Johnsonville, LLC is a family-owned company best known as the nation’s leading brand of bratwurst, sausages, and other premium meats. Like many employers, Johnsonville recognized that employees faced increasing complexity in navigating personal finances and planning for retirement. The company wanted to ensure that its employees had access not only to a strong retirement plan but also to resources that could help them connect with financial planners for day-to-day money decisions and long-term financial security.
Additionally, the Johnsonville Plan Oversight Committee wanted to take a fresh look at the investment menu with an eye on finding top-tier funds, lowering fees, and simplifying the menu offerings. They chose Francis LLC as their partner in both the employee education/financial planning and plan consulting endeavors.
“We’re Grilling Up Something New” Campaign
Johnsonville and Francis worked together to create a custom education campaign to introduce Francis’s new financial wellness benefit to employees, roll out an enhanced 401(k) investment menu, and restructure plan fees to enhance equity and transparency.
The campaign produced a measurable impact:
Significant uptake in individual financial planning sessions. Financial wellness improved. Surveys indicated that 95% of users reported that their financial wellness improved as a result of using this new benefit. Increased diversification among plan participants, with higher adoption of target-date funds aligned with retirement timelines. Assets in these funds increased from 47% to 66%. Strong positive feedback from employees, who appreciated both the accessibility of the financial guidance and the ease of navigating the simplified investment menu.
By combining independent and sales-free financial planning with a modernized 401(k) investment menu, employees were equipped with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to take control of their financial futures.
The information contained herein is provided for informational purposes only. The information provided is from sources we believe to be reliable, but we cannot guarantee its accuracy or completeness. Neither the information nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. Francis LLC does not offer personal legal advice.
22-Time Pensions & Investments Eddy Award-Winner – 2026 Eddy Award recognition received based on Pensions & Investments annual evaluation process. Winners demonstrated program effectiveness and creativity, as well as completion of the entry form, which included a $150 fee per entry. Number of entries varies annually but averages 130-150. Selection criteria weighted differently based upon the category, but in general, creativity and the ease of understanding complex topics was key in determining successful entries. The 2026 Eddy Award represents the twenty-second time Francis has received such recognition, having previously received Eddy Awards in 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. Francis is not affiliated with and does not receive remuneration from Pensions & Investments. Receipt of this award should not be construed as a guarantee of future performance or results.
