COVID-19 Information and Resources
COVID-19 Resources
1.866.724.4327
Free & Confidential Services for Employees, Physicians, Professional Staff & IHP Students
EAP News
August 3, 2022

Navigating these Challenging Financial Times

Stacey J. Drubner, JD, LICSW, MPH

Many people have concerns about the current financial situation in our country and how this will affect their immediate expenses and savings for the future. These concerns are valid. Inflation (a general increase in the prices of goods and services in the economy over time that corresponds with a decrease in the value of money) has been a challenge as of late. There are impacts on groceries, housing and gas.

Steps you can Take Today to Improve and Protect your Finances

 

No one can predict exactly when the economic outlook will improve, but there are measures that you can take to fortify your savings and be prepared for whatever financial circumstances arise.

Below, we share a number of resources. There are also some general strategies that can help you navigate these uncertain times:

  • Educate yourself on the current status of your own expenses, savings and plans for future needs (retirement)
  • Come up with a short and long-term plan. Just hoping everything will fall into place is not an ideal strategy
  • How you approach this challenge will vary depending on your unique financial situation, age and predicted time for retirement
  • Seek guidance to help you determine the best path for you. The EAP website has a broad base of financial resources, education, and information on our investment and credit union vendors

Spotlight: Jonathan Tudor

Workplace Financial Consultant, Certified Financial Planner™ - Fidelity Investments

Maximizing your Savings and Preparing for Future Needs

MGB benefits offers access to Fidelity workplace financial consultants for investing and retirement planning. For this feature, we spoke with Fidelity  consultant Jon Tudor, who shares some general tips on maximizing savings and preparing for the future. You can adapt these tips to your unique financial needs and circumstances.

Jon suggests that approaching finances now or in any economic climate or market environment should always be guided by the same core principles and strategy.

Emergency savings are priority # 1

  • At baseline, before investing anything, you should have 3-6 months of living expenses in cash
  • Put money aside over time to maintain an urgent needs fund
  • Be prepared for an unexpected home or car repair, or time off from work for a health issue
  • In some cases, borrowing to pay for an emergency may be necessary if you don’t have financial reserves to cover it. Consider all your options and if you need to borrow, make sure to keep interest rates as low as possible

On a related note, take measures to care for your dependents: One of your biggest assets is your future earning capacity. Consider reviewing and updating your insurance portfolio, including disability and life insurance. Here is some information from MGB.

Balance paying down debt versus contributing to your savings

How you approach debt will depend on the type: “good” or “bad” debt.

  • Good debt: student loans or mortgages are often in the good debt category, because they carry low interest rates, possible tax benefits and can enhance your credit score. Make minimum payments and lean towards saving versus paying down more debt in these cases
  • Bad debt: Be more aggressive with loans with high interest payments, such as some credit cards, car, or personal loans. If you have debt with a 6-7% (or higher) interest rate, then consider paying this off before adding to retirement savings


Save at least 15% for retirement and invest based on your personal situation

Jon suggests having your savings invested, whether you are 10 or 30 years from retirement. It’s normal to worry about the markets and it may be tempting to make a move to protect your assets. However, Jon explains that market fluctuations are going to happen, and that history bears out that the markets weather storms in the long-term. Timing the market to predict the bottom and know when to get out and when to get back in typically represents more risk than staying the course. As a caveat, investing involves risk and even the risk of loss.

What can you do to feel more secure with the reliability of your retirement plan?

  • Make sure your investments are aligned with your goals
    Do you have the right combination of asset allocation (stocks, bonds, cash) for your age, expected retirement timeframe and current financial situation?
  • Be appropriately invested for your life stage
    Make sure you are in a diversified portfolio with guard rails, which reflect your life phase, needs and expected retirement date. As a default most MGB employees are in these types of funds via our investment providers
    – If you are close to retirement: your investments should be in a less risky portfolio. This translates to less international stocks and a 50-50 or 60-40 stock-to-bond ratio
    – If you are further from retirement, you can afford to be more aggressive and accommodate greater risk with your investments
  • Educate yourself and be goal-oriented
    – Take the time to learn about the target timeline and risks for each one of your accounts. Even if you are not doing your own investing, it might alleviate some of your financial worries if you fully understand the options and confirm that you are in the right type of account(s) for you. At a minimum, you should you review your investment account once a year
    – Meet with a  workplace financial consultant at one of our MGB retirement providers or through wherever you have investment accounts
  • If you prefer to manage your own investments
    – Use a financial retirement calculator 
    –  Compare programs with different allocations and target rate funds
    – Utilize MGB financial vendors for consultation and take advantage of their educational materials. For example, this recent post from Fidelity offers tips for navigating volatile markets

How to Save on Everyday Purchases and Activities

 

Even if you are appropriately invested for your future, it’s a good idea to consider options for cutting expenses in the “here and now”, without sacrificing needs and enjoyment. Below are some resources with some tips for saving.

Gas (From AAA)

 

Groceries

 

Travel

 

Utilities

 

Debt management and Credit

 

Help from the EAP

The Mass General Brigham EAP offers free and confidential services for employees and immediate household family members. EAP records are separate from medical and HR records. Contact the EAP at 866-724-4327 or request an appointment via our online form for confidential assistance.

© 2024 Mass General Brigham EAP All rights reserved.