The winning approach is a program that changes behaviors. To do that, a financial wellness program must:

Help employees to think differently about money. That means seeing it as a long-term wealth-building tool instead of something that comes and goes like the wind.
Change their view of budgeting. Take budgeting from something that cramps their style to something that gives them permission to spend.
Be intentional and inspirational. Real behavior change must be gradual and built around goals, so the best programs will outline simple and realistic action steps that get people moving with their money.
Provide a personal touch. Most people won't be able to go it alone in any kind of big life change. That's true of losing weight, quitting smoking or getting out of debt and building wealth. Find a program that allows employees to keep an eye on their progress and measure success.
Teach with authority. A great financial wellness program should include powerful teaching from experts who share their learning with authority and warmth. And if the employee's spouse can get access to the same materials, it could make all the difference in their financial journey!
Deliver big and measurable results. Simply handing employees a plan they may or may not implement won't change their core behaviors. Your employees need a program that really shows results around debt eliminated and dollars saved as they progress. A reporting system can even help you prove and share ROI with stakeholders.

Such programs exist, but you have to be intentional about looking for them—not just solutions that simply check a box. It's worth every penny of benefits money you spend, not to mention ways in which such a program ultimately winds up contributing back to the company bottom line.

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How to raise the bar for financial wellness

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