*Photo: Retirement Education Workshop on January 28, 2026*

Many companies want to support their employees’ long-term financial well-being—but the reality is that not every organization can afford to offer a robust retirement plan.

For this reason, many California employers have turned to CalSavers as a practical solution to remain compliant with the state mandate requiring businesses to offer a retirement savings option. CalSavers helps employers meet legal requirements, and for many organizations, it’s a necessary and responsible first step.

But compliance alone does not equal preparedness.

Even when a company cannot offer a full retirement plan, retirement planning education remains one of the most important benefits leadership can provide—for employees, for company culture, and for long-term workforce stability.

Compliance Solves a Requirement—Education Solves a Life Problem

CalSavers and similar programs help employees save, but they do not teach employees how to:

Determine how much income they will need in retirement
Understand how long their money must last
Account for inflation, taxes, and healthcare costs
Coordinate savings with Social Security
Avoid running out of money later in life

Without education, many employees assume that saving is the same as being prepared. Unfortunately, the data tells a different story.

The Reality of Retirement Readiness

A significant portion of Americans reach retirement age with little more than basic savings and Social Security to rely on. Many retirees are forced to delay retirement or return to work—not because they want to, but because they have no clear income strategy.

The long-term impact of inadequate planning often extends beyond the individual:

Spouses face increased financial pressure
Adult children step in to provide support
Healthcare decisions become reactive rather than proactive
Financial stress affects family stability and well-being

Poor retirement planning doesn’t just affect retirement—it affects entire families and future generations.

Why Employers Still Play a Critical Role

Even when companies cannot afford to contribute to a retirement plan, offering education demonstrates leadership and care.

Retirement planning education:

Helps employees understand their options beyond workplace plans
Reduces confusion and fear around long-term finances
Encourages proactive planning earlier in life
Empowers employees to take ownership of their future

Most importantly, it acknowledges that retirement planning is not just a financial topic—it’s a life-planning conversation.

The Cultural Impact of Offering Retirement Education

From a culture and leadership perspective, retirement education delivers meaningful benefits:

Reduced financial stress, improving focus and productivity
Increased trust in leadership
Higher employee engagement and retention
A stronger people-first employer brand

Employees may not expect their employer to solve every problem—but they deeply value being supported.

Education Creates Equity When Benefits Are Limited

Not all employees have access to financial advisors or financial literacy resources. Education helps level the playing field by giving employees clear, unbiased information—without pressure or obligation.

This fosters a culture of inclusion, empowerment, and respect.

The Bottom Line

Not every company can afford a robust retirement plan—and that’s okay.

But every company can afford to offer education.

Retirement planning education complements programs like CalSavers, strengthens culture, and supports employees in one of the most important areas of their lives.

How We Support Employers—At No Cost to You

We partner with companies to provide retirement planning education at no cost to the employer. Our goal is to support your team while aligning with your culture and capacity.

We offer:

Company-wide educational workshops (virtual or in-person)
Support for the retirement portion of your onboarding process
Optional 1:1 retirement readiness consultations for employees at no cost

There is no obligation to implement a retirement plan or purchase products. Our focus is education, clarity, and empowerment.

If your organization wants to support employees beyond compliance—without adding cost or administrative burden—we’d love to partner with you.

Reach out to schedule a conversation and explore what support could look like for your team!

Beyond CalSavers: Why Education Still Matters