The Evolution of Employee Benefits: From Wellness to Legacy Security

In today’s competitive job market, offering a strong salary isn’t enough to attract and retain top talent. Employees increasingly expect their employers to provide comprehensive benefits that extend beyond traditional health insurance and 401(k) plans.

HR leaders have expanded benefits to include mental health resources, financial wellness programs, and student loan assistance. Yet, a critical gap remains: legacy planning.

Most employees have financial and digital assets spread across multiple accounts, but no centralized way to track them. When the unexpected happens, their families face overwhelming challenges such as trying to locate bank accounts, retirement funds, and even social media accounts. This isn’t just a personal issue—it’s an organizational one, affecting employee well-being, financial security, and productivity.

SmartHeritance is a first-of-its-kind digital legacy planning tool that helps employees organize, track, and ensure the seamless transfer of their assets.

By integrating digital legacy planning into employee benefits, HR teams can provide employees with peace of mind while strengthening employer branding, reducing financial stress, and increasing retention.

Despite advancements in financial planning, most employees lack an effective way to document and transfer their assets:

• 69% of employees are more likely to stay with an employer that offers broader benefits (BBSI).
• 54% would leave a job for better well-being benefits (BenePass).
• Only 32% of Americans have a will or trust, leaving their families unprepared for inheritance logistics (Financial Sense).
• Companies with strong benefits packages see a 20% increase in retention (Psico-Smart).

These statistics highlight an urgent need for HR teams to provide solutions that support employees beyond their working years. HR leaders who integrate SmartHeritance into their benefits offerings demonstrate a commitment to holistic employee well-being while addressing key business priorities:

• Strengthen Employee Retention & Talent Attraction: With 69% of employees more likely to stay with an employer that offers broader benefits, SmartHeritance provides a compelling differentiator in today’s talent market (BBSI).
• Reduce Financial Stress & Increase Productivity: Employees struggling with financial concerns are less engaged at work. Digital legacy planning ensures they have a clear, structured way to organize and transfer assets, reducing stress and enhancing peace of mind.
• Future-Proof Benefits Offerings: Most traditional benefits—like life insurance—are reactive, meaning they only provide financial support after an event occurs. SmartHeritance is proactive, helping employees document their assets while they are still alive, ensuring their families can easily access them.
• Easy, Low-Cost Implementation for Employers: Unlike complex benefits that require high-cost administration, SmartHeritance is a simple, scalable solution that can be employer-sponsored or employee-subsidized, making it flexible for all businesses (Psico-Smart).

The workforce is changing, and so are employees’ expectations.

• Boomers & Gen X: Many are unprepared for estate planning, leaving their families vulnerable to legal and financial chaos.
• Millennials & Gen Z: This digital-first generation accumulates assets in crypto, online banking, and digital subscriptions, requiring a modern solution for legacy planning.

Without SmartHeritance, employees’ families face delays, lost assets, and financial hardship. HR leaders who integrate digital legacy planning into their benefits are ahead of the curve, ensuring employees’ assets are protected and their company’s reputation as a forward-thinking employer is reinforced. The best employee benefits are those that provide real impact—not just while employees are working, but in their personal lives as well. Digital legacy planning is no longer a “nice-to-have”—it’s an essential component of a modern benefits package. By offering SmartHeritance, HR teams help employees secure their financial future, reduce stress, and ensure their loved ones are protected—all while enhancing their company’s reputation as a workplace that truly cares. Get started today. Learn how SmartHeritance can be seamlessly integrated into your benefits program. Contact us to schedule a meeting.