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Understanding Corporate Financial Education's Role in Asset Formation

In a significant effort to bolster retirement asset formation, Asset Management One, based in Chiyoda, Tokyo, has released findings from a comprehensive survey conducted by its institute, the "Future Nurturing Research Institute." This survey assessed the state of financial education among employees, revealing important insights that underline the relationship between corporate initiatives in financial education and employees' attitudes toward asset formation.

The survey, which included over 7,000 participants from five prominent corporations, was carried out by the "Long-term Research Team for Social Implementation of Asset Formation (Phase 2)." This team, led by Professor Hiroto Koda from Kyoto University, initiated their work in collaboration with the Japan Pension Senior Planning Comprehensive Research Organization in March 2024. Their goal is to improve workplace asset formation support and financial education, alongside advanced retirement planning.

Survey Overview

The survey was conducted between December 2025 and February 2026, gathering responses from 7,361 employees across five companies actively engaged in financial education: Azbil Corporation, Kewpie Corporation, NEC Corporation, Yamato Transport Co., Ltd., and Asset Management One itself. The aim was to analyze the correlation between the companies’ initiatives in financial education and the attitudes and behaviors of their employees.

Additionally, the research team compared the results with a global survey conducted by T. Rowe Price Group across five countries (Japan, USA, UK, Australia, and Canada) regarding awareness of retirement asset formation in 2025. This comparative approach allowed for a comprehensive understanding of Japan's unique characteristics in the realm of financial planning and asset building.

Key Findings from the Survey

Some of the primary insights from the survey include:

• - Employee Trust: Employees value and rely on the information provided by their companies when financial education initiatives are taken seriously. This indicates that companies need to invest in genuine, accessible financial education to foster trust and reliance among their workforce.
• - Behavior Change Triggers: Ongoing education and the introduction of new financial products have been pivotal in prompting changes in employees' financial behaviors. This highlights the importance of consistent education and dynamic offerings in driving engagement.
• - Investment Attitudes: The survey revealed that employees exhibit high investment proportions and lower resistance to taking risks compared to the national average. This suggests a growing openness among the workforce towards engaging with more complex financial instruments and investment strategies.
• - Financial Stress vs. Retirement Confidence: While current stress related to finances appears to be low among employees, this does not necessarily correlate with their confidence in preparing for retirement and the progress they are making toward that goal. There seems to be a disconnect that organizations need to address.

For detailed insights, the complete analysis titled “Analysis of Employee Survey on Retirement Asset Formation Targeting Long-term Lab 2025 Participating Companies” can be accessed here.

Additional Context and Research

The context surrounding this survey, including its significance, was further elaborated in a report published by the Japan Pension Senior Planning Comprehensive Research Organization on June 29, 2026. The report, which discusses insights from a five-country study on retirement asset formation, provides a broader picture of the challenges faced by Japan’s workforce in achieving financial security for retirement.

For more information on the Future Nurturing Research Institute, visit their official website: Asset Management One.

In summary, the findings from Asset Management One underscore the crucial role that corporate financial education can play in enhancing employees' capabilities and confidence in asset formation, especially as they approach retirement. Continued investment in financial literacy and proactive approaches to managing retirement expectations are vital not just for individual employees but for fostering a financially secure workforce overall.