BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nursing is recognized as one of the nation’s most demanding professions, complete with long work shifts, ongoing regulatory changes and the need for a constant focus while making critical decisions regarding the health of patients. Given such a challenging work environment, personal matters are often sacrificed or take a back seat. Finances are a perfect example: according to Fidelity Investments® Money FIT Nurses Study, more than half of nurses surveyed (56 percent) say they lack confidence in making financial decisions—and four in 10 (41 percent) attribute this to the fact they don’t have enough time to focus on them.
While an overwhelming majority of nurses—92 percent—say they want to learn more about financial planning, this struggle for time continues to be a challenge that has implications on retirement readiness. With this in mind, Fidelity Investments, the leading provider of workplace retirement plans for not-for-profit health care institutions1, is launching an awareness campaign during National Nurses Week (May 6-12) to encourage nurses to take the time to focus on their own financial wellness.
The good news: despite their lack of financial confidence, the study suggests many nurses are taking positive steps with their money. For instance, 84 percent of nurses are proactively saving for the future; furthermore, an analysis of Fidelity business data2 examining the retirement savings behaviors of more than 38,000 nurses supports this finding, showing nurses are diligent savers with a total savings rate (employer plus employee contribution to a workplace savings plan) of 12 percent—close to matching Fidelity's suggested rate of 15 percent.
In addition, according to the study, more than two-thirds (67 percent) of nurses are making smart choices with how they invest their money and have an age-based asset allocation. While these behaviors provide a strong financial foundation, there’s still opportunity for nurses to bolster their retirement savings even further, according to Fidelity.
Nurses Motivated to Learn about Financial Planning, but Often Overlook Workplace Resources
For many, the workplace is an easy entry point to learn more about financial planning, as most retirement savings plan providers offer free retirement guidance. Surprisingly, this accessible resource is not commonly used—62 percent of nurses who have access to retirement guidance at work don’t take advantage. Again, the biggest obstacle is time, with one-third (33 percent) citing a lack of it as a barrier.
“Health care employees work in a unique environment, with long work shifts and heavy demands on their schedules,” said Alexandra Taussig, senior vice president, Fidelity Investments. “Nurses Week honors our nurses for their compassion and expertise, and is also a time to remind these dedicated caretakers to get a ‘retirement plan checkup’ and focus on their financial future. Whether attending a workshop or speaking to a professional, taking a pulse-check on retirement savings at least once a year can help nurses feel more in control of their financial health.”
While retirement guidance in the workplace may be underutilized, the study also finds that 85 percent of those who don’t take advantage of it would be motivated to do so if they were given options that enhanced accessibility. For example, four in 10 (41 percent) of these nurses would be motivated to participate if their employer provided a class during work hours or had experts available to walk them through retirement plan options—either in person or on the phone.
Adjusting workplace guidance to match employee needs can be a powerful way to help nurses better understand their financial plan, and more importantly, encourage them to get engaged. Fidelity data3 finds that 35 percent of nurses take action4 after receiving guidance. Of those nurses, 69 percent of nurses increased their retirement savings contribution within 90 days of completing a guidance interaction by phone, in person or online.
How to Financially Empower Nurses
Given the lack of awareness around the availability of workplace retirement guidance, health care institutions can use Nurses Week as an occasion to call attention to this free benefit, which is available to employees as part of their overall retirement savings program. Other suggestions for employers include:
- Implement automatic annual increase programs and set the default deferral rate to at least six percent in automatic enrollment programs to encourage increased savings rates.
- Read Fidelity’s “Financial Checkup on Nurses Retirement Readiness,” which provides a snapshot of nurses’ retirement readiness and offers suggestions on how they – and their employers – can take action to address their financial future.
- Read Fidelity’s “Empowering Women to Take Control of Their Retirement,” the first of a series of reports on the key differences and unique strengths of female employees.
- Offer targeted financial workshops that address specific needs of the nursing population. For instance, Fidelity’s THRIVE series, educates women about the importance of getting actively involved in their finances and investing.
There also are resources available to nurses that can help address their financial health. To schedule a free retirement planning consultation, nurses can call 1-866-715-6111, or visit www.fidelity.com/nurses to access retirement planning tools, a Caring for Nurses' Finances webinar, and other financial education materials.
Fidelity’s Services for the Tax-Exempt Market
Fidelity serves the most plan participants in the not-for-profit workplace retirement savings market, which includes health care, higher education, research, foundations, faith-based, K-12 and other tax-exempt organizations5. Fidelity’s comprehensive suite of 403(b) retirement services includes plan design resources, recordkeeping services, consulting and participant communication, education and guidance. With retirement planning professionals and an array of tools and resources to educate plan sponsors, Fidelity helps employers in the tax-exempt market maximize retirement benefits plans and increase employee retirement readiness.
About the Fidelity Investments Money FIT Nurses Study
The online survey was conducted by Kelton between October 6th and October 30th, 2014 among 356 nurses (Registered Nurse, Advanced Registered Nurse, Licensed Practical Nurse, Nursing Management, Certified Registered Nurse, Certified Nurse Anesthetist) ages 18+ who are employed or retired and have a qualifying retirement plan (401(k), 401(a), 403(b), 457, 457 (b), or 457(f)). Fidelity and Kelton are not affiliated.
About Fidelity Investments
Fidelity’s goal is to make financial expertise broadly accessible and effective in helping people live the lives they want. With assets under administration of $5.2 trillion, including managed assets of $2.1 trillion as of March 31, 2015, we focus on meeting the unique needs of a diverse set of customers: helping more than 24 million people investing their own life savings, nearly 20,000 businesses to manage their employee benefit programs, as well as providing nearly 10,000 advisory firms with technology solutions to invest their own clients’ money. Privately held for nearly 70 years, Fidelity employs 41,000 associates who are focused on the long-term success of our customers. For more information about Fidelity Investments, visit https://www.fidelity.com/about.
Investing involves risk including the risk of loss.
Fidelity, Fidelity Investments, Fidelity Viewpoints and Fidelity Investments and the Pyramid Design logo are registered service marks of FMR LLC.
Guidance provided by Fidelity is educational in nature, is not individualized, and is not intended to serve as the primary basis for your investment or tax-planning decisions.
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1 LIMRA, “Not-for-Profit Retirement Market (2014, 3rd
Quarter),” December 2014
2 Fidelity record kept data for
38,731 nurses who are active participants with balance as of 12/31/2014,
including active participants with a balance that is not contributing
into the plan. Excludes terminated and zero balance participants. This
includes contribution data for the twelve months ending 12/31/2014.
3
Fidelity record kept data for 38,731 nurses and guidance action measured
for interactions from 10/13 to 9/14 for active participants as of
9/13/2014. Excludes terminated and zero balance participants.
4
Taking action within 90 days after receiving guidance – either
representative-led or self-directed. Actions include: increased deferral
rates, changed asset allocation, made an exchange, consolidated assets,
invested in a managed account, and opened a retail IRA.
5
LIMRA, “Not-for-Profit Retirement Market (2014, 3rd Quarter),” December
2014
