Miller & Associates adds homeownership benefits for Western employers

Miller & Associates is partnering with NestSTEPS to offer employer-sponsored homeownership benefits to clients in Utah and the Mountain West starting in Q3 2026. The move follows NestSTEPS research showing housing support could materially improve retention in high-cost labor markets. Why it matters: - Housing costs are reshaping what workers value in a job, especially in Western and Mountain West markets. - NestSTEPS’ survey found 84% of workers say employer homeownership support would reduce financial stress. - The same report found 86% of workers said ongoing mortgage assistance would make them less likely to accept a competing offer. - Employers in high-cost markets may have a new retention tool that is still rare. Only 1% of employers currently provide homeownership benefits. What happened: - Miller & Associates announced an exclusive partnership with NestSTEPS on June 16, 2026, to bring employer-sponsored homeownership benefits to its client base. - The Orem, Utah-based benefits brokerage will begin rolling out NestSTEPS solutions to Utah and Western clients in Q3 2026. - The companies are targeting workforce retention gaps tied to housing affordability in the Mountain West. - The announcement came from Provo, Utah. The details: - NestSTEPS’ 2026 Workforce Housing & Financial Wellbeing Report surveyed 1,000 U.S. employees. - The report found 78% of workers would consider switching employers for housing-related financial assistance. - The same survey found 86% of workers said mortgage paydown support could keep them from taking a competing offer. - Western and Midwest workers showed the strongest enthusiasm for homeownership benefits. - The $100,000 to $149,000 income segment showed especially high engagement. - NestSTEPS describes those workers as “stuck in the middle” employees who can qualify for mortgages but still struggle with down payments and closing costs. - Chris Miller, founder and CEO of Miller & Associates, said the brokerage wants benefit strategies that solve real problems for employees and employers. - Larry Salazar, president and co-founder of NestSTEPS, said employers are increasingly investing in the whole person, not just the employee. - The report and partnership frame homeownership support as both a stress-reduction benefit and a retention lever. - The full report is available here . Between the lines: - The partnership points to a broader shift in benefits strategy, from general wellness offerings to targeted financial support tied to local housing pressure. - For employers in Utah and neighboring states, homeownership assistance could become a differentiator in a tight labor market. - The data suggests the opportunity is strongest for mid-income workers who are close to homeownership but still vulnerable to affordability barriers. What’s next: - Miller & Associates will start offering NestSTEPS products to clients in Q3 2026. - Regional employers will be able to test whether homeownership support improves retention, recruiting and financial wellbeing. - The partnership could expand if employers respond to the offer and adoption grows beyond the Mountain West. The bottom line: - Housing support is moving from a personal finance issue to an employer retention strategy, and Miller & Associates is betting Western employers will act on it.