AJ Johnson - Virginia Asset Management

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AJ Johnson - Virginia Asset Management

Securities offered through Cetera Wealth Services, LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Cetera is under separate ownership from any other named entity.

Advisory Services offered through Cetera Investment Advisers LLC, a registered investment adviser. Branch phone 800-787-1716

08/11/2026

HR Professionals

Most of the financial wellness conversation focuses on what employees need. But when you look at what HR leaders themselves are prioritizing, the picture gets even more compelling.

Here's what the data shows about HR's own priorities:

📊 Retention and hiring are the #1 strategic priority for 65% of HR leaders right now 📊 72% of HR executives are watching benefits closely, concerned about their ability to retain talent without the right offerings in place 📊 91% of employees say they'd consider switching jobs for benefits that better help them reach their financial goals

And this isn't a fringe concern:

✅ A 2026 survey of HR and reward decision-makers found supporting employee financial wellbeing ranks as one of the top stated objectives for offering benefits at all — right alongside retention and engagement ✅ Organizations with a formal financial wellbeing strategy are twice as likely to also offer strong mental and physical wellbeing benefits (39% vs. 19%) ✅ According to forecasting by Transamerica, nearly half of employers (47%) are expected to offer a comprehensive financial wellness program by the end of this year

That last point stands out to me. Financial wellness is quickly moving from "nice to have" to a standard part of how organizations think about benefits.

The organizations leaning into this will tend to treat financial wellness less as a standalone perk and more as a foundation the rest of the benefits strategy builds on.

I'm always glad to be a resource if you're thinking through what this could look like for your team — happy to share what I'm seeing across other organizations or just talk through ideas, no pressure either way.

Sources: Morgan Stanley at Work State of the Workplace 2026 Financial Benefits Study; CIPD 2026 Reward Survey; Selerix 2026 Employee Benefits Trends report

07/24/2026

Last week I talked about what a truly holistic financial wellness program looks like. This week, I want to share why it matters, because the numbers make a compelling case.

Financial stress isn't just a "personal issue" that stays at home:

⚠️ 58% of workers report anxiety, lost sleep, or other symptoms directly tied to their personal finances
⚠️ 49% say financial worry makes them less productive at work
⚠️ Organizations lose more than $1,900 per employee, per year in productivity and absenteeism tied to financial stress

Now here's the flip side; what happens when companies actually invest in financial wellness. Employees with access to a program report:

✅ 77% — It's important to have
✅ 69% — It reduces financial stress
✅ 64% — It makes them want to stay with the company
✅ 56% — It increases productivity

That last stat is the one HR leaders can't afford to ignore. Retention and productivity aren't soft outcomes, they show up directly on your bottom line.

The takeaway: financial wellness isn't a "nice to have" benefit. It's a retention and productivity strategy hiding in plain sight.

If you're building your benefits strategy for next year and want to talk through what a program like this could look like for your team, I'd welcome the conversation.

Source: John Hancock Sixth Annual Financial Stress Survey, June 2019

07/15/2026

As a financial advisor who works closely with retirement plans, HR Teams and business owners, I see it constantly: financial stress doesn't stay home when employees clock in. It shows up as distraction, lower engagement, and turnover that could have been prevented.

Most benefits packages do a great job covering health, dental, and vision. But financial wellness often gets reduced to "here's our 401(k), good luck." That's a missed opportunity, both for employees and for the organizations trying to retain them.
A truly holistic financial wellness program includes:

✅ Practical education on budgeting, debt, and saving, not just retirement basics
✅ Guidance that meets employees where they are in life, from new hires to those nearing retirement
✅ Access to real conversations with a professional, not just a slide deck or a link to an app
✅ Support that acknowledges the full financial picture, including student loans, caregiving costs, and major life transitions

When I work with HR teams to build these programs, the results speak for themselves. Employees feel more confident and supported. Engagement improves. And retention often follows.

If you're an HR professional thinking about how to strengthen your benefits strategy heading into next year, I'd welcome the chance to talk through what this could look like for your team.

05/15/2026

Most business owners spend years building something extraordinary, but very few have a clear plan for what comes next.

That's exactly what this event is built for.

Join us June 9th at the Business Owner Strategy Forum, where we've partnered with some of the sharpest minds in M&A, tax, law, and human capital to give business owners a real roadmap:

🔹 Haydn Flores | Viking Mergers & Acquisitions
🔹 Shawn Garrett | Garrett, PLLC
🔹 Steve Hill | LEAD Advisors
🔹 Bill Dupree | Aprio CPA

Together, we'll cover how to grow enterprise value, structure ownership efficiently, prepare for diligence, and ultimately, exit on your terms.

This is a working session built for owners who want to maximize the business they've built.

📅 June 9, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
📍 Ballantyne Country Club | Charlotte, NC
🍽️ Complimentary lunch provided
🎟️ Space limited to 40 attendees

➡️ Register at yourRSVP.com | Code: JURDUC

Know a business owner who should be in the room? Drop their name below or share this post. 👇

Virginia Asset Management, Viking Merges & Acquisitions, Garrett PLLC, Aprio CPA & LEAD Advisors are non-affiliated separate entities. Andrew Johnson and Gib Sloan, Financial Advisors, 6135 Park South Drive, Suite 500, Charlotte, NC 28210. Securities offered through Cetera Wealth Services LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Cetera Investment Advisers LLC, a registered investment adviser. Cetera is under separate ownership from any other named entity. Virginia Asset Management is independently owned and operated. For a comprehensive review of your personal situation, always consult with a tax or legal advisor. Neither Cetera Wealth Services LLC nor any of its representatives may give legal or tax advice. Steve Hill, Regional Operator, LEAD Advisors; Haydn Flores, Advisor, Viking Mergers & Acquisitions; Shawn Garrett, Attorney, Garett, PLLC; and Bill Depee, Partner, Apiro CPA are not affiliated or registered with Cetera Wealth Services LLC. Any information provided by any of these individuals is in no way related to Cetera Wealth Services LLC or its registered representatives.

08/11/2025

🚨 Webinar Invite: What the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” Means for the Markets 🚨

Join us for a timely webinar with Goldman Sachs as we break down how new legislation could impact the economy, markets, and your investment strategy.

From tax cuts to trade policy, this session is packed with timely insights you won’t want to miss — especially if you’re trying to make sense of recent headlines and what they could mean for your portfolio.

📅 Wednesday, August 20th at 6:00 PM ET
🔗 To Register Please Visit: https://vampartners.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IXNDqrdDS92wmwmjGDlqBg #/registration

If you’re a client, business owner, or just someone who follows market trends — I hope you’ll join us!

07/24/2025

***Business Owners***

Please Join Us For a Lunch-N-Learn on Wednesday, August 6th at Ballantyne Country Club.

Time: 11:30am-1:30pm

You can register here: https://yoursvp.com/CURLEZ

Aligning People, Planning, and Profits: A Workshop of Growth-Minded Owners

As a business owner, your days are consumed by operations, strategy, and growth. But what happens to your company when it’s time to step away—whether temporarily, gradually, or permanently?

Join us for a focused, high-value workshop built to help you plan beyond today. We’ve partnered with Steve Hill & LEAD Advisors, experts in human capital and leadership development, to bring you a dynamic session that addresses the strategic, financial, and people-focused elements of long-term business success.

What You’ll Learn:
• Business valuation basics and how to position your business for a future sale or transition
• Compensation and benefits strategies to retain key employees
• Estate, succession, and retirement planning essentials for owners
• How to assess and strengthen leadership within your organization
• Keys to maintaining company culture through change

Whether you’re just starting to consider the future or actively preparing for transition, this workshop will give you tools, insight, and next steps to build a business that thrives—even when you're no longer at the helm.

Please reach out with any questions and we hope to see you there!

Address

6135 Park South Drive, Suite 500
Charlotte, NC
28210

Website

https://www.vamllc.com/

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