Sherrill St. Germain, CFP®, Author at FIGuide

How Can I Take Advantage Of My Employment Benefits?

Jul 13 2009

If you’re among the many Americans who remain “employed but worried,” there’s no time like the present to make sure you squeeze every last drop out of your employee benefits before news of a pink slip puts them out of reach. For starters, take a look at:

Flex Spending Accounts – Get familiar with your plan’s details and deadlines. If necessary, move up eligible expenses to ensure you spend your share before you lose the chance.
Group Health Insurance – Schedule known needed treatment ASAP, before you get laid off. For example, if you’ve been putting off making that allergy,

Man vs. the Economy: A Survival Guide

Apr 30 2009

Early hints of spring have evolved into unmistakable signs of nicer days to come: flowers vigorously blooming, trees greening up, oriole sightings. But the forecast this week calls for an unappealing string of rainy days. And so it is with the state of the economy. Ups and downs. Hopeful signs and unexpected threats. (I’m looking at you, swine flu.) Mixed messages, at best.

Yes, our economic transition from cold, dark, dreary days to bright, sunny ones seems to be lagging Mother Nature’s seasonal shift a bit, and it’s clear that we’re “not out of the woods yet.” It’s enough to …

Learning How to Manage Volatile Markets

Mar 10 2009

With the U.S. and world markets experiencing rather dramatic ups and downs in recent months, I’ve been getting more than the usual number of inquiries from clients who want to know how best to weather the predicted storm. “Given the state of the Stock Market, should those of us with much of our money there, just sit tight, or do something ‘more safe’ in the very near future?”

I consult my crystal ball, but it is opaque as always. As I frequently remind anyone who asks, I believe that neither I nor anyone else can reliably predict what will happen …

Author - Sherrill St. Germain, CFP®