I work in finance and I barely read my own benefits package. Here's what that's probably costing me.

This week in real life

I work in corporate finance. I track budgets for a living. I write a weekly newsletter about family money. And I barely read my own employee benefits package every year.

I auto-renew, keep the same elections as last year, and move on. Every single year. Despite knowing better. Despite having four kids whose healthcare, life insurance coverage, and financial safety net depend entirely on those elections being right.

I'm telling you this because if a finance guy who thinks about money all day is basically ignoring his benefits package — the odds that you're leaving something valuable on the table are extremely high. And the research backs that up in a way that should make everyone a little uncomfortable.

"Only 1 in 10 employees understands the true value of their benefits. The other 9 are leaving money, protection, and coverage on the table every single year — not because they're irresponsible, but because nobody ever taught them how to read this stuff."

This week's money move

31% Of your total compensation is benefits — not salary. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, benefits average $15.03 per hour for civilian workers. For a full-time employee earning $60,000, that's $18,000-$24,000 in annual benefits value most people never fully account for.

Let that land for a second. Nearly a third of what your employer pays for you isn't showing up in your paycheck. It's showing up in your benefits package — and up to 40% of it goes unused every year according to recent studies.

Here's a plain-English breakdown of what's actually in most corporate benefits packages and what each piece is worth to a family:

Health Insurance — Employer Contribution

Value: $8,000-$18,000 per year for family coverage

Your employer pays a significant share of your family's health premium — often $1,000-$1,500 per month. Most employees know they have health insurance but have no idea what their employer is actually contributing. Find this number. It changes how you think about every job offer and every raise negotiation.

401k Employer Match

Value: $1,500-$6,000 per year — free money, full stop

If your employer matches 3-6% of your salary and you're not contributing at least that much — you are leaving free money on the table. Not metaphorically. Literally. A $70,000 salary with a 4% match means $2,800 per year your employer will give you that you're declining if you don't contribute enough to get the full match.

HSA — Health Savings Account

Value: $3,850 individual / $7,750 family contribution limit in 2025

The most underused account in America. Triple tax advantage — contributions are pre-tax, growth is tax-free, withdrawals for medical expenses are tax-free. For a family with four kids this account should be maxed every year without question. Many employers also contribute $500-$1,500 directly to your HSA — check your package right now.

FSA — Flexible Spending Account

Value: Up to $3,200 in pre-tax medical spending

Pre-tax dollars for medical expenses means every dollar you put in saves you 22-24% in federal taxes depending on your bracket. Four kids means medical expenses. Use this account. The catch: FSA funds expire at year end so plan your contributions carefully.

Life Insurance — Employer Provided

Typical coverage: 1-2x salary. What you actually need: 10-12x salary

Most employers provide basic life insurance — usually $50,000-$100,000. For a dad of four that's nowhere near enough. The good news: most benefits packages allow you to purchase supplemental coverage at group rates significantly cheaper than individual policies. This is the easiest and cheapest way to close the coverage gap we talked about in issue #002.

EAP — Employee Assistance Program

Value: Free counseling, legal advice, financial coaching

Almost nobody uses this. Most EAPs include free counseling sessions, free legal consultations, free financial planning calls, and even discounts on childcare. Your employer already paid for it. It's sitting there unused. If you've ever paid out of pocket for a therapy session or a legal question you didn't need to.

Dependent Care FSA

Value: Up to $5,000 in pre-tax childcare spending

Summer camp, after-school care, daycare — all potentially eligible for pre-tax treatment through a Dependent Care FSA. For a family spending $10,000+ on childcare annually this account saves $1,100-$1,500 in taxes every year. Check if your employer offers it. Many do. Almost nobody uses it.

This week's action — the 20 minute benefits audit: Pull up your benefits portal or last year's enrollment confirmation email. Find these five numbers and write them down: your employer's monthly health contribution, your 401k match percentage, your current life insurance coverage amount, whether you have an HSA or FSA available, and whether your employer offers a Dependent Care FSA. Those five numbers tell you exactly where you're leaving money on the table.

Note: This is financial education, not personalized advice. Your situation is specific to you — consult your HR department or a financial advisor for decisions about your own elections.

Dad life

My other three kids finish school next week. Which means full summer mode — sports, camping, a dog who gets walked way more than usual, and a pantry that somehow empties itself daily.

Between the graduation, the end of school year, and sports season wrapping up — this week feels like the exhale after a long sprint. We made it through another year. All four kids healthy, busy, and mostly accounted for.

That's a good week by any measure.

Know someone who auto-renews their benefits every year?

Forward this before their next enrollment window. It takes 10 seconds and might be worth thousands.

📊 New this week: The Four Kids Later Youth Sports Cost Calculator — compare sports side by side, calculate full season costs, and find your family's monthly sports budget number. Available at etsy.com/shop/FourKidsLaterCo

Coming next week

Summer officially starts at our house next week — four kids home, zero structure, and a grocery bill that is about to get very real. We're building the Four Kids Later Summer Budget System — a simple framework for not losing your financial mind between June and August.