRP®, CFS
401k Plan Professionals
Jessica Renee Ballin AIF®, C(k)P®
AFS 401(k) Retirement Services, LLC
Alexander G. Assaley, III AIF®
AID Wealth Solutions Group - James M. Aid
Alliant Retirement Consulting - Sarah Keibler
Asset Strategy Advisors
Kent A. Fitzpatrick AIFA, ARPC, GFS®
Avenue Advisory Group
Martha Spano AIF®, CRPS®, EFC, CPFA
Black Diamond Advisory Services - Timothy Black Brad Grist
Buckman & Corning Financial Strategies Group Nicole Corning AIF®, CFP®, CRPC®
Cafaro Greenleaf Advisors - Jamie Greenleaf
Cafaro Greenleaf Advisors - Jared J. Manville AIF®
CAPTRUST Financial Advisors
Jeb Graham CPFA, CIMA, CEBS
Chepenik Financial, A One Digital Company
Compass Financial Partners
Kathleen Kelly CRPS, AIFA
D’Aiutolo, Malcolm & Associates Investment Consulting Group
Alicia Malcolm and Paul D’Aiutolo AIF®, PRP®
DiMeo Schneider & Associates, L.L.C.
Jim Modelski
Erik K. Tappin CRPS®
Fiduciary Plan Advisors - Jania Stout AIF®
Gaertner Investment Consulting UBS
Daniel Gaertner CRPS
Gouldin & McCarthy, LLC
Michael H. Gouldin CRPC®, AIF®
Graystone Consulting Boston-North Shore
Al Hammond
Guidance Point Retirement Services, LLC
A.J. Walker AIF®
Hammond, Martin & Associates
Kimberly L. Hammond CFP®, CIMA®, CPFA, C(k)P®
HUB International
Colin M. Clark MBA, AIF®, C(k)P®, CBFA™, CPFA
KAF Financial Advisors, LLC
Thomas E. Hoffman AIF®, CFS®
Kidder Advisers, Inc.
Keith J. Gredys JD, CTFA, AIF®
Kraematon Group/ Axial Benefits - Richard Sotell
Legacy 401k Partners, LLC - Patrick Stuhr AIF®
LHD Retirement
John Ludwig ChFC, AIF®, CRPS®
Luke J. Novak
Marc Zimmerman AIF®, C(k)P®
Marsh & McLennan Agency - Robert Clark AIF®
Marsh & McLennan Agency - New England Nathan Rasmussen AIF®
Marshall-Amato-Buxton Group at Baird
David Marshall QPFC, CRPS®
Moneta
Sean M. Duggan CPC, AIFA, AIF, QPA, QKA, CPFA, TGPC, CBC
NFP Advisors
Paula A. Hendrickson CFP, C(k)P®, CBFA™
Paris International - Michael R. Paris PHD. Retirement Consulting
Troy L. Redstone AIF®, CFEI®, CBFA, CPFA®
Plan Sponsor Consultants
Michael M. Kane AIFA®, ChFC®, CLU®, CBFA™
PlanPILOT - Nate Cassel
Praxis Consulting
Mark D. Ray AIF®, PRP®, CBC, RF™, GFS™, CRPS®, C(k)P®
Qualified Plan Advisors, Houston
Robert A Massa ChFC®, CEBS®, AIF®, CBC®
RBC Plan Resource Group
Patrick McKiernan C(k)P®
Retirement Advisors
Michael C. Perry CPC, AIF®, CPFA
Retirement Plan Advisors, RBC Wealth Management Jerry Bosch
Shepherd Financial - Steve Wylam CFP, AIF®, CPFA
Sheridan Road Financial a division of HUB International Retirement and Private Wealth
Jim O’Shaughnessy AIF®, PRP®
Sikich Retirement Plan Services
Joe Connell AIFA®, QPFC, CRPS®, RF™
Spectrum Investment Advisors
Matthew P. Demet CEBS, CRC, AIF®
SS/RBA - Barbara J. Delaney AIF®, PRP®
Steven R. Puckett AIF®, CRPS®, CPFA
Stonebridge Financial Group
Brad Pinter CRPS®, AIF®, ChFC®
Strategic Retirement Partners
James D. Robison AIF®
Strategic Retirement Partners
Craig C. Dewey AIF®, ARPC, CPFA
Strategic Retirement Partners - Los Angeles
Erin Hall AIF®, C(k)P®, CPFA
Strategic Retirement Partners - Nashville
Jeanne J. Fisher CFR®, CPFA
Summit Financial Group, Inc - Kaci Skidgel
Summit Group Retirement Planners, Inc.
Derek C. Fiorenza C(k)P®, CPFA, AIF®, PPC™
The Dubie Group at Morgan Stanley
Christopher Dubie AIF®, CRPS®
The Kikawa Group - Karen Yasukawa CIMA®, AIF®
The Ratay Group at Morgan Stanley - Mark Ratay
TriBridge Partners - Chris Schneider
UBS Retirement Plan Consulting Milwaukee
WealthPlan Advisors
Westminster Consulting - Sean Patton
Wintrust Retirement Benefits Advisors
Daniel J. Peluse AIF®, C(k)P®, CBFA, CRPS®
Financial Wellness Program of the Council
About The Council
The Council advocates for successful qualified plan and participant retirement outcomes through the collaborative efforts of experienced, qualified retirement plan advisors, investment firms and asset managers, and defined contribution plan service providers.
Retirement Advisor Council is a brand of EACH Enterprise, LLC
