Saving money is never easy. Americans haven’t done that for decades, says financial expert Suze Orman.
“Most people in the US have never had more than $400 in a savings account in their name,” Orman tells MoneyWise. “So if something happened, if there was an emergency, they wouldn’t have that money.”
Watch Now: MoneyWise Talks with SecureSave’s Suze Orman and Devin Miller
This is when a temporary crisis turns into a long-term disaster. People use retirement savings and credit cards and lose even more money in the form of fees, interest and lost revenue.
Orman, who has authored several books on personal finance and hosts the Women & Money podcast, says it’s time to do more than give advice.
“I have spent 40 years trying to change the way people think. People change when they are ready — they don’t do what they are told. I do it when I am.”
Two proposals in Congress would allow new savings options available through employers, but Aumann refuses to wait. She created her own system that she says will help Americans finally put their money away — by taking the decision out of their hands.
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Orman is right about how fragile most Americans are financially.
Rising inflation and interest rates have made this year more difficult, but Orman insists this is “not a new phenomenon.”
“It may feel like a new thing because of inflation. A lot of people alive today never experienced inflation in the ’70s…and now they’re like, ‘Oh my god, inflation is making us It’s eating up a lot of money,'” Orman says.
So while Americans are notoriously bad at saving, it’s not all their fault. With wages not keeping up with costs, even middle-income workers find it difficult to squander the extra money, prompting Congress to consider legislation for emergency savings accounts.
Two proposals were approved by separate Senate committees in June as part of the Secure Retirement Act, also known as the Secure Act 2.0.
One of the proposals, the Rise & Shine Act, now before Congress, would give workers the option of an emergency savings account that could automatically deduct 3% from their paychecks. Employees can save up to $2,500 in accounts, with excess savings going toward their 401(k).
Another proposal would allow workers to receive $1,000 annually from their 401(k) to cover emergencies without incurring the usual early withdrawal penalties under the EARN Act. You will have to pay it back within 3 years.
find a private solution
The success of the 401(k) in encouraging Americans to save for retirement was the inspiration for SecureSave, Orman’s savings business. Launched during the 2020 pandemic, the system allows workers to automatically create emergency savings accounts with additional financial contributions from employers.
“We came in and said, oh my god, if it works for a 401(k) plan, it will work for an emergency savings account,” Orman says.
Orman co-founder Devin Miller says using your workplace as a savings platform makes it much easier to actually take action.
“If you learn about the saving behavior and give them an easier path to do it through their jobs, we’ll see what we can do in health care and retirement, if that kind of movement happens, employees can It’s proven to be in a better position,” says Miller.
“By creating safe places to have conversations and do so at work, we were able to make a big impact on health care and retirement in this country.”
read more: The Great Escape: Rich young professionals earning over $100,000 are fleeing California and New York.
Automation is key
Employers can offer SecureSave as a benefit to their employees. It automatically takes a small percentage of their wages and puts it into an easily accessible savings account. Employers also match some of the funds. Usually just a few dollars per salary.
Workers can add money manually, but automation is where the real impact is, Orman said.
“From now until the end of the day you can tell people they should do something,” she says. “That’s why we need to help them do it.”
According to Orman, it works.
“I know they say, ‘Why didn’t I do this a long time ago?'” she says.
Miller says that any advantage employers have will increase incentives to save.
“We typically see about $100 a year per employee. But it works like a drip campaign. So it’s not a lot of money, but it creates an incentive to get started and keep it going.”
savings bring security
Orman and Miller say they are seeing results from companies that have implemented SecureSave. This means that people get excited when they see their accounts grow and their quality of life improves.
Why should employers care in the first place? Because better quality of life leads to better employees.
“When you have financial stress, something happens and you don’t have the money to handle it. Do you feel focused on your work?” “Or are you trying to figure out what I’m trying to do with Financial La La Land?”
A Thriving Wallet study found that a dramatic 90% of Americans are stressed about money, affecting their mental and physical health through mood, sleep and relationships.
“So when they have a place to go, they know their employer cares about them and they start to care about themselves,” Orman says.
“They don’t even miss a $25 salary, and they keep coming back and saying they’ll raise it to $30 and then to $40.”
In both SecureSave and the pre-congressional proposal, the focus is on low barriers to entry. Because the hard part Orman has learned over the decades is always convincing people to start.
“Usually people have to hit rock bottom before they can make a change,” Orman says.
Watch Now: Full Q&A with Suze Orman and Devin Miller
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This article is for information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.