MassMutual Study Finds Many Employers Want Guidance From Financial Advisors About Voluntary Benefit Options

The 2016 MassMutual Benefits Advice Study finds that 39 percent of employers without an advisor would find guidance regarding voluntary benefits from an experienced financial professional "extremely valuable" or "very valuable" and 57 percent would characterize such help as at least "somewhat" or more valuable. The study, conducted by Greenwald & Associates as part of a broader research project, surveyed 565 U.S. employers of different sizes ranging from fewer than 25 employees to 1,000 or more employees.

"Employers increasingly are looking for help from financial advisors with voluntary benefits as their employees' personal financial needs become more complex," said Tom Foster, spokesperson and practice management leader for MassMutual's retirement plan services. "Our research shows that advisors with the appropriate knowledge and expertise may have a clear and compelling opportunity to expand their financial practices to offer at least some guidance about voluntary benefits."

The perceived value of guidance about voluntary benefits appears to grow steadily with the size of the employer. Firms that would characterize such assistance as "extremely" or "very" valuable range from 33 percent for those with fewer than 25 employees to 55 percent for those with 1,000 or more employees, according to the study. The percentages of employers that would see such advice as at least "somewhat" or more valuable range from 75 percent for the smallest employers to 80 percent for larger firms, the study found.

High Marks
Employers that already rely on an advisor for help with voluntary benefits are generally pleased with the guidance they receive. More than half (53 percent) of these employers rate the advice they received as "excellent" or "very good" and 77 percent rate it as "good" or better, the study found.

Again, the level of satisfaction climbs with the size of the employer. The quality of guidance received from an advisor was rated as "excellent" or "very good" by half of employers with fewer than 25 employees and by two-thirds of employers with 1,000 or more employees, according to the study.

Wellness Watch
MassMutual's research also shows that employers that rely on help from an advisor are more likely to promote employee wellness and benefits utilization. Sixty-one percent of employers that rely on an advisor encourage employees to take advantage of both retirement savings and other voluntary benefits compared with 49 percent of employers that do not use an advisor. Also, 48 percent of advisor-supported firms promote financial well-being for their employees compared to 33 percent of non-advisor oriented firms, according to the study.

Benefits Bonanza
Whether an advisor is involved or not, MassMutual's research shows, some benefits are more likely to be offered by employers than others. Overall, the employers who participated in the survey offered the following insurance benefits in order of popularity: healthcare (92 percent), dental (73 percent), life (72 percent), vision (60 percent), short-term disability (52 percent), long-term disability (51 percent), accident (32 percent), employee assistance program (21 percent), wellness program (20 percent), critical illness (17 percent), cancer (16 percent), and long-term care (13 percent).

"Ultimately, the benefits an employer selects should meet the diverse needs of employees as dictated by family situations, generational and gender differences, and personal finances, among other circumstances," Foster said. "Experienced financial advisors may be particularly well suited to help employers come to grips with their employees' benefits needs, including both wealth accumulation and wealth protection."

About MassMutual
MassMutual is a leading mutual life insurance company that is run for the benefit of its members and participating policyowners. MassMutual offers a wide range of financial products and services, including life insurance, disability income insurance, long term care insurance, annuities, retirement plans and other employee benefits. For more information, visit www.massmutual.com.

MassMutual Financial Group is a marketing name for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) and its affiliated companies and sales representatives.

Contact: David Potter 
860-562-1525
[email protected]

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160511/366320

SOURCE MassMutual

Related Links

http://www.massmutual.com