When we talk about financial wellbeing, it is right that we increasingly shine a spotlight on the challenges faced by women.
From the cumulative impact of lower wages and part-time work to the financial consequences of career breaks taken to care for children or ageing relatives, there is growing recognition that women can face significant barriers to achieving financial security later in life.
Those voices deserve to be heard.
But as Men’s Health Week reminds us, there is another side to the conversation that is often overlooked: the relationship between men’s financial wellbeing and their overall health.
Because one of the biggest myths about financial wellbeing is that you can tell who is struggling.
As Adam Creasey, Co-founder and Managing Director of forward-thinking legal firm Adam Benedict observed during a recent Make a Difference webinar, sometimes those you would least expect to be plagued by money worries are carrying a significant burden of financial stress.
The senior manager with a large mortgage. The sole breadwinner supporting a family. The colleague caring for elderly parents while funding children through education. The employee who appears outwardly successful but lies awake at night worrying about money.
Financial anxiety is often invisible.
And for many men, those worries remain hidden.
Why men’s financial wellbeing matters for men’s health
The connection between financial wellbeing and mental health is well established. Financial stress can contribute to anxiety, poor sleep, reduced concentration and relationship strain. Over time, it can also have consequences for physical health.
However, evidence suggests that men may experience and respond to financial stress differently.
According to Aon’s article, Tailored Strategies for Men’s Mental and Financial Health Amid Gaps, men are less likely to report mental health concerns or seek support, despite being at greater risk of suicide. Around a third of men fear that discussing their mental health at work could put their job at risk.
Traditional expectations around masculinity can compound the issue.
Although family structures and gender roles continue to evolve, many men still feel pressure to be providers and protectors. Research highlighted by Aon found that when men are the sole source of income within their household, their psychological wellbeing scores are lower.
The result can be a dangerous combination: financial pressure coupled with reluctance to ask for help.
The hidden cost of silence around money worries
One of the most striking themes emerging from the evidence is the role of stigma.
Many men are comfortable discussing practical problems at work but find it far harder to admit they are struggling emotionally or financially.
Aon’s research highlights that women are more likely to use emotional wellbeing support and employee assistance programmes (EAPs), while men tend to engage less frequently with these services.
That doesn’t necessarily mean men need less support.
It may simply mean they are less likely to access it.
There is also evidence of increasing loneliness among men. Surveys cited by Aon suggest the number of men reporting that they have no close friends has risen significantly over recent decades. Without trusted support networks, financial worries can become internalised.
Left unaddressed, these pressures can affect every aspect of life – from physical and mental health to productivity, engagement and attendance at work.
Financial wellbeing support should not be one-size-fits-all
None of this means creating a separate financial wellbeing strategy for men.
Rather, it highlights the importance of recognising that different groups within the workforce may experience financial stress differently.
Aon’s analysis argues for more tailored approaches that acknowledge the barriers some employees face in accessing support.
That might include:
- Using language that normalises conversations about money and mental health.
- Sharing stories and examples that resonate with male employees.
- Ensuring managers are equipped to recognise signs of distress.
- Creating multiple routes into support, recognising that some people are more comfortable accessing digital tools or anonymous services.
- Framing financial education around practical problem-solving and future planning.
Importantly, financial stress should not be viewed solely through the lens of income.
High earners can experience significant financial anxiety too.
The assumption that financial wellbeing challenges only affect lower-paid employees risks leaving many people unsupported.
What this means for employers
For employers, Men’s Health Week provides an opportunity to broaden the conversation around financial wellbeing.
The goal is not to shift attention away from women’s financial wellbeing. The structural inequalities women face remain real and deserving of continued focus.
Rather, it is to recognise that financial wellbeing is not experienced uniformly. People bring different experiences, expectations and barriers to the workplace, and support needs to reflect that reality.
Aon’s analysis suggests that employers should think carefully about how financial wellbeing support is designed, communicated and accessed. If support relies solely on employees self-identifying or actively seeking help, some groups may be less likely to benefit from it.
Practical actions employers can take include:
- Creating psychologically safe cultures where conversations about money and mental health are normalised.
- Training line managers, HR teams and Mental Health First Aiders to recognise when financial pressures may be affecting wellbeing and performance.
- Reviewing communications to ensure financial wellbeing support resonates with different employee groups and life stages.
- Promoting EAPs, financial coaching and planning tools in ways that reduce stigma and encourage early intervention.
- Using employee listening and data to identify gaps in awareness, access and engagement.
- Highlighting benefits that build financial resilience, from emergency savings support and financial education to protection benefits and flexible leave policies.
Financial wellbeing is not simply about pensions, budgeting apps or retirement planning. It is about helping people feel more secure, more in control and better equipped to deal with life’s inevitable ups and downs.
Men’s Health Week reminds us that the colleague who appears to have everything under control may be carrying pressures that are invisible to those around them.
For employers, that’s both the challenge and the opportunity: creating workplaces where support reaches people before they reach crisis point, and where no one feels they have to shoulder financial worries alone.
Because silence should never be mistaken for financial security.
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