6 Easy Ways to Boost Employee Engagement in Your Retirement Plan
Time to read 3 Minutes
Getting employees excited about saving for retirement isn’t always easy. But with the right approach, you can turn confusion into confidence—and help your team feel more connected to their future and your company. Whether you’re just starting a retirement plan or looking to improve participation, these six best practices can make a big difference in boosting employee engagement in the retirement plan.
1. Offer a Match or Profit Sharing to Employees
One of the best ways to get employees involved in your retirement plan is to offer a company match or profit sharing option. When employees see that you’re contributing to their future, they’re more likely to contribute too.
Even a small match can go a long way. It shows you care, builds trust, and encourages long-term saving. Plus, your business may benefit from tax advantages. See how adding a profit sharing plan can lower your business taxes while allowing you to turbo-charge your retirement savings.
2. Teach Employees Financial Wellness
Many employees want to save—but don’t know where to start. According to CNBC’s August 2024 Your Money retirement survey, only 37% of U.S. workers feel “on schedule” or “ahead of schedule” with their retirement investment. 1 That’s why financial education is so important. Offering simple, easy-to-understand resources can help employees learn how to budget, manage debt, and plan for retirement.
Make it personal. Tailor your education to various stages of life and financial goals. Whether someone is just starting out or nearing retirement, they will appreciate guidance that fits their needs.
3. Give Employees Access to a Retirement Specialist
Sometimes, people just need to talk to someone. Giving your employees access to a retirement advisor or specialist can make a huge difference. These experts can meet one-on-one with employees to answer questions, help them choose investments, and set savings goals.
Personalized advice builds confidence and helps employees take action. It also shows that your company is serious about supporting their financial future.
4. Share Helpful Retirement Planning Tools
Make saving feel achievable with the right tools. Budget worksheets, retirement calculators, and goal-setting templates can help employees understand where they are—and where they want to go.
These tools are even more powerful when paired with expert advice. When employees can see their progress and get help along the way, they’re more likely to stay engaged.
5. Create a Employee Communication Plan
Out of sight, out of mind. That’s why regular communication is key. Don’t just talk about retirement once a year, keep it top of mind with a steady stream of updates, reminders, and helpful tips.
Use a mix of channels: emails, posters, webinars, lunch-and-learns, or even short videos. The goal is to make retirement planning feel like an ongoing conversation, not a one-time event.
Check out our 401(k) Engagement Checklist to see monthly topics and easy cut-and-paste email templates designed to promote financial wellness for your employees.
6. Host a Retirement Benefits Fair
Open enrollment is the perfect time to highlight your retirement plan. Hosting a benefits fair—either in person or virtually—gives employees a chance to learn about their options, ask questions, and get excited about their benefits.
Make it fun and informative. Include interactive booths, live Q&As, and easy-to-understand materials. When employees feel informed, they’re more likely to take action.
Need Help Getting Started?
You don’t have to do it alone. Fisher\SMBTM has helped thousands of companies engage their employees with proactive guidance and personalized education. Put your employees on the path to a comfortable retirement. Contact us to talk about what your business needs.
Must Watch Video
Retirement Strategies for Each Life Stage
This 1-minute video unlocks why factors such as contribution rates, investment strategies and estate planning should change with you through different life stages. Watch now to stay ahead of the curve in your retirement journey!
| Visual | Audio |
|---|---|
| Fisher\SMB Logo animates on the screen | Music Fades On |
| Blue text that says “Life’s always changing. Your retirement plan should change with it” fills the screen. | Life’s always changing. Your retirement plan should change with it. |
| A younger woman appears with a grey dotted line in between her and an older version of herself. Along the dotted line there are two arrows that say “promotion” and “new job” | As you reach different milestones, it’s important to adjust your retirement plan strategy to make sure you have enough savings for your desired retirement income. |
| The younger woman stays on the screen with the dotted line. In the left hand corner, the words “20-30 years old appear” with a pink piggy bank that says “401k” on it. Coins are dropping into that piggy bank | When you’re just starting out in the early stages of your career, it’s important to save whatever you can. |
| The younger woman is still on the screen and the dotted line now separates her and an older version of herself in retirement. | The more you save now, the more income you’ll have in retirement. |
| A thought bubble appears with the younger woman thinking of herself in retirement and the words “Planning,” “Budgeting” and “Financial Topics” appear to the right | And even if you’re not thinking about retirement, it’s still smart to learn about estate planning, budgeting, and other financial topics. |
| The words “30-50 years old” appear in the left-hand corner of the screen and the younger woman now becomes slightly older. The dotted line reappears with a pink piggy bank that says “401k” and dollar bills are dropping into the piggy bank | As you hit the mid-career point and your income rises, you may have room to increase the amount you’re saving. |
| The woman stays on screen and a bar chart appears with a magnifying glass. The words “think about your investment strategy” appear on screen | It’s also a good time to think about your investment strategy. |
| The woman stays on screen and a bullseye with the words “set clear goals” appears on the screen. | This is a stage in life when it’s important to set clear goals. |
| Three icons appear, an umbrella with the words “How do you imagine your life in retirement?” a hand with a coin above it with the words “How much income do you expect to have?” and three arrows with the words “What will it take to get there?” | Like, how do you imagine your life in retirement? How much income do you expect to have? What will it take to get there? |
| Two people sit at a table talking, with speech bubbles popping on and off the screen, the words “Talk with your family about your retirement plans” appear on screen. | Make sure you also talk with your family about your plans, both in retirement and after you’re gone. |
| An older woman appears on screen with the words “50-65 years old” in the top left corner to the right, there’s a coin with arrows circling around it. | Once you’re near retirement, it’s time to get real about your savings. |
| A speedometer appears on screen | Will you have enough monthly income to meet your needs? If not, accelerate your savings. |
| The older woman appears back on screen with toggle bars next to her. | If you’re looking to preserve your savings, this is a good time to consider adjusting your investments with lower risk options. |
| The woman stays on screen and a clipboard with X’s and arrows is on screen, the words “Estate planning should become a priority” appear to the right | Finally, estate planning should become a priority as you near retirement. Make sure you know where you want your money to go. |
| The younger woman comes back on screen and the dotted line reappears with the older woman at the end, in retirement | With a flexible approach and a little help, you can achieve a comfortable retirement that meets your goals. |
| Fisher\SMB logo appears on screen Investing in securities involves the risk of loss. Fisher Retirement Solutions™, Fisher\SMB™, FisherSMB™, and all related logos and designs are trademarks of Fisher Retirement Solutions, LLC, which is not connected to Fisher Investments. ©2025 Fisher Retirement Solutions | Music Fades Out |
Learn More
Additional Resources
401(k) Engagement Checklist
We know getting your employees involved in your retirement plan can be challenging, so we’ve developed the 401(k) Engagement Checklist to help.
Profit Sharing Plans
Do retirement your way. Use profit sharing to maximize your tax benefits as a business owner and reward your team.
Employee Match Matters
Employers often wonder if they should offer 401(k) matching contributions to their employees and, if so, how much. We’ve collected what you need to know as an employer.