Financial Wellness Lunch & Learns: 10 Most Demanded Topics

Learning to manage finances is a skill that is well worth the investment of time and resources.

Many companies utilize "Lunch and Learn" style workshops in their financial wellness benefits to provide an additional avenue for their employees to get help.

Not only does it serve your employees, but it perpetuates a financial maturity in your camp that will benefit your company as well.

Knowing what to focus on can be the first hurdle, so let's take a look at the ten most requested Lunch and Learn topics: 

How to Create and Manage a Budget

Every workplace boasts an employee base with a broad range of financial situations. No doubt some of your employees are laden with debt, and still, others have none at all.

In both cases, learning to create and manage a budget is an important skill to have. Many of your employees may live paycheck to paycheck, which means living by a budget is of the utmost importance. 

Planning for Retirement

Investing in your retirement might be one of the most important things you do in life.

Ensuring your employees grasp the importance of investing in their future and how it will benefit them in the long run is very important.

The fact that only 21% of all Americans [1] have any retirement savings at all is reason enough to add this topic to your list.

401k Allocation and Prioritization 

Most employers offer some form of a retirement program for their employees, and for a good reason. The tax-deduction benefits and the streamlined way they help employees prepare for the future are good reasons to offer this perk.

It does little good to provide it if employees don't understand how it works, the best ways to invest, and why they should take advantage.

Adding this topic to your Lunch and Learn menu will help educate employees about these things and prepare them to make wise decisions. 

Appreciating and Depreciating Assets

It is no secret that appreciating assets are wiser investments to make than depreciating ones.

Yet, most Americans not only spend a significant amount of money on purchases that depreciate, but they also tend to borrow money to do so [2].

Learning the difference between the two types of assets is a skill most will carry with them into their decision making for years to come. 

How to Create a Financial Calendar

Many financial hardships come in the way of surprises that no one saw coming.

We all face unexpected expenses like car repairs, medical bills, and home repairs from time to time.

But many financial hits are predictable. We can budget for these by creating a calendar for planning purposes.

Learning how to develop an economic calendar and how to use one is a wise addition to any workshop. 

Debt Consolidation

The average working American faces debt ranging from 67k to 134k [3].

This means you likely have people working for you who could benefit from a debt consolidation plan. Information about how and when to refinance a home, for example, is helpful information for anyone who has bitten off a little more than they can chew. 

Frugal Living

Frugal living carries a connotation of clipping coupons and taking advantage of every special at the local grocery. In reality, learning to live frugally means learning to live smarter.

A 2017 survey [4] found that 78% of American workers live paycheck to paycheck.

Living paycheck to paycheck causes undue stress, which often flows over into work-life.

Putting this topic on your docket will serve both your employees and your industry. Employees that live within their means tend to show up to work with less baggage than those who don't. 

Investments and Stocks 

Learning about investments is something many adults put off. Many find the topic laborious, while others find it fascinating.

Your employees should understand what their options are concerning investing and stock ownership. Learning about where and when to invest their money will help them make sound money management decisions for the future.

Most will not become an expert in the field, but understanding the basic ins and outs is something all working adults should aspire. 

Planning for College

The moment you become a parent, people start offering all kinds of advice, not the least of which is, "Start saving for college now."

Some internalize and act on this advice, while others put it off as they focus on other things while their kids are small.

As the adage goes, kids grow up fast, and college looms on the horizon before anyone is ready. Learning how to prepare for college, smart borrowing, and college selection are critical topics to pursue.

Not only will it set your employees up for success, but also their children. 

The Importance of Saving Money

Learning the importance of saving money goes hand in hand with budgeting and retirement planning.

Still, it is wise to carve out space to tackle this topic all on its own.

There are many reasons it is smart to educate employees on creating and maintaining a savings account.

From having a nest egg for peace of mind to having it ready when expenses arise, the topic of saving money is one worth pursuing. 

Final Thoughts

Financial wellness is, in many ways, as essential as physical wellness. It affects everyone, both mentally and physically.

Hosting Financial Wellness Lunch and Learns can help employees manage their money better and improve your organization's productivity. 

1 - https://bulloakcapital.com/blog/why-retirement-planning-is-important/

2 - https://www.moneyunder30.com/cardinal-sin-personal-finance

3 - https://www.debt.org/faqs/americans-in-debt/demographics/

4 - http://press.careerbuilder.com/2017-08-24-Living-Paycheck-to-Paycheck-is-a-Way-of-Life-for-Majority-of-U-S-Workers-According-to-New-CareerBuilder-Survey" target="_blank">http://press.careerbuilder.com/2017-08-24-Living-Paycheck-to-Paycheck-is-a-Way-of-Life-for-Majority-of-U-S-Workers-According-to-New-CareerBuilder-Surve