How P&G Employees Learn, Plan and Build Financial Wellbeing

Financial wellbeing is about more than what’s in your bank account. It’s about feeling confident in your finances today, prepared for the unexpected and free to make choices about your future.

P&G supports employees along the way with resources and education that empower informed financial decisions, as part of the Company’s overall focus on well-being. But how we get there is personal. The lessons we learn, the experiences we have and even the people around us can shape the way we think about money and the choices we make.

Below, three P&G employees share the experiences that shaped the way they think about money and the choices they’re making for their futures.

One Early Decision, Decades of Growth

At 21, Mercedes Fernandez had plenty of places to put her paycheck.

She was just starting her career at P&G in Geneva, working as an administrative assistant. There was an apartment to furnish, a first sofa to buy, a car and all the other expenses that come with starting out on your own. Saving for the future wasn't exactly top of mind.

Just a few years into her career, Fernandez heard senior colleagues talk about P&G's International Stock Ownership Plan (ISOP), which allows eligible employees to invest a portion of their pay in P&G stock and receive a Company-matching contribution. She didn't see employees at her career stage participating and wasn't sure it was something intended for her.

But Fernandez was curious.

“I never say, ‘This is not for me,’” she said. “I want to understand this thing, and then I will decide if this is for me.”

So she asked questions. Colleagues explained that she could contribute automatically through her paycheck, making it easier to save consistently. That appealed to Fernandez, who admits saving didn't come naturally to her.

She decided to participate and, with few exceptions, has left the money invested.

That was 25 years ago.

Today, Fernandez is an HR assistant in Geneva. As her career has grown, her savings have grown along with her.

“Even small contributions can really make a difference a few years after,” she said.

For Fernandez, that money gives her not only security, but more choices for the future. She loves to travel and enjoy art and theater and looks forward to having more time for those things in retirement, along with the financial freedom to continue enjoying them.

“I think it will definitely help financially to be more at ease,” she said.

Looking back, Fernandez is proud of the savings she has built and appreciates the additional contribution P&G makes through the Company match. To her, that match feels personal.

“It’s my work, my salary, so it’s my money at the end of the day,” she said. “But the Company is saying, ‘Thank you, Mercedes. I’m giving you something extra on top.’”

P&G does well, she knows that reflects the work of employees across the company, including her own.

“It’s also my company,” she said. “I’m contributing to this.”

Building the Independence His Mother Inspired

Growing up, Marc Payton didn’t realize just how hard his mother was working to give him and his brother the life they had.

A kindergarten teacher and single mom, she worked school camps during breaks and tutored after school. Payton remembers tagging along to tutoring sessions and doing his homework while she worked. At the time, the long hours simply felt normal.

It wasn’t until he was older that Payton understood how much she had sacrificed. And that realization helped shape the way he thought about money. He wanted to be able to take care of himself, rather than be another financial responsibility for his mom. Someday, he hoped to be in a position to help her, too.

As he got older, Payton worked during college and was careful with his money, but he was mostly saving for things he wanted, not investing for his future.

That began to change during his MBA program, when he took a personal finance class. One piece of advice from his professor stuck with him: “It doesn’t matter how small, just start.”

So Payton did. Around 2013, he opened an investment account and began putting away about $50 a month, an amount that felt manageable at the time.

Payton joined P&G a short time later and today is an HR leader supporting Global Business Services. Early in his P&G career, a group was hosting a Money Talks workshop focused on building wealth, and he decided to attend.

The session introduced him to new ideas about investing, including the importance of diversification. For Payton, it was another step in learning how to build financial wellbeing for the long term.

As his career and income grew, Payton continued to increase the amount he set aside as he was able. Over time, a small first step became a consistent habit of investing for his future.

But Payton doesn’t believe planning for the future means putting life on hold today. His approach at this stage is straightforward. He takes care of the essentials first, sets aside some money to enjoy life and puts much of the rest toward the future. That balance allows him to enjoy experiences like a planned trip to Japan with a friend while still staying on track with his financial goals.

His advice to others is much the same as the advice that got him started: Start with an amount that feels comfortable and make it a habit.

“The important part is starting and sticking to it,” he said. “Is that $5 or $500? The important part is starting.”

For Payton, that habit created the independence he wanted when he was younger. It also put him in a position to be there for his mother, just as she had always been there for him.

“We’re at the point where we can say, ‘Mom, you don’t have to worry about anything’,” he said. “‘You can do whatever you want to with your time now.’”

For Payton, that may be the greatest return on his investment.

The Wake-Up Call That Changed His Financial Future

Bertrand Foissey had a front-row seat as someone close to him faced a financial crisis.

After years of building a successful career and earning a good income, the man lost his job in his late 50s with little financial security to fall back on. Foissey opened his home to him for several months and helped him through the difficult period.

The experience stayed with Foissey. Someone who had seemingly done well financially was suddenly vulnerable when circumstances changed.

“It was a powerful reminder that a good income alone does not guarantee long-term financial well-being,” Foissey said.

He decided to take greater ownership of his own financial future, educating himself about personal finance and building habits that could provide greater security and freedom over time.

Foissey’s interest in personal finance grew into a passion. He continued to learn, developing a simple philosophy that still guides him today.

“Live below your means, invest consistently and think long term,” he said.

For Foissey, who is now a leader in P&G’s Fabric & Home Care business, that means being thoughtful about spending and avoiding the temptation to spend more as his income increases over time. He invests automatically each month and continues to build his financial knowledge through books, newsletters and podcasts.

P&G has added to that education. Bertrand has learned from colleagues who openly share their financial knowledge and has found Company resources helpful in building his understanding of long-term financial planning.

For Foissey, building financial wellbeing doesn’t require extraordinary expertise or a high income. What matters more is developing consistent habits and giving them time to work.

He believes the most important step is also the simplest.

“Start now,” he said.

Even a small amount invested consistently can grow over time, he said, and starting earlier gives that money more time to work. Just as important is building a habit you can sustain.

“The best financial plan is not the perfect one,” Foissey said. “It’s the one you actually start and stick to.”

Witnessing a painful financial crisis years ago shaped the way Bertrand thinks about money. For him, financial wellbeing is ultimately about building greater resilience and freedom for the future.

Learn more about how P&G supports employees’ total wellbeing.