PRESS RELEASE UPDATE
May 22, 2003
Workplace Options and BALANCE Financial Fitness Program Announce Partnership
(Raleigh, NC & San Francisco, CA – 22 May 2003) – Workplace Options (WPO) and BALANCE today announced a partnership to offer consumer financial planning and management services as integrated components of WPO’s Advantage family of work/life products. Branded Advantage Financial Assist, the product is available immediately.
“Expert financial advice is a key element of an effective work/life solution”, said Dean Debnam, Workplace Options’ Chief Executive Officer. “We looked long and hard to find a partner who could offer such services without bias or promotion of specific financial or investment products. In addition, we wanted the service to emphasize practical consumer finance issues, rather than just financial planning or portfolio management. BALANCE’s non-profit roots and consumer focus fit the bill nicely and provide Financial Assist with some strong market differentiators.”
“Our partner products are designed to fit seamlessly into our core work/life services”, adds Alan King, WPO’s Chief Operating Officer. “Web content is carefully integrated into our Advantage platform, insuring that users experience BALANCE resources as part of one site, rather than a disjointed collection of linked pages. Navigation, “look and feel” and content flow all remain consistent and constant. The same holds true for the telephonic component of the service – one number connects users to any aspect of the service.”
"Financial education and counseling are so important, and unfortunately a lot of people just don't know where to turn for reputable service. We're very excited that by partnering with Workplace Options, our program will be available to individuals and families in need of help nationwide”, said Joanne Budde, BALANCE President. “We've always believed it makes sense to work with Employee Assistance Programs and employers to provide these services -- consumers are just more comfortable with a referral from a trusted advisor, and employers benefit as well. By providing financial education and assistance, employers can help reduce their employees' stress related to balancing all of life's financial demands while helping them save for retirement. This not only results in a more productive workforce, but also in a reduction in wage garnishments that need to be processed and an increase in participation in employer-sponsored retirement plans."
About Workplace Options, Inc.
Workplace Options, Inc, located in Raleigh, NC, is a leading provider of work/life solutions to Employee Assistance Programs throughout the United States. It’s Partnership Integration ModelSM, delivers the only truly integrated and completely customizable work/life product available to that market. WPO delivers its services exclusively through EAPs and other third-party organizations and has been providing affordable high quality services and ideas for more than 20 years. At Workplace Options quality, flexibility and affordability are the hallmarks of our service.
About BALANCE Financial Fitness Program
BALANCE Financial Fitness Program, headquartered in San Francisco, is the premier provider of financial education and counseling exclusively for credit union members and employees covered by partnering Employee Assistance Programs and Work/Life providers. Currently serving over 8 million lives, BALANCE provides services ranging from money management and debt management counseling, to credit report review services, to home buyer education. BALANCE measures achievement by the increased success of their partners and the individuals and families they serve.
Contact: Jacqueline Tiu
jacquelinet@workplaceoptions.com
1-800-699-8011, ext. 2000
http://www.workplaceoptions.com