Financial wellness is one of the most important benefits an organization can offer. At HAI Group, that belief drives a continued focus on providing employees with meaningful support through education, access, and personalized resources.
This approach was recently recognized with a first-place win in the 2026 Pensions & Investments Eddy Awards for HAI Group’s 401(k) and financial wellness programs. In addition to a strong 401(k) match, financial education and access played an important role in this recognition, helping employees fully understand and use their benefits. The Eddy Awards recognize organizations that go above and beyond to help employees better understand their finances and plan for retirement.
Members of HAI Group’s leadership team, including Chief Executive Officer Ed Malaspina, Chief Operating Officer Troy LePage, and Chief
Governance & Human Resources Officer Amy Galvin, were in Fort Lauderdale to accept the award and celebrate alongside industry peers. This recognition reflects a broader commitment to supporting employees not only through competitive benefits but through education, access, and ongoing engagement that helps them make informed financial decisions.
Building awareness and understanding
For HAI Group, financial wellness is not just about offering benefits. It's about ensuring employees understand what is available to them and how to use it effectively.
Employees have access to Prosper Wise, a robust financial wellness platform provided through Marsh McLennan Agency. MMA and HAI Group have been partners for years based on their strong focus on financial education.
Together, this partnership has helped shape a program centered on education and access including:
- Virtual one-on-one sessions with financial professionals
- Resources to support employees during key life moments (Retirement, child savings accounts, and more)
- Virtual household financial planning sessions that spouses can participate in
- In-person access to a dedicated financial wellness representative who regularly hosts group seminars and one-on-one sessions onsite for employees
All services are provided at no cost to employees, ensuring broad access to personalized financial guidance. This level of access and support reflects a broader approach to how financial wellness is delivered.
“If you are committed to being a great company and offering a competitive compensation and benefits package, it is important to take it a step further,” said Malaspina. “First, by making sure employees are aware of everything available to them, and second, by helping them understand how to use those tools to their advantage. From my perspective, part of building a strong culture is reinforcing that value by actively using those same resources and encouraging our team to do the same.”
This focus on awareness and education helps ensure that employees can fully benefit from the resources available to them, rather than overlooking valuable tools that support long-term financial stability.
Creating a culture of financial confidence
Financial wellness is a core part of how employees are supported across the organization and embedded into the broader culture day to day. It is reflected not only in the resources offered, but in the ongoing visibility, leadership involvement, and encouragement for employees to engage with those resources over time.
“Financial wellness is a benefit that impacts every employee, so it is important to us to make sure we are providing access in as many ways as possible,” said LePage. “Some employees prefer in-person sessions, while others engage on their own time. We focus on making sure those resources are available in a way that works for each individual.”
By consistently reinforcing these resources, keeping them front and center, and normalizing conversations around financial planning, the organization has created an environment where financial wellness is part of the overall employee experience.
A program built on education, access, and personalization
For Amy Galvin, this work is deeply personal, shaped by years of involvement in the program and a commitment to helping employees plan for the future.
“From an HR perspective, this recognition is especially meaningful,” said Galvin.
She has been part of HAI Group’s 401(k) Committee for 20 years and has seen the program evolve alongside changes in the broader retirement landscape. Over time, the focus has remained consistent: helping employees build strong financial habits and making it easier to take meaningful steps toward long-term financial goals.
That approach centers on education, access, and personalization. Through tools like MMA’s Prosper Wise platform and one-on-one support from a financial advisor, employees can receive guidance tailored to their individual needs and life circumstances.
"Ultimately, it’s about empowering employees to start early, stay consistent, and feel confident about their financial future." she explained.
Through a combination of digital tools, in-person support, and ongoing communication, HAI Group ensures that employees have access to the guidance they need to plan for both short-term and long-term financial goals.
The value of partnership
HAI Group’s collaboration with Marsh McLennan Agency has played a key role in shaping and strengthening its financial wellness strategy.
“What really stands out about HAI Group is how involved the leadership team is in driving financial wellness,” said Andrew Bayliss, Executive Vice President at Marsh McLennan Agency. “The most successful programs are led from the top down, and here, leadership is actively shaping the culture, advocating for the program, and supporting each employee’s success. That level of engagement leads to stronger participation and better outcomes.”
By combining internal commitment with external expertise, the partnership has helped create a program that is both comprehensive and accessible.
Supporting employees at every stage
Financial wellness is a long-term journey, and HAI Group’s approach reflects a commitment to supporting employees throughout every stage of their careers.
“A big part of what has made this program successful is continuing to put it in front of employees and making sure they understand how to use it,” explained LePage. “When employees have access to one-on-one guidance, it helps turn information into action. That is where you start to see real impact.”
This ongoing focus on engagement ensures that employees are not only aware of available resources, but are also empowered to take meaningful steps toward their financial goals. Malaspina emphasized, “Financial wellness is not a one-time initiative. It requires consistent focus on awareness, education, and access so employees can fully understand and take advantage of what is available to them.”
Looking ahead
As financial needs and expectations continue to evolve, HAI Group remains committed to enhancing its programs and providing employees with the tools and support they need to succeed.
“To me, success is seeing employees feel excited about retirement, not worried about it,” said LePage. “When people can step into that next phase of life with confidence and without financial stress, that is when you know the program is working.”
Earning first place in the Eddy Awards reflects the impact of investing in employees beyond traditional benefits. By prioritizing education, access, and personalized support, HAI Group continues to help employees build confidence in their financial future and feel prepared for what comes next.
