Finance
There’s one critical part of employee wellbeing that bosses are forgetting

The cost of living crisis is weighing on employees. And as companies roll out more unique benefit offerings designed to support staffers, they should spend some time thinking about the financial benefits that workers actually want.
Two out of three U.S. employees ranked financial well-being as the top area within well-being overall in which they want support from their bosses over the next three years, according to a new report from Willis Towers Watson (WTW), an insurance services company. That beat out all other well-being subcategories, including a supportive company culture, mental, emotional, and physical health benefits, and workplace connections.
About 88% of workers are worried about covering their living costs, with 73% concerned about paying for food, 72% distressed about healthcare, 69% fretting over housing, and 66% troubled over transportation, according to the report. Around one in five American employees expect their financial situation to get worse over the next year.
In the past, retirement benefits were the main financial perk that employers would offer to their workers, Mark Smrecek, financial well-being market leader at WTW, tells Fortune. But as costs rise and workplace expectations shift, there’s been an increased emphasis on other meaningful employee benefits.
“As we look at broader lifestyle needs and concerns, the inventory on the employer side is far less equipped to serve its employee base,” he says.
Employers also seem unclear about how much workers actually prize financial well-being benefits. While 66% of U.S. workers want their employer to help them with their financial wellness over the next three years, only 23% of bosses prioritized financial wellness as an aspect of their well-being program.
When it comes to the kind of support they would like to see from employers, around 47% of U.S. workers say they want help growing their savings and wealth, according to the report. That’s followed by 35% who want help getting the most out of the benefits they already have, 33% who would like access to money in an emergency, and 21% want help managing debt. Around 21% want financial insurance, and 11% want help managing student loans.
Smrecek says that growing savings and wealth, as well as getting the most out of benefits, are two relatively traditional requests that employers are comfortable with. But others are more outside their wheelhouse.
“Providing access to money in emergencies and helping manage employee debt are two that are far more emerging from an employee demand point of view,” he says.
Smrecek adds that in addition to fulfilling workers’ specific financial benefit demands, employers need to do three things to best support staffers. He recommends bosses provide solutions that are relevant and accessible to their workforce, like financial literacy coaching and direct access to liquidity. Employers should also supplement those solutions with other less monetary-focused programs like affordable and effective healthcare plans. And companies should be proactive about connecting employees with these benefits.
“As employers look to really address the core need of the employee, how that relates to their business, and how they create value from their benefits, those aspects will drive a lot of the results that they’re looking for,” he says.
Emma Burleigh
emma.burleigh@fortune.com
Around the Table
A round-up of the most important HR headlines.
Workplace vacancies hit a record high of 19.8% last quarter, and a Moody’s report shows that the percentage of empty U.S. offices could peak at 24% in 2026. Quartz
Patagonia told 90 of its remote customer service staffers that they have three days to decide if they want to relocate to one of the company’s seven “hubs” or leave their role. Business Insider
Despite some progress in California, most U.S. businesses are opposed to passing “right to disconnect” legislation, reasoning it wouldn’t fit well with remote workers and those logging in from abroad. CNBC
Watercooler
Everything you need to know from Fortune.
Secret weapons. As more companies are trying to get workers back into the office, they’re employing sociologists, psychologists, and anthropologists to understand how staffers tick. —Ryan Hogg
Lavish living crisis. U.S. workers earning $150,000 per year are more worried about covering their bills than employees making $40,000 up to six figures, according to a report. —Eleanor Pringle
Paychecks for prosperity. China’s biggest banks have requested senior staffers to waive deferred bonuses, or even partially return their wages, to abide by the country’s new $400,000 pre-tax limit. —Bloomberg

Finance
Joint Finance Committee votes to release $9 million for literacy funding during late-night hearing

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Finance
Retallick named next associate dean for personnel and finance, Iles to step in as interim AGEDS chair

AMES, Iowa – With a passion for leading others and thinking strategically about where the college and its departments and programs should go, Mike Retallick has been selected to serve as the next associate dean for personnel and finance for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at Iowa State University, effective July 1.
Retallick currently serves as chair of the Department of Agricultural Education and Studies (AGEDS), a position he’s held since 2016. He will continue serving in this role, in addition to being the new associate dean, until August, when Jeff Iles, professor of horticulture and previous chair of the Department of Horticulture, will step in as interim chair of the AGEDS department.
“Dr. Retallick has done a tremendous job of leading the Department of Agricultural Education and Studies, is a great team player and totally embraces the community and land-grant spirit of the college. We are excited to have Mike in this role as associate dean for personnel and finance to support our faculty and staff, to enable our students and to achieve all of our missions and purposes,” said Daniel J. Robison, endowed dean’s chair in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. “We are grateful for Dr. Iles stepping up to lead the Department of Agricultural Education and Studies as interim chair this fall. Jeff did outstanding work as the long-serving chair of the Department of Horticulture, and he’ll bring that experience and skill to this interim role.”

A search for a new chair for the AGEDS department will begin soon.
Retallick has been at Iowa State since 2001, starting as an academic advisor then assistant, associate and professor in the AGEDS department. He also previously served as the director and is now the interim director of the CALS Science with Practice program.
He has served the college and university in many capacities as well, through involvement in various boards and committees, including the Agricultural Endowment Board, CALS Online Learning Taskforce, Micro-credential Taskforce, Provost’s Chairs Cabinet and Faculty Work/Life Advisory Committee.
“This role is instrumental to the success and advancement of the college,” Retallick said. “I’m humbled by the opportunity to join the dean’s leadership team and look forward to working across the college’s departments and units to advance the great work we do in teaching, research and Extension and Outreach, all of which are enabled through personnel and finance.”
Retallick has a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education from the University of Wisconsin – Platteville and a master of agribusiness degree from Kansas State University. He earned his doctoral degree in agricultural education from Iowa State.
The position of associate dean for personnel and finance is fairly new in CALS. Ruth MacDonald currently serves in this role and will do so until June 30. After that, she will continue as the interim chair of the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition.
“We are so appreciative of the great work and impacts our college’s first Associate Dean for Personnel and Finance Ruth MacDonald has done these past four years with staff in the CALS budget and finance office and leadership all across the college,” Robison said.
Contacts
Mike Retallick, Agricultural Education and Studies, 515-294-4810, msr@iastate.edu
Whitney Baxter, Agriculture and Life Sciences Communications, 515-294-2314, wjsager@iastate.edu
Finance
Financial Advisor James Thatcher of Bright Lake Wealth Management Shares Insights as Retirement Income Planning Expert in HelloNation
ROSEVILLE, Calif., June 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — How do I create a retirement income plan in Roseville? This is a common question for individuals approaching retirement, and James Thatcher of Bright Lake Wealth Management offers practical guidance in HelloNation. His expert contribution underscores the importance of analyzing income sources such as Social Security, pension plans, and tax-deferred savings to build a resilient financial framework for retirement. The article emphasizes that consistent cash flow hinges on early budgeting and integrating all revenue streams.
Thatcher details how forecasting monthly expenses, from essentials like housing and healthcare to discretionary spending, enables retirees to calculate income needs with greater accuracy. His insights clarify how the timing of Social Security benefit claims can significantly affect payout totals, and he highlights the importance of coordinating benefit elections with spousal considerations. Thatcher also advises reviewing pension plans carefully and planning for required minimum distributions from retirement accounts, noting that tax efficiency plays a critical role in long-term wealth preservation.
Thatcher further explores the use of supplemental income tools, such as annuities, while cautioning readers to examine associated costs and alignment with personal goals. His guidance on asset allocation during retirement supports maintaining both stability and growth, advocating for routine portfolio reviews to match evolving financial needs.
The article, Understanding Retirement Income Planning, presents Thatcher’s comprehensive approach to retirement, encouraging Roseville residents to adopt a structured and informed strategy for sustained financial health.
About HelloNation
HelloNation is a premier media platform that connects readers with trusted professionals and businesses across various industries. Through its innovative “edvertising” approach that blends educational content and storytelling, HelloNation delivers expert-driven articles that inform, inspire, and empower. Covering topics from home improvement and health to business strategy and lifestyle, HelloNation highlights leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.
Patrick McCabe
info@hellonation.com
www.hellonation.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a533c14d-57bf-40b3-9b8f-5a34c69b66c3
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