Financial Wellness ROI: What CFOs Care About (+ Free Calculator)

If you’ve ever had to make the case for a financial wellness program, you already know the first question your CFO will ask: What’s the ROI?

It’s a fair question. Human Resources budgets are tighter than ever, and every new initiative needs to prove its worth. HR leaders know that financial wellness benefits boost employee engagement and morale—but "good vibes" don't show up on a P&L statement.

At Your Money Line, we know that financial stress is an organizational crisis, not just a personal one. When your team is worried about money, it impacts job performance, increases absenteeism costs, and hurts your bottom line.

The good news? The data is clear. Employee financial wellness programs aren’t just a "nice-to-have"—they are a strategic tool for cost savings. Here is how to calculate the ROI of Employee Financial Wellness and build a business case that gets a "Yes."

How to Calculate ROI

Before we dive into our calculator’s deep dive, here is the basic ROI calculation. This is the formula that matters when you are building your slide deck for executive leadership:

ROI = [{(Retention Savings) +(Productivity Gains) + (Healthcare Savings)} - (Program Costs)] * 100

While this formula is standard, the inputs are where financial wellness solutions prove their value. Real measurable returns come from specific, trackable metrics.

We don’t just rely on industry averages; we look at real data. Using the Your Money Line ROI Calculator, we ran a scenario for a standard mid-sized company to see exactly where the cost savings hide.

The Scenario:

• Number of employees: 1,000
• Financial Stress: 30% of employees identified as "financially stressed"
• Voluntary Turnover: 10% per year
• Demographics: 10 employees over the age of 65

When we input these variables, the model revealed a Total Annual ROI of $511,000.

Here is exactly where that money comes from:

1. Reduced Turnover ($93,750 Saved)

Employee turnover is expensive. Replacing top talent often costs 50% to 200% of their annual salary. When employees face money worries without support, they are often forced to leave a job they love for a small raise elsewhere just to secure short-term cash. In our model, preventing just a fraction of this "desperation turnover" saves nearly $100k annually.

2. Recapturing Lost Productivity ($56,250 Saved)

There are two ways you lose time to stress:

• Absenteeism: Employees calling out to handle financial issues like creditors or court dates.
• Presenteeism: Employees physically at their desks but mentally spiraling about their personal finances.

Our calculator identifies $56,250 in productivity gains simply by giving employees a dedicated place to solve problems quickly, rather than during work hours.

3. Lower Healthcare Costs ($148,500 Saved)

Financial stress is toxic to employee health. It is directly linked to high blood pressure, sleeplessness, and anxiety, which drive up insurance claims. Employees on family plans who carry high stress loads are often your most expensive healthcare cohort. Launching a financial wellness initiative lowers the temperature on stress, creating $148,500 in healthcare savings.

4. Delayed Retirement Costs ($212,500 Saved)

This is the hidden cost most CFOs miss. In our scenario, we identified 10 employees over the age of 65. When older employees cannot afford to retire due to a lack of savings or planning, they remain on the payroll, often commanding higher salaries and incurring higher insurance costs than their replacements. Helping these employees transition securely to retirement unlocks over $200k in payroll efficiency.

Validating the Impact: Our Data vs. The Industry

We see success stories every day in our own coaching logs, but our internal findings also align with broader best practices and industry research.

• Retention is Key: Bank of America reports that 84% of employers say offering financial wellness tools helps reduce attrition. This confirms what we see: employee satisfaction rises when they feel financially secure.
• The Productivity Drain: PLANSPONSOR analysis shows that workers under financial strain are five times more likely to be preoccupied with money matters while working. This kills employee productivity.
• The Safety Net: The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau highlights that emergency savings are critical. Without them, 37% of households couldn't cover expenses for more than a month if they lost income, making counseling services vital.

Why "Check-the-Box" Programs Don't Work

You can’t achieve this ROI from financial wellness programs with a generic PDF library. To see long-term results, you need a solution that combines high-tech tools with high-touch care.

Your Money Line delivers what standalone apps can't:

• Human Coaching: Unlike generic Financial Advisors who only want to sell products, our Guides are Accredited Financial Counselors focused on employee well-being.
• Holistic Support: We help with everything from building a savings account to complex retirement planning and student loan strategies.
• Benefits Integration: We drive utilization of your existing Benefits Program, helping employees understand their retirement benefits and savings goals.

When employees feel truly supported, they stay longer, work harder, and get healthier. That’s when the ROI of Employee investment becomes undeniable.

Calculate Your Own ROI

Every workforce is different. Work-life dynamics in a manufacturing firm differ from a tech startup. Don't rely on averages—use our calculator to see the potential impact on your specific retirement plan participation and turnover rates.

Discover Your ROI: Try the Calculator Now

Ready to present these numbers to your executive team? Contact Your Money Line today for a custom workforce analysis.

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