The costs of employer-provided investment ecucation is tax deductible.  Yet, amazingly, few employers provide such a benefit.  Ironically, the cost of not providing the beneift is high and will only get higher as more baby boomers nervously inch toward retirement.

    According to a 2004 survey conducted by American Express, the leading cause of financial stress for Americans is concern about saving enough for retirement.  Even worse, 15 to 20 percent of U.S. workers are experiencing financial stress that reduces their productivity in the workplace.  Some employees' financial concerns are severe enough to impact their health.  Tom Garman, professor emeritus at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., estimates that such concerns cost employers approximately 2% of their annual payroll.

    Additionally, American workers expect their employers to provide investment education.  According to the sixth annual Transamerica Small Business Retirement Survey from 2004, 70 percent of younger employees said they wanted more information and advice from their employers on how to reach their retirement goals.  Similarly, a 2006 survey by the Financial Planning Association found that 60% of American workers prefer to learn about financial planning through seminars at their workplace. 

    Unfortunately, most employers only provide a basic explanation of the company 401(k).  But there are many other important elements to successful financial and retirement planning.  Through our programs:

          (1) we provide general education through seminars, written materials, and online information;
          (2) we help employees determine how much they can do by themselves and when they need professional advice; and
          (3) we help employees who need professional advice find advisors suitable to their needs.

    What distinguishes Smart Investing Forum from others providing similar services are the following:

          (1) we do not sell investment products and are therefore not subject to conflicts of interest;
          (2) we are compensated only for our educational services;
          (3) we encourage most employees to implement their own investment plans and teach them how to do it;
          (4) we do not refer employees who need investment advice to specific advisors, but help them find advisors that are appropriate to their needs.