Your Questions, Answered

How does SmartDollar work with other benefits?

When employees are stressed about money, they can't take full advantage of what's already on the table. They skip HSA contributions, ignore retirement matching, and put off preventive care. SmartDollar fixes that by walking employees through a step-by-step plan to build an emergency fund and pay off debt first. Once that foundation is in place, employees have both the cash flow and the mental bandwidth to engage with the rest of your client's benefits stack.

Does SmartDollar compete with our EAP or other wellness benefits?

No. SmartDollar focuses specifically on changing behavior, which fills a gap most benefits packages don't address, and it makes the benefits you already offer more effective. 63% of SmartDollar clients report higher employee benefit satisfaction after launch.

How does SmartDollar affect 401(k) and retirement plan participation?

Employees who are buried in debt or living paycheck to paycheck rarely contribute to their 401(k), even when their employer matches. SmartDollar's 7 Baby Steps plan walks employees through exactly when to start investing (Baby Step 4), so retirement contributions go up as debt comes down and budget margin opens up. SmartDollar also helps decrease 401(k) loans, since employees build an emergency fund instead of relying on their retirement account for unplanned expenses or big purchases.

Is SmartDollar secure?

Yes. SmartDollar is SOC 2 Type 2 compliant, independently tested by a third party security firm over a full 12-month period, not just reviewed at a single point in time. Data is encrypted in transit and at rest, and access follows the principle of least privilege with multi-factor authentication required. Employees and employers are never required to input HIPAA or PCI regulated data to use SmartDollar, so those compliance requirements don't apply to the product.

Can companies see their employees' financial data?

No. Employee financial information is private. As an employer, you have access to aggregate engagement and participation data through the easy-to-use SmartCenter admin portal, not individual employee financial details.

How does SmartDollar integrate with an HRIS?

SmartDollar integrates directly with your HRIS using secure, encrypted file transfers to keep eligibility files up to date automatically. There's no heavy IT lift or complicated onboarding process.

How do I know if SmartDollar is worth the investment?

The numbers make the case. SmartDollar clients see 27% less turnover on average and 43% of users report spending less time on personal finances during work hours. When employees stop showing up to work with money stress, there's a real impact on your client's bottom line.

How is SmartDollar priced?

SmartDollar offers several pricing models to fit your client's needs. Our most popular is the Annual All Access Fee: custom priced based on the number of eligible employees. We also offer Utilization-Based pricing and Pilot Programs for clients who want to start smaller before rolling out company-wide. Reach out to your SmartDollar representative for a custom quote.

How long does implementation take?

SmartDollar can go live quickly. Depending on your client's needs, we can launch a new client within the first week after signing. Our team handles eligibility file setup, HRIS integration, and a full launch communications plan, including custom, co-branded assets built specifically for their organization. It's a turnkey process designed to make SmartDollar one of the easiest benefits your client will ever launch, so their HR team isn't managing it alone.

What kind of support do you provide during rollout and ongoing?

Every SmartDollar client is paired with an experienced relationship manager, backed by a dedicated support team of marketers, designers, writers, and engineers who help with launch and ongoing communications throughout the year. Clients also get a custom SmartCenter portal with pre-built marketing assets and topical campaigns ready to use, plus the ability to email their entire employee population or specific groups directly through SmartCenter, if they'd rather not rely on their own internal communication systems.

How is SmartDollar different from other financial wellness platforms?

SmartDollar is built on Dave Ramsey's proven 7 Baby Steps, a step-by-step behavior change methodology, not a generic budgeting app repackaged for employers. Employees get world-class education on budgeting, insurance, real estate, and investing, plus content built around real life moments like having a baby or buying a car. Every SmartDollar participant also gets free tax filing, free will preparation for themselves and their spouse, free bank-connected budgeting, and unlimited one-on-one coaching in English or Spanish. That's reflected in real results: 63% of clients report higher benefit satisfaction after launch, and clients see 27% less turnover on average.

What size companies is SmartDollar a good fit for?

SmartDollar works for companies of any size, and we specialize in large enterprise organizations looking to offer a competitive benefits package that helps their people tackle money stress and build real financial stability. SmartDollar currently serves over 5 million employees nationwide across thousands of companies, so whether your client is a large enterprise or a growing team, we have the experience to do it well.

Is SmartDollar available for part-time, remote, or multi-location employees?

Yes. SmartDollar works for any eligible employee, regardless of whether they're full-time, part-time, remote, or spread across multiple office locations. As long as they have access to a computer or mobile device, they can participate.

What's the contract length or commitment?

SmartDollar is available on both annual and multi-year contracts, tailored to your client's needs. Reach out to your SmartDollar representative for specific terms.

Do consultants receive compensation for referring SmartDollar?

Yes. We offer a referral program for consultants and brokers who introduce SmartDollar to their clients. Reach out to your SmartDollar representative to learn more about program details and how to get started.

How do you support us in demonstrating ROI to our client over time?

Beyond launch, your client's SmartCenter dashboard gives them ongoing visibility into participation, engagement, and financial progress across their team. Your SmartDollar relationship manager also checks in regularly to review results and help you show your client the continued value of the program, not just at renewal, but throughout the year.