Quitters Day

“I don’t want to brag, but I kept my New Year’s resolution, I had pasta every day this year.”

-Jim Gaffigan

We are publishing this blog in the cold aftermath of national “Quitter's Day”. Quitter's Day is an annual observation on the second Friday of January, identified as the date when most people are statistically likely to abandon their New Year’s resolutions.  In 2026, Quitter's Day fell on Friday, January 9. 

It should be noted that we at MarylandSaves had very recently resolved to publish our monthly blogs on the first of every month, not a good start. Not feeling bad though, some quick research reveals that approximately 80% of people fail to keep their resolutions long-term, with many dropping them before the first month of the year concludes. In general, this phenomenon is chalked up to unrealistic objectives. Experts suggest that in order to succeed, we set smaller, more achievable goals. It is wholly unrealistic to imagine we can get this blog posted at the beginning of each month, and maybe even a doomed and therefore ill-advised resolution.

Instead, we at MarylandSaves have resolved to set a more realistic goal: We want to ensure that in 2026 every Maryland worker has the opportunity to save for retirement through a payroll-deducted program at their job, any program, any job.

It may seem like a fantastical goal, but in reality, it is not unrealistic at all, and it is free and actually easy. Way easier than publishing a blog on time.

Let’s take a hypothetical: You have resolved to be a better boss in the coming year. Well, good news, your problem is solved. You can enroll in MarylandSaves today. You are welcome.

Other things you can consider resolving as a new, better kind of boss:

You can commit to regular, open communication with your team and foster an environment where feedback is both encouraged and acted upon. Then prioritize employee development by supporting ongoing learning and recognizing achievements, no matter how small. Emphasize flexibility and empathy, adapting your leadership approach to meet the diverse needs of your team members. By focusing on incremental improvements and building trust, you can set a strong foundation for effective and inspiring leadership.

The retirement savings thing is looking even better now, isn’t it? All of those things will take a transformation of your mindset and daily activities for the next 300+ days. Alternatively, you can set up a retirement savings program in one morning—and you are done; successful resolution.

Your few minutes online will demonstrate an investment in your employees' long-term well-being and financial security. It’s much easier than eating pasta every day, and way easier than all that flexibility, communication and empathy. To make the program even more attractive to your employees, MarylandSaves features an emergency savings fund that allows employees to access $1000 for unexpected expenses. For you, SDAT will reward your achievement by waiving your $300 annual report filing fee.

You might think, like many, that a retirement savings program is a luxury you can’t afford in your small business (that is wrong), or that it will be a headache to manage (also wrong), or even that it is optional (wrong again). MarylandSaves is free and easy to set up, essential to your employees and the financial well-being of all Marylanders, and it is the law (it’s true, you can look it up).

Retirement savings program requirements vary widely depending on where you live. Some states do not mandate these programs, leaving the decision up to each employer. This lack of national consistency leads to the idea that retirement benefits are an add-on, not a standard feature of compensation. In Maryland, however, it is, in most cases, against the law if you don’t provide this option—MarylandSaves or any other qualified plan.

Navigating the options for retirement plans can be daunting, and the perceived administrative burden may discourage adoption, and relegates these programs to an avoidable low priorityThe fact is that business owners who embrace these programs not only support their team's long-term well-being, but also strengthen yourr reputation as a caring employer.

Consider this — every January millions of people make resolutions with the hope of transforming their lives—whether it’s to lose weight, quit smoking, save money, or build better habits. Yet, despite the best intentions, the vast majority of these resolutions fail (I recently read in an earlier paragraph that figure is about 80%) before the year is even halfway over, and many by Friday the 9th.

If you own and operate a small business in Maryland, and you have employees but do not offer a retirement savings plan, here’s a New Year’s Resolution tip that will give you your best chance at resolution success: Go to MarylandSaves.com and register for the program. Then you can skip the gym, have a donut and enjoy the rest of the year on the coattails of your achievement. You could look into the communications, empathy and flexibility stuff too with all the spare time you have.

Happy New Year to you and your team, from our team at MarylandSaves.