Financial literacy the key to ‘financial wellness’


There are clear links between financial literacy and perceived levels of "financial wellness", according to new data released by the Workplace Super Specialists Association (WSSA).
The WSSA today released the results of its Financial Wellness index developed in conjunction with CoreData, with WSSA president, Terry Rhodes, saying the survey demonstrated the clear iinks between employee financial literacy and perceived levels of financial wellness, and financial stress and productivity.
"We know employees who lack financial wellness tend to be more stressed, as observed by more than three in five employers (63.3 percent)," he said.
"Further, a significant number of employers also noted presenteeism (43.3 per cent), low morale (30 per cent), and absenteeism (16.7 per cent) as other consequences of poor financial wellness. Rhodes said the data suggested that financial wellness programs could have a clear benefit for all involved.
The survey showed that despite the costs of poor financial wellness, only 15.2 per cent of the businesses surveyed had implemented a financial wellness program, yet three in five of those that had implemented such programs had seen an increase in the overall financial wellness of their employees over the last six months.
"Employers need to take a look at the data on wellness, as it is both powerful and empowering and is one of the most effective ways of positively impacting the behaviours of employees and how they feel," Rhodes said.
Recommended for you
Net cash flow on AMP’s platforms saw a substantial jump in the last quarter to $740 million, while its new digital advice offering boosted flows to superannuation and investment.
Insignia Financial has provided an update on the status of its private equity bidders as an initial six-week due diligence period comes to an end.
A judge has detailed how individuals lent as much as $1.1 million each to former financial adviser Anthony Del Vecchio, only learning when they contacted his employer that nothing had ever been invested.
Having rejected the possibility of an IPO, Mason Stevens’ CEO details why the wealth platform went down the PE route and how it intends to accelerate its growth ambitions in financial advice.