Financial Wellness or Cash Flow Band-Aid?
June 26, 2023Abstract:
This white paper explores the impact upon the overall financial wellness of workers when using various financial point solution benefit programs such as earned and early wage access (EWA), buy-now-pay-later (BNPL), and small dollar employer loan programs. It also explores the pros and cons of point solutions and potential positive or negative effects on employees’ overall financial well-being. Analysis and discussion include whether point solutions provide a meaningful “financial wellness” benefit as often touted, or if these limited benefits are more of a short-term fix approach to serious financial challenges faced by workers: pervasive consumer debt, low wages, and cashflow mismanagement. The paper concludes with a comparison of point solution outcomes versus a holistic financial coaching and wellness approach.