Have you heard of, or considered, socially responsible – or, what the industry now calls ESG, investments? These investment vehicles have been gaining a lot of traction this year for focus on sustainable, socially conscious, "green" and/or ethical screens for the companies they own in their portfolio (i.e. mutual fund or ETF) and also for their ability to point of potential financial risks that can't be identified by typical quarterly results. They seek to consider both financial return and specific environmental, governance, and social metrics to help investments do well by “doing good.” In this video, I sat down with Clarice Avery of Natixis Invest Managers. We talked about all the things you should know when considering an ESG investment for your investment line-up. You can learn more at Natixis’ site and ESG101.

Anyone who works in Human Resources knows the positive effect offering high-quality employee benefit programs can have on a workforce. They attract the best potential candidates for new jobs and foster a sense of loyalty and support among current staff, to name a few. No matter the size or industry, administering employee benefits, particularly the retirement plan, can be a complicated process. While the same basic goal may apply to companies and organizations, non-profit organizations face unique challenges when ensuring their retirement plan benefit is the best fit for employees, as well as the organization. 

At AFS 401(k), our advisors are constantly in contact with employees from all income levels, educational backgrounds, and industries and we see common themes when it comes to the types of questions they are asking us. Alex Assaley, our Managing Principal, spends most of his time with plan participants helping them navigate their retirement savings. “People need help with this stuff, delivered in a down-to-earth manner that can take them from point A to point B, and let them get on with their day," he says of people's common challenges when dealing with their retirement plan. While we hear a wide variety of questions and concerns from people on a daily basis, here are the three that we hear the most: 

As more organizations begin to expand their employee benefits, are Health Savings Accounts, or HSAs, a good fit for your employees? An HSA is a savings vehicle designed to assist with out-of-pocket medical expenses, but it can double as another way for your employees to save for retirement. Currently, only those enrolled in a high-deductible health insurance plan are eligible to take advantage of an HSA. Employees can use the funds to pay for qualified medical expenses such as premium payments, deductibles, copays, and prescriptions.

As employee benefits professionals, much of your focus is probably towards ensuring employees are saving in the company-sponsored retirement plan. Participation rates, deferral amounts, and match formulas might fill your day-to-day thoughts on the financial standing of employees, and it's for good reason: An employer-sponsored retirement plan has steadfastly become the primary vehicle people in the United States use to save for their futures. 

"In what ways will Baby Boomers working longer have an impact on today's workplace?"

Alex Assaley answers this and more on the most recent episode of WorkXo's Culture Chat podcast. At a time where multiple generations with varying characteristics are working together, it can be challenging to form a workplace culture where all needs are met.