6B • NOV. 24, 2023
YOUR MONEY
bransonglobe.com
Dave Ramsey offers eight tips for managing employee stress at work
BY DAVE RAMSEY, CEO, Ramsey Solutions, and an eight-time No. 1 national best-selling author, and host of The Ramsey Show mployee stress has been on the rise for the last decade. And the last two years have set new records for the number of employees who
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say they experienced stress the day before—hitting 44% in 2023. Stress affects a person’s relationships and their ability to do their job—whether or not they show up for work. That means employee stress is negatively affecting your business—from its morale and culture to its productivity. But you don’t have to be a licensed therapist to help your employees manage their stress levels. You just need to be a good leader who genuinely cares and helps employees by creating a healthy workplace culture that prioritizes their well-being and mental health.
If an employee is in a hard season of life, they need your support. Here are our eight tips for managing employee stress at work: 1. Offer a financial wellness benefit Nearly 60% of Americans—your employees—are feeling the pressure of rising inflation and the increasing cost of living. So, what can you do about it? Offer a financial wellness benefit! Employees who take control of their financial situation feel more secure about their money and experience less stress. In fact, the 2021
SmartDollar Financial Wellness Benefits Study shows that 88% of employers who offer a financial wellness benefit say their employees report less stress because of it. A financial wellness benefit, like SmartDollar, teaches employees how to budget their money wisely, pay off debt, and build wealth. This can help them weather economic storms and help you significantly reduce financial stress as a distraction at work. 2. Provide physical and mental health benefits Exercise is a great way to reduce and minimize stress.
Your employees might not feel like exercising after a long day of work, or maybe they don’t want to pay for a gym membership. But you can inspire and motivate them to get out and get active with a fitness reimbursement. And the same goes for mental health benefits. If you take away the “therapy is too expensive” excuse by offering benefits that help cover mental health expenses, your employees are more likely to get the help they need. 3. Encourage employees to use paid time off (PTO) Time away from work
is an obvious way to lower stress. But just offering PTO in your employee compensation plan isn’t always enough. Why? Because about half of all employees don’t use up all of their PTO each year. You might think less time away from work means greater productivity, but you’d be wrong. Employees who use their PTO and actually unplug from work come back reenergized and motivated to do work that matters. And that translates into better productivity. The best way to encourage SEE DAVE RAMSEY, PAGE 7B
Stock Market Insights: Stocks surge, fueled by cooling inflation
DR. RICHARD BAKER, AIF®, is the founder of and an executive wealth advisor at Fervent Wealth Management. https://www. facebook.com/Dr.RichardBaker
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’m not usually one to say, “I told you so.” But…
Last week, I wrote that the stock market needed a few more things to fall into place for the possibility of stocks starting a run at new all-time highs. Well, they did, and not in the ten weeks I expected, but they did in six days. • I’d said the S&P 500 needed to move above its October high of 4420; well, it closed on November 15, 2023, at 4502! • I’d mentioned that the Russell 2000 (Small Caps) needed to return
to the 1800-point level to show the whole market is improving; well, it closed at 1801 on November 15, 2023. • Lastly, I’d said the U.S. Dollar also needs to weaken to allow U.S. companies to be more competitive overseas. The U.S. Dollar Index needs to stay below 106; it finished around 104 on November 15, 2023. Last Tuesday’s (November 14) Consumer Price Report on inflation was an-
other in a series of positive reports showing the economy is strong and getting stronger. On that day, the S&P 500 had its best single day since April, with almost 95% of its stocks finishing the day positive, pushing it above its 100-day moving average. The Russell 2000, which I mentioned earlier, surged nearly 5.5% for its best performance in over a year. All of this is on the news that inflation is cooling and bond yields are dropping.
Consumer prices seem to be at a tolerable rate for the Federal Reserve. There is less than a month remaining until the Federal Reserve’s next meeting on December 13, and between now and then, there will be a slew of inflation-related reports for the Fed to digest. So far, stocks are surging as investors expect interest rate cuts to begin in the 2024 calendar. This week in the stock market has been a good one. But on a personal level, it’s been really challenging as
our family lost someone close to us. So, there’s no cute joke to end this week’s article—just a reminder to check on each other because everyone is fighting battles that no one knows about. If you or a friend needs help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” www.FerventWM.com
Volunteers needed for Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program in Taney County Submitted to Branson Globe University of Missouri Extension is looking for volunteers to provide free tax help for the 2024 tax season (2023 tax year) in Taney County. Become a tax volunteer and make a difference in your community. Jody LeMaster, Taney County VITA site coordinator, says, “Last year we helped
over 1,000 folks in our area with their federal and state taxes. The more volunteers we have, the more people we can serve; the more we can serve, the more likely we will be able to receive grant funds to keep the program going” The IRS sponsors the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program. This program offers free tax help across
the country for people with low-to-moderate incomes. Here are six good reasons why you should consider becoming a VITA volunteer: • Flexible hours. We ask volunteers to serve an average of four to six hours per week. Our program is usually open from the end of January through the tax filing deadline in April.
• VITA sites are in Branson and Forsyth and need your help. • No prior experience needed. You will receive specialized training and can serve in a variety of roles. • Free tax law training and materials. Learn how to prepare basic tax returns and learn about all the tax deductions and credits that
benefit eligible taxpayers. User friendly program provided by the IRS. • Continuing education credits for tax pros. Enrolled agents and non-credentialed tax return preparers can earn credits when volunteering as a VITA quality reviewer or tax return preparer. • There is a site coordinator on hand to answer questions.
As a volunteer, you will join a program that helps millions of people nationwide file tax returns at no charge for more than 40 years. Your help will make a difference. It is people helping people. It is that simple. To find out more, call the University of Missouri Taney County Extension office at 417-546-4431 or email taneyco@missouri.edu.
Table Rock Community Bank opens new branch in Crane; grand opening celebration Nov. 30 Submitted to Branson Globe Table Rock Communi-
ty Bank, Member FDIC parent company, Alton
Bancshares, Inc., invites the community to a grand opening celebration of their newest location on Thursday, November 30. The branch is conveniently located at 17 Greencove Lane, just across from the Crane High School and right next to the Crane Presbyterian Church. “Our new full-service branch provides the expanded banking services that our current and future customers have been asking for
and provides us additional opportunities in which we can serve our Crane community” says, Loan Officer, Doug Minton. The Grand Opening celebration begins at 2 p.m. and includes a ribbon cutting ceremony with the Table Rock Chamber of Commerce to start at 2:30. The community is encouraged to stop by from 2-4 p.m. to enjoy free food, drinks, door prize giveaways, and a tour of the new facility.
Table Rock Community Bank opened a loan production office in Crane in the spring of 2022 and quickly saw the need for full-service community banking in Northern Stone County. Plans were put in motion to secure a location, and by the following spring renovations of an existing structure were underway. “We are pleased with how quickly things have progressed,” says Branch
Manager, Jackie Bowling. “We are thankful for the outpouring of support and positive feedback that we have received from the community.” Mark your calendar today and make plans to attend this Rock Solid Grand Opening Celebration on November 30. Table Rock Community Bank: Building your financial future on a Rock-Solid foundation.
Capitalize on your next opportunity. We’ve been helping local business to grow and thrive for 120 years. Our team offers exceptional service, unmatched expertise and tailor-made solutions. Whether you’re preparing for the busy season or expanding to a new market, we’ll make financing the easy part. Contact Marla to learn more. Marla Mitchell, Community President 1540 State Hwy 248 | Branson MO 65616 417.875.5231 | marla.mitchell@simmonsbank.com
All accounts subject to approval. Simmons Bank NMLS #484633
