Originally published on Principal.com

With or without global volatility, good financial education and reassurance about long-term retirement savings strategies, portfolios, and other aspects of personal budgeting can help remove money as an extra worry that only compounds other stress. An increasing number of business leaders seem to think so: 67% of retirement plan sponsors say they intend to focus on retirement planning education for employees in 2022, up from 48% in 2021.¹

Here are several ways you can ensure employees have access to that education.

1. Support employees’ financial confidence.

Many employees lack confidence and delay major financial decisions, according to Principal^® research.

But the data also suggests that delaying only exacerbates stress. Helping boost your employees’ financial confidence can pay dividends with their morale both at home and at work. A recent study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that alleviating financial concerns makes workers more attentive and productive.

2. Offer financial wellness programs.

Holistic financial knowledge is a key to greater confidence. Principal^® Milestones, for instance, offers financial wellness tools, resources, and education (with Enrich and ARAG) to all our retirement plan participants—for every stage of their lives.

3. Offer emergency financial relief.

Consider timely ways your business can assist employees affected by the numerous climate disasters or other emergencies that may sap their personal finances. Principal, for example, offered relief funds to employees who were victims of a Midwest inland hurricane (with 140-mile-per-hour straight-line winds) known as a “derecho.”

4. Help employees organize their finances.

Encourage employees to spend a rainy morning and tackle these 5 steps to organizing your personal finances, so they’re not only ready for the next unexpected event, but their family is also prepared to handle financial basics without the additional stress of uncertainty over where to find all the crucial information. Even better, show how serious you are about this planning by providing them paid time at work—maybe with free food in a relaxed atmosphere—and gentle guidance in the form, say, of one of our Principal webinars (principal.com/learnnowondemand).

5. Help employees fund their futures.

Offering a robust retirement plan with a company match is one of the primary ways to help your employees engineer their long-term financial security. Your employees also can follow our step-by-step guide to building your own financial plan—to set their financial goals, create a budget, plan for taxes, and more.

What's next

Want to talk more in depth about employee mental health, employee benefits, and your business? Consult your financial professional, or we can help you find one in your area.

_{¹ Principal Retirement Security Survey of 1,803 consumers and 205 retirement plan sponsors, September 2021.}

_{The value-added resources provided through ARAG Services, LLC (ARAG^®) and iGrad, Inc. (Enrich) are not a part of any insurance products and plan administrative services provided through Principal Life Insurance Co or affiliated with any company of the Principal Financial Group^®. All resources may be changed or canceled at any time. The use of resources provided by ARAG Services, LLC or Enrich should not be considered a substitute for consultation with an attorney or advisor. Principal® is not responsible for any loss, injury, claim, liability, or damages related to the use of the ARAG Will & Legal Document Center or Enrich resources.}

_{Please remember that the ARAG legal documents, DIY Docs® are accurate and useful in many situations. Due to possible changes by a state, it is a good idea to periodically review a template used to be sure it is the most current template. Whether or not the document is right for you and your situation depends on your circumstances. If you want specific advice regarding your situation, consult an attorney.}

_{This information is intended to be educational in nature and is not intended to be taken as a recommendation.} 

Principal Financial Group, Inc.

Principal Financial Group, Inc.

Principal Financial Group^® (Nasdaq: PFG) is a global financial company with 18,500 employees1 passionate about improving the wealth and well-being of people and businesses. In business for more than 140 years, we’re helping more than 51 million customers1 plan, protect, invest, and retire, while working to support the communities where we do business, and build a diverse, inclusive workforce. Principal^® is proud to be recognized as one of America’s 100 Most Sustainable Companies2, a member of the Bloomberg Gender Equality Index, and a Top 10 “Best Places to Work in Money Management3.” Learn more about Principal and our commitment to building a better future at principal.com.

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