CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwired - September 28, 2016) - The Illinois Technology Association (ITA) and Windgate Wealth Management today announced the release of a white paper providing practical advice and rational for building a culture of financial confidence.

One of the most important things an organization can do to ensure success in both the short and long term is to foster a happy workforce. But "happiness" is a big, fluid term that can vary wildly from individual to individual, and trying to create it out of whole cloth -- through supplementary programming and unconventional perks -- can cause a strain on management and resources and offer unpredictable results.

A more efficient approach is to determine the bedrock factors that influence employee happiness, and solve to those. And perhaps the biggest foundational component of employee happiness is also one that's often thought of as a taboo subject in professional settings: money.

Less than half of employees across all generations believe their employer cares about their financial well-being, while a much higher percentage (77 percent of Millennials, 73 percent of Gen X, and 55 percent of Baby Boomers) indicate that they are more likely to be attracted to a company that does care, according to Metlife Employee Benefit Trends Study, 2016.

"Because our members often struggle to attract and retain tech talent, we felt it was important to invest in the creation of an educational piece that provides insight on this critical component of employee satisfaction," said Julia Kanouse, senior vice president membership + marketing, ITA. "An organization invested in the financial well-being of its employees, communicates to employees that they are valued and creates a competitive advantage in the talent marketplace."

"We've recently noticed a trend with our clients wanting to offer more robust and unique benefits to their employees," said Sean Condon, Certified Financial Planner™ at Windgate Wealth Management. "We've seen firsthand in our experiences how many of these benefits -- whether they are 401k plans, financial planning services or stronger health insurance plans -- all correlated to financial well-being. We are pleased to partner with ITA to offer additional education on how to build a culture of financial confidence."

To download the full whitepaper, visit illinoistech.org/news/financial-confidence.

About ITA

The Illinois Technology Association (ITA) scales Illinois tech companies. With innovative resources that allow members to collaborate with each other, build their talent networks and elevate their local and national presence, ITA is the region's strongest advocate for fostering innovation and growth. Founded in 2005 and supporting 500-plus growth-stage tech companies, ITA has a rich history of driving the business forward. For more information, visit illinoistech.org, follow @ITAbuzz on Twitter or find us on LinkedIn.

About Windgate Wealth Management

Windgate Wealth Management, a Chicago-based Advisory firm, has been helping families and business owners meet their financial goals for over 25 years. For founders who believe in supporting the financial well-being of their employees, Windgate Wealth Management's Employee Fi-Care Planning Program provides your team members with a Certified Financial Planner™ to help them achieve their personal goals and maximize time and focus. Windgate also manages company retirement plans, including 401(k)'s, to help you provide for your employees, reduce your tax liability and grow your personal wealth. Windgate Wealth Management operates as Perritt Capital Management, a Registered Investment Advisory firm.

For more information, visit windgatewealth.com, follow @WindgateWealth on Twitter or find us on LinkedIn.