Sherrill St. Germain, CFP®, Author at FIGuide

High Deductible Health Care: What You’ll Need to Know

Jun 24 2010

In the good old days (last year and before), my view of the health insurance industry was… ahem… kind of academic. If asked to comment on the future of health care, I might spout CFP® jargon such as “the law of large losses” and “shared responsibility” to explain why I thought costs were so high, but care standards not always as lofty, and why I anticipated an eventual, near-complete transition of the industry to high-deductible health plans (HDHP).

Safely ensconced in a comprehensive health care policy (read: old-fashioned one that actually pays for health care services), that all seemed to …

Finance Tools Go Mobile

Feb 25 2010

Once upon a time, paper ruled the earth — or at least the personal finance world. Money, bills, statements, checks, coupons, tickets: all came on paper. Transactions were made, expenses tracked, and checkbooks balanced by hand with pen, paper and (gasp!) arithmetic. And this worked reasonably well back in the days when the pace of life was slower, and we all bought a whole lot less.

With the arrival of the information age and our ever-shrinking “spare time”, PC- and, later, Web-based personal finance tools were introduced to great fanfare. Intended to eliminate, automate, or simplify all the old paper-based …

Financial Tips In Exactly Three Words

Feb 09 2010

Last fall, after years as a “do-it-yourselfer” in the area of fitness, I surprised myself and decided to hire a personal trainer, Laura Creagan of New England Endurance Training. No, I’m not a Hollywood starlet trying to get her pre-baby, red carpet-ready body back or an elite athlete trying to win Olympic gold. I’m not even trying to compete in, much less win, any races at the local, “age group” level.

I’m just someone who loves the same activities Laura loves – cycling, cross-country skiing, running, etc. Someone who gets a kick out of reaching new milestones in old favorite …

Recently reemployed? Great! Now’s the time to prep for next time…

Feb 03 2010

Congratulations! If you’re one of the many rejoining the workforce after a period of unemployment, definitely take a moment to celebrate and appreciate what not so long ago we used to take for granted: a full-time job.

OK, but no rest for the weary… Now it’s time to get serious and take advantage of your newfound security to be better prepared in case it happens again. And with what appears to be a permanent shift away from the unspoken employer/employee contract of old, your safest bet is to assume that it — a period of un- or underemployment — can …

What Should You Do When You Want to Change Jobs?

Jan 29 2010

Q: I’m thrilled with the progress I’ve made toward my financial goals over the last few years. I paid off my “bad” debt, and built an emergency fund. I max out my 401k and my Roth, and rebalance my portfolio every year. I have the insurance I need. Heck, it looks like I might even be on track to retire early. I’m like the poster child for New Means. So what’s the problem?

I’m starting to really hate my job, my company, and… well, to be perfectly honest… the whole industry. Lately, the stress has been overwhelming, and I’m starting …

Author - Sherrill St. Germain, CFP®