New Update: Healthcare Costs Increasing by Over 60% in Some States. Will you be impacted?

Fortune Brands Home & Security Employees: Navigating the Rising Costs of College Tuition for Your Family

Healthcare Provider Update: Healthcare Provider for Fortune Brands Home & Security: Fortune Brands Home & Security typically collaborates with major healthcare insurance providers to offer employee health coverage, but specific details regarding their healthcare contracts can vary. Common providers for companies of their size often include UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, and Cigna. Potential Healthcare Cost Increases in 2026: As 2026 approaches, healthcare costs are expected to surge significantly, driven by a confluence of factors. The impending expiration of enhanced federal premium subsidies under the Affordable Care Act could exacerbate financial strain, with many consumers facing potential out-of-pocket premium increases exceeding 75%. Simultaneously, the overall rise in medical expenses-fueled by inflation in hospital and prescription drug costs-will compound the situation, prompting insurers to propose steep premium hikes. With these challenges, individuals and families may find themselves navigating a precarious financial landscape regarding their healthcare options. Click here to learn more

It doesn’t take a degree in finance to see the cost of college continues to rise.

In its 2017 report, the College Board showed that public four-year institutions raised prices an average of 3.2% annually between the 2007-08 and 2017-18 school years. Put another way, a $5,000 education in 2007-08 would cost $6,851 in 2017-18.

For a few families, the lion’s share of education costs falls on parents and, in some cases, on grandparents. For our Fortune Brands Home & Security clients who are parents you may already know, generally, the majority of families rely on a combination of scholarships, grants, financial aid, part-time jobs, and parent support to help pay the cost.

For Fortune Brands Home & Security employees who have children approaching college age, a good first step is estimating the potential costs. The accompanying worksheet can help you get a better idea about the cost of a four-year college.

For Fortune Brands Home & Security employees who already put money away for college, the worksheet will take that amount into consideration. For Fortune Brands Home & Security employees who haven’t, it’s never too late to start.

Resources

There are a number of resources that can help individuals prepare for college. The U.S. government distributes certain information on colleges and costs. Here are two sites for these Fortune Brands Home & Security employees to consider reviewing:

www.studentaid.ed.gov
The government’s college and financial aid portal.

Featured Video

Articles you may find interesting:

www.collegeboard.org
The group that administers the SAT test.

Estimating the Cost of College

Estimating the Cost of College

With the current political climate we are in it is important to keep up with current news and remain knowledgeable about your benefits.

Fortune Brands Home & Security offers its employees both a pension plan and a 401(k) plan under the broader Fortune Brands Home & Security Retirement Savings Plan. This plan is a Defined Contribution Plan, allowing employees to participate in either a 401(k) or Profit-Sharing Plan. Fortune Brands Home & Security employees have access to a 401(k) Plan, where employee contributions are matched by the company at varying rates, depending on the employee's position and years of service (QDRO.com) (SimpleQDRO). The company offers automatic enrollment in the 401(k) plan, where employees are enrolled at a contribution rate of 3% of their salary. The contribution rate can increase by 1% annually until it reaches 6%, unless the employee opts out (SEC.gov). Additionally, Fortune Brands provides Profit-Sharing Contributions, which vary depending on the company division, and employees are vested in these contributions after three years of service. Employees who meet specific requirements, such as 10 years of service and attaining age 55, become fully vested in their 401(k) and profit-sharing accounts (SEC.gov). The vesting schedules for the pension and 401(k) plans depend on the employee’s years of service. Most employees achieve full vesting after three years of service, but for employees of divisions like Rohl and Fiberon, the vesting timeline can extend up to five years

News: In early 2024, Fortune Brands Home & Security announced a significant restructuring initiative aimed at streamlining operations and enhancing efficiency. The company revealed plans to reduce its workforce by approximately 5% as part of this strategic shift. Additionally, Fortune Brands is re-evaluating its employee benefits package, including potential changes to retirement plan offerings and adjustments to health benefits. Explanation: Given the current economic environment, where companies are reassessing their financial stability and operational efficiency, this news is crucial. Changes in employment and benefits could impact employees' financial planning, particularly in terms of retirement savings and healthcare costs. Understanding these adjustments is essential due to the broader economic and tax landscape, which could affect investment strategies and personal financial decisions.

Stock Options: FBHS provided stock options to key executives and senior management as part of their long-term incentive program. This was aimed at aligning the interests of executives with those of shareholders. RSUs: RSUs were granted to employees based on performance metrics and tenure. These units vest over a period of time, typically 3-4 years, contingent on continued employment and performance.

health benefits for Fortune Brands Home & Security. This will take some time to ensure accuracy and comprehensiveness. I’ll provide a summary once I have the details. In the meantime, if you have any specific aspects of their health benefits or recent employee healthcare news you're particularly interested in, please let me know!