What defines financial wellness? Experts say minimal financial stress, a strong foundation of savings and a plan for the future are all key indicators of financial fitness. But most Americans are not financially fit. Medical expenses, credit card debt, child care and elder care costs all get in the way. In order to help employees get to a more stable financial state, some companies have held financial wellness workshops with great success. Why Offer Financial Wellness Workshops? Studies have shown that employees are less productive when they’re stressed. With financial stress being so common, offering assistance can increase productivity. Happy…

Financial woes bringing you down? There’s probably a song for you. Financial stress plagues many people, so it’s no surprise there are so many songs about it. I couldn’t possibly list them all, but here are seven from different decades, genres and artists: “She Works Hard for the Money” – Donna Summer “She works hard for the money So hard for it, honey She works hard for the money So you better treat her right” “Money” – Pink Floyd “Money, get away Get a good job with more pay and you’re O.K. Money, it’s a gas Grab that cash with…

Have you thought about how much money you need to retire comfortably? Most people have not. And most people won’t be ready for retirement either. Experts suggest you’ll be able to live on 85% of your pre-retirement income, although you need to factor in inflation year after year. Different situations may move that percentage up or down, but that’s about what you should be aiming for. The average person is in retirement for about 20 years – so that’s a lot of money you’ll need saved up. So how do you know if you’re on track? Use a Retirement Calculator…

Creating a budget is a great step toward a better financial future. While you’re creating it, it’s important to take the time to get every expense mapped out and not just the major bills you’re dealing with. When I created my first budget, I was confused why I wasn’t saving as much as I anticipated and why so much of my money fell in the “other” category. It didn’t take long to see that I just missed many frequent expenses that should have been on the list. Top 7 Missed Items when Creating Budgets 1. Pets While your pet’s food…

For most teenagers, college is the natural next step after high school. Our culture has made it feel almost like a necessity in order to excel. The Wall Street Journal recently published an article sharing stats on college graduates and debt. Although it shows people have less faith in a college education than they did just four years ago, the story is not black and white. The Stats Concerning Everyone The Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported about a quarter of college graduates are barely earning more than those with only a high school diploma. This puts the underemployment…