The Hidden Cost of Financial Stress

Brad Arends
Mar 25, 2025
3 min read

Why Financial Planning Should Be the Next Big Employee Benefit

Employers have long recognized the importance of investing in their workforce’s well-being. They offer competitive salaries, healthcare benefits, and retirement plans to attract and retain top talent. The numbers speak for themselves:

$7,001 per year on single health insurance coverage
$17,497 per year on family health insurance
$3,190 in matching 401(k) contributions

Yet, despite these significant investments, only 40% of employers offer a financial planning program—even though:

93% of employees say they want financial planning as an employee benefit.
76% of employees and 96% of employers agree that financial planning is the employer’s responsibility.

With the increasing financial pressures on today’s workforce, it’s time for companies to rethink their approach.

The Hidden Cost of Financial Stress

Employers may not always see it, but financial stress is a silent productivity killer. When employees are worried about making rent, paying off debt, or saving for retirement, they can’t focus on their jobs. And the impact is measurable.

Research shows that financially stressed employees cost their employers an additional $3,922 per year in lost productivity. That translates to:

156 hours per year spent distracted by financial concerns
19.5 lost workdays annually per affected employee

When you multiply this across an entire workforce, the numbers become staggering. Financial stress leads to lower engagement, increased absenteeism, and higher turnover rates—all of which directly impact a company’s bottom line.

The solution? Give employees the tools they need to succeed financially.

The Business Case for Financial Planning

For years, employers have understood the importance of physical and mental wellness programs, but financial planning is just as critical. When employees have a clear financial plan, they:

Feel more secure about their future
Make better use of their employee benefits
Reduce stress and improve productivity
Are more engaged and less likely to leave their job

That’s where intellisteps comes in.

How intellisteps Solves the Problem

At intellicents, we believe that every employee deserves access to financial planning—not just the top executives. That’s why we created intellisteps, a simple, effective, and affordable financial planning solution.

For less than $25 per employee per year, companies can provide every worker with a personalized, four-page foundational financial plan—built using just three data points: age, wage, and minimal 401(k) information.

intellisteps focuses on the five pillars of financial well-being:

Budgeting – Understanding where money goes and how to manage it wisely.
Debt Management – Strategies to reduce debt and avoid financial pitfalls.
Emergency Savings – Creating a safety net for unexpected expenses.
Death Protection – Ensuring financial security for loved ones.
Retirement Readiness – Planning for a comfortable future.

It’s not about selling investments or pushing financial products—it’s about empowering employees with knowledge and guidance so they can take control of their financial future.

Financial Planning: A Win-Win for Employers and Employees

Financial planning isn’t just a “nice-to-have” anymore—it’s an essential part of building a productive, engaged, and loyal workforce. When companies invest in their employees' financial well-being, they see the benefits in higher productivity, lower turnover, and better overall job satisfaction.

The numbers make it clear: financial stress is a real and costly problem. It’s time for employers to act.

At intellicents, we’re making financial planning affordable, accessible, and effective for every employee. Because when workers are financially healthy, businesses thrive.

Isn’t it time we start treating financial planning like any other core employee benefit?