A study of employer efforts to assist their workers with financial planning and money-management suggests that a growing number of companies identify a role for themselves in this area because they see a direct return on such investments.

The survey, Financial Education for Today's Workforce: 2014 Survey Results, released by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, said more than 60 percent of the employers it queried "believe their employees face more personal financial challenges today than they did five years ago" and are responding with educational programs to help ease the stress caused by financial worries.

Better still, the survey said, these proactive companies are exploring innovative programs to help their workers. "While traditional programs such as retirement planning benefits, investments and savings are the most common offerings, the findings show that employers are beginning to move beyond these typical offerings to better reach their participants," the foundation said.