Your Atrium Health Benefits & Career: Financial Planning for Employees and Executives

Do you work at Atrium Health? Get the resources you need and expert insights from financial professionals who specialize in helping Atrium Health employees make the most of their compensation package and benefits.

Whether you’re a new Atrium Health employee or you’ve moved up the ranks into a management or executive leadership role over a multi-year career, it’s important to make smart money moves with your income and employee benefits. For example:

✅ Do you know the right moves to make to get the greatest value from the Atrium Health benefits available to you?

✅If you’re thinking about leaving Atrium Health for another job or planning to retire from the company in a few years, are you taking the right steps today to ensure you will receive all of the compensation and benefits that you’ve earned?

Get the Most Value from Your Atrium Health Benefits and Compensation Package

Throughout the year, Atrium Health provides its employees and executives with updates about their benefits ranging from health insurance and health savings plans to retirement plans like a 401(k), deferred compensation plans, and stock options. While the company offers many useful resources and access to knowledgeable staff who can assist with questions, you’ll also find financial professionals not affiliated with Atrium Health who specialize in helping Atrium Health employees make the most of their income and benefits.

Whether you work in the Atrium Health headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina, another regional facility, or remotely from home, you may have questions about your compensation package and benefits better suited for a financial professional who can offer unbiased advice and guidance.

For example, sensitive topics like discussing the steps you should take before quitting your job at Atrium Health to work elsewhere, protecting yourself in advance of a layoff, or deciding when you should plan to retire are all conversations that may be more comfortable with a trusted financial advisor.

💡 In the Q&A below, you’ll gain insights from financial advisors who work with Atrium Health employees to help them make smart decisions to get the most value from their compensation and benefits, reduce their money stress, and prepare for a comfortable retirement.

🙋‍♀️ Do you have questions not yet answered? Use the form below to submit questions anonymously and watch this article for updates with answers to your questions. You can also reach out to the financial advisors below to set up an introductory call or contact them with your questions by email.

💸 Smart Money Insights for Atrium Health Employees & Executives

This page is organized into sections to help you quickly find the information you need and get answers to your questions:

1. Q&A: Financial Planning Tips for Atrium Health Employees & Executives
2. Get Answers to Your Questions About Your Atrium Health Benefits and Career
3. Browse Related Articles

Q&A: Financial Planning Tips for Atrium Health Employees & Executives

Answers to Employee Questions with Nicholas St.George, CFP®, CRPC®, CPFA, BFA

Nicholas St.George is a financial advisor based in Stanley, North Carolina who specializes in offering financial planning services to Atrium Health employees. Nicholas helps his clients get the most value from their Atrium Health benefits and compensation package so they can enjoy life and feel confident about their financial future.

Q: As a financial advisor with experience helping Atrium Health employees save for their retirement, how do you help them make the most of their employee benefits?

Nicholas: The retirement benefits at Atrium Health are excellent yet most employees fail to obtain their complete value because they find the options confusing and the paperwork complicated and their lives too busy. My main objective is to confirm that all employees obtain their full retirement benefits and benefits.

Here’s how I help:

1. The current 401(k) match and contribution strategy requires optimization to achieve its highest possible value. Research shows that employees incorrectly assume their entire match contribution but studies reveal the opposite reality. You can determine your contribution levels by evaluating three vital elements.

• Your current age and your planned retirement date
• Your eligibility status for catch-up contribution rules
• Your financial situation should not require you to decrease your savings amount.

2. The decision between traditional and Roth contribution options needs evaluation.

The selection between traditional and Roth contributions at Atrium depends on your current tax situation. I will help you decide between Traditional and Roth by comparing Traditional’s present tax benefits to Roth’s future tax-free distribution advantages.

3. The 401(k) pension and Social Security benefits need to be coordinated for maximum effect. Most employees lack understanding about how their benefits strengthen when used in combination with each other. The system helps you understand how your pension benefit and 401(k) and Social Security benefits generate stable income throughout your entire life.

4. The system needs optimization to establish a connection between employee payroll and their available benefits. The following optional benefits require evaluation for your benefit package:

• Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Life and disability insurance
• Deferred compensation (for eligible roles)

The HSA stands out as a valuable tool for long-term wealth growth because it functions as a medical retirement savings account when used correctly. The HSA operates as a medical retirement savings account when users use it properly.

5. The process demands that you create tax plans which must span from your working years until your retirement period. Your main goal extends past cost reduction because you want to maintain your money at its highest possible value. I assist Atrium Health staff members to:

• The employees should work to reduce their tax expenses throughout their active years of employment.
• The goal should be to reduce Social Security and RMD tax obligations when you retire.
• The right income strategy allows workers to achieve early retirement while securing their financial stability.

6. Simplifying everything

I will create a benefit plan which supports your retirement needs after you provide me with your retirement targets. The system functions with basic terminology which enables users to perform tasks through straightforward actions.

Q: When you first speak with a Atrium Health employee, what questions do you like to ask to better understand their unique circumstances and determine how you can best help them achieve their goals?

Nicholas: The questions I ask in the first conversation with an Atrium Health employee:

1. Lifestyle & Goals (the “why” behind the money)

• What does financial peace mean to you?
• What would your life look like if you could jump forward to the period between 10 to 15 years into the future?
• What specific aspects of retirement make you excited but which retirement elements do you worry about?
• Do you have any specific dreams or important life events which you want your savings to help achieve before your retirement? (Most people don’t want a pile of money — they want freedom, security, or time back. I want to understand that from day one.)

2. Work & Benefits

• Are you taking advantage of your full 401(k) match from Atrium?
• Do you contribute to Roth, Traditional, or a combination?
• Do you currently use the HSA or FSA, and what was the reason behind that choice?
• Do you verify your pension estimate (when eligible) to view the projected amount or do you comprehend its meaning?
• For those who qualify — are you using the Deferred Compensation Plan (457b)?

The assessment reveals hidden employer funds and tax benefits and cost-saving measures which most employees remain unaware of.

3. Taxes (the hidden driver of retirement success)

• Do you feel you’re paying more in taxes than you’d like? You would make tax reduction in retirement your main objective when we create a strategy to reach that goal.
• Do you need help creating a plan to combine Social Security benefits with pension payments and 401(k) distributions for tax optimization during retirement? The pension benefits and 401(k) savings provided to Atrium employees create a tax issue because they do not plan their retirement properly.

4. Family & Responsibilities

• Do you have anyone financially dependent on you now or potentially in the future?
• Are you caring for aging parents — or expecting to at some point?
• What legacy do you want to leave (financial or otherwise)?

The answers provided will help determine estate planning requirements and insurance choices and long-term care planning approaches.

5. Cash Flow & Confidence

• Do you feel like you’re saving enough — too much — or not sure?
• Are there any current debts or expenses which create financial stress?
• How confident are you that you’re on track to retire when you want?

The assessment enables me to link the treatment plan to patient comfort levels instead of concentrating on mathematical computations.

6. Decision Style

• Do you want to learn about specific details or do you prefer to understand the main concepts?
• What specific elements do you use to determine absolute financial option selection requirements?

The process results in a peaceful and strengthening experience instead of producing overwhelming emotions.

By the end of the conversation, I understand:

• What they want life to look like
• Which Atrium benefits they’re using — and which are being overlooked
• Opportunities to reduce taxes now and in retirement
• People struggle to store their money because they either do not have enough funds or they have too much money or they choose wrong investment choices.
• The exact path to help them retire with confidence
• The employee leaves with the impression that.
• “I didn’t understand the full extent of benefits which I could access.”

Q: Is there a particular benefit available to Atrium Health employees you feel isn’t as well utilized or understood by employees as it should be?

Nicholas: Yes — there’s one benefit that consistently flies way under the radar for Atrium Health employees, and it’s arguably one of the most powerful wealth-building tools they have — The Health Savings Account (HSA). People think of it as a “medical spending account.” But when it’s used strategically, it’s actually a triple tax-advantaged retirement account — and most Atrium employees never use it that way.

It’s underutilized because most employees:

• Treat the HSA like a checking account for co-pays and prescriptions
• Don’t realize it can be invested like a 401(k)
• Don’t know unused balances roll over forever
• Don’t know withdrawals in retirement can be tax-free

And, honestly, nobody explains this well during onboarding or open enrollment.

When used properly, the Atrium HSA can become:

• A tax deduction today
• Tax-free growth over time
• Tax-free withdrawals later (for medical expenses in retirement)

It’s the only account in the IRS universe with that triple benefit. Most healthcare professionals retire with higher-than-average medical expenses. So building a tax-free bucket specifically for healthcare needs in retirement can reduce strain on the 401(k), pension, and Social Security benefits. I can help Atrium employees take full advantage of it by walking through:

• Whether the High Deductible Health Plan + HSA makes sense for their situation
• Whether they should max the HSA before maxing the 401(k)
• When to pay medical expenses out-of-pocket and let the HSA grow instead
• How to invest the HSA balance rather than letting it sit in cash

Used correctly, the HSA becomes a retirement powerhouse — not just a medical piggy bank. Most Atrium Health employees are already working hard and saving hard…but they’re leaving a significant tax-efficient wealth-building opportunity sitting right there unused. Helping them unlock the full value of the HSA usually results in one of two reactions:

• “I wish someone had told me this years ago,” or
• “Why doesn’t Atrium explain it like that?”

Either way, the outcome is the same: more tax-free wealth, more retirement confidence, and less financial stress.

Q: Beyond Atrium Health employee benefits for retirement savings, are there other types of benefits offered by the company that you find valuable to discuss with your clients?

Nicholas: Here are the ones I regularly discuss with clients because they’re either misunderstood, underutilized, or flat-out overlooked:

The Health Savings Account (HSA)

Yes, it’s technically a medical benefit — but financially, it’s one of the most powerful tools Atrium offers.

• Triple tax advantage
• Investment growth potential
• Can be used tax-free in retirement for medical expenses

Used strategically, it becomes a stealth retirement account.

Dependent Care FSA

Most employees don’t realize how much taxes they can save on child-care expenses. The Dependent Care FSA lets employees pay for:

• Daycare
• After-school care
• Day camps
• Adult dependent care

…using pre-tax dollars, which can save a family hundreds to thousands each year.

Tuition & Education Assistance

Atrium offers generous reimbursement benefits for:

• Professional development
• Advanced degrees
• Nursing school + transition programs
• Continuing education credits

For employees with student loans, this can be a double win — advancing earning potential while reducing future borrowing needs.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

This one gets glossed over, but can be financially life-changing. The EAP provides access to:

• Counseling / mental health support
• Financial and legal consultations
• Caregiving resources for aging parents

Healthcare workers carry massive emotional and financial pressure. When clients use this benefit, it often helps them break costly stress-driven money patterns.

Disability & Life Insurance Options

Many Atrium employees believe “the basic coverage is fine” — until they realize:

• It may not fully cover income needs
• It may not protect bonuses or shift differentials
• It may not be portable if they leave the company

We review whether the benefit is right-sized for their income and family, not just whatever box was checked during onboarding.

Legal Plan / Estate Planning Documents

If offered for the employee’s division, this can help employees:

• Create a will
• Set up POAs
• Start or update a trust

For families and single parents especially, this is one of the biggest “low cost, high impact” planning moves.

The real value isn’t in the benefits — it’s in coordination them. Individually these benefits are good. Used together with a plan, they can:

• Lower taxes now
• Reduce health and caregiving costs later
• Increase career earning power
• Protect family wealth
• Reduce financial stress

Most Atrium employees don’t need to spend more. They need to use what they already have more strategically.

Q: For Atrium Health employees thinking about leaving the company to accept a job elsewhere, what actions do you recommend they take before resigning and shortly thereafter?

Nicholas: These items are easier to access while you’re still inside the system:

1. Download All Final Pay and Benefit Details

You’d be shocked how many people forget this.

Grab copies of:

• Last two pay stubs
• PTO balance / payout confirmation
• 401(k) contribution details
• Pension estimate (if eligible)
• HSA / FSA balances
• Evidence of insurability (life & disability elections)

Once you’re gone, systems change access — and IT does not send love letters.

2. Confirm Vesting Status

Before resigning, verify:

• 401(k) match vesting schedule
• Pension vesting (if applicable)
• Long-term incentive or retention bonus terms
• Walking away 60 days before vesting can cost more than a pay raise.

3. Evaluate Health Benefits Timing

Healthcare coverage doesn’t always end on your last day — sometimes it ends the last day of the month. Knowing that determines whether you need:

• COBRA
• Marketplace coverage
• New-employer coverage start date alignment

Don’t guess — verify.

4. Spend (or Strategize) Flexible Spending Accounts

• FSA funds: usually “use it or lose it” at separation
• HSA funds: yours to keep forever
• If FSA dollars are left, schedule:
• Eye exam / contacts
• Dental work
• Or load up pharmacy basics before the last day

5. Print Your Proof of Employment / Certification Reimbursement

If Atrium reimbursed tuition or certifications, verify whether any repayment requirement exists when you leave. Shortly after resigning, the money decisions that show up fast include:

1. Decide What to Do with the 401(k)

Your options:

• Leave it in the plan (if allowed)
• Roll it to an IRA
• Roll it to the new employer’s plan
• Cash out (usually a very expensive mistake)

The smartest choice depends on fees, investment options, and strategy — not a generic rule.

2. Invest the HSA

You get to keep your HSA forever.

But after you leave, it’s the perfect time to:

• Stop treating it like a checking account
• Start investing it for long-term growth
• That’s how it becomes a tax-free retirement powerhouse.

3. Confirm Life and Disability Insurance Coverage

Many employees don’t realize their group policies were tied to their job.

If someone relies on your income, there needs to be:

• A replacement plan already in place
• Or portable coverage arranged before coverage ends

4. Track PTO Payout and Final Paycheck

If anything looks off — we address it quickly so it doesn’t drag on.

5. Re-run Your Tax Projections

Changing jobs changes:

• Withholdings
• Tax brackets
• Retirement contributions
• Social Security tax limits

Getting this right early prevents surprise tax bills later. Changing jobs can be a massive financial upgrade — if you protect the benefits, tax advantages, and savings you’ve already built. Most people think the risk is the new job not working out. The real risk is losing:

• Vested dollars
• Health coverage timing
• HSA/FSA access
• Pension credit
• Life/disability protection

A 30–45 minute financial check-in before the resignation fixes all of that.

Q: For Atrium Health employees approaching retirement age, how do you recommend they prepare to make the transition from living off their salary to relying upon other sources of income?

Nicholas: The biggest fear employees share with me isn’t “Do I have enough?” — it’s “What happens when the paycheck stops?” That transition from earned income to retirement income can feel intimidating, but with the right steps it becomes predictable and empowering instead of scary. Here’s how I help Atrium employees prepare.

Replace “Income Uncertainty” with a Clear Income Plan

Before retirement, we map out:

• How much monthly income you’ll need to live comfortably
• Which accounts will provide that income (401(k), pension, Social Security, savings, HSA, etc.)
• The order and timing of withdrawals to minimize taxes

The goal is simple: you know exactly where your paycheck is coming from on Day 1 of retirement.

Understand All Retirement Income Sources and How They Work Together

Atrium employees often have more retirement income pieces than they realize:

• 401(k)
• Pension (if eligible)
• Social Security
• HSA balances
• Deferred compensation (for qualifying roles)
• Brokerage or savings accounts

Each has different tax rules. Coordinating them properly:

• Extends the life of your savings
• Reduces taxes over decades
• Smooths out income so retirement feels stable

Create a Social Security Strategy

Don’t just “pick an age.” The right timing depends on:

• Health
• Family longevity
• Whether you’re married
• Pension income
• Tax projections

For many couples, coordinating benefits rather than claiming independently adds six figures in lifetime income.

Test-drive Retirement Before Retiring

I walk clients through a “practice year” while they’re still working:

• Live on your projected retirement income
• Save the excess automatically

You get to feel retirement before you leap into it — and we fine-tune the numbers from real life, not guesswork.

Build Your Retirement Checking Account

This is where the “paycheck replacement” becomes real.

We set up:

• A checking account that receives monthly deposits like a paycheck
• Automated transfers from your savings and investment accounts

Your life stays simple.

Your bills stay predictable.

The financial complexity stays behind the scenes.

Prepare emotionally — not just financially

Healthcare workers often struggle more with the identity shift than the math.

So we talk about:

• How you want to spend your time
• What gives you purpose and fulfillment
• What routines you want to build

A great retirement isn’t just funded — it’s designed.

Make Taxes in Retirement Optional (or Close to It)

Smart planning can dramatically reduce taxes on:

• 401(k) withdrawals
• Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)
• Social Security
• Pension income

Mapping out Roth conversions, HSA strategies, and distribution sequencing can mean tens — or hundreds — of thousands saved over a lifetime.

A successful retirement isn’t about a magic portfolio number. It’s about being able to say with confidence: “I know where my income is coming from, I’m protected from surprises, and I have a plan that supports the lifestyle I want.”

Atrium employees have powerful retirement tools — the key is learning how to turn them into a stable paycheck when the earned income stops.

Q: For Atrium Health employees who have managed their finances on their own to this point, what would you suggest they consider to help them decide if they should begin working with a financial advisor at this stage in their lives?

Nicholas: If you’ve managed your finances on your own up to this point, that’s something to be proud of — most people never get that far. The question isn’t “Can you keep doing this yourself?” It’s usually: “Will doing it yourself still give you the best outcome for the next stage of life?” Here’s what I encourage Atrium employees to think about when making that decision:

1. Has your financial life gotten more complicated than when you started?

Early on, finances are simple: earn → save → invest. But nearing retirement brings new moving parts:

• Pension vs. 401(k) coordination
• Social Security timing
• Taxes on withdrawals
• Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)
• Healthcare / Medicare
• Estate planning

When the risk of a mistake becomes more expensive than the cost of help, that’s a sign it might be time.

2. Are you confident in turning savings into income — not just growing the portfolio?

Accumulating money and using it efficiently are two different skills. Many DIY savers never need an advisor for the growth phase…but need one for:

• Generating predictable lifetime income
• Minimizing taxes
• Protecting against market downturns in retirement

That transition is usually where the most value is won or lost.

3. Do you have someone to double-check your strategy?

You don’t have to hand over the wheel to get value from a financial advisor. Sometimes the decision is as simple as:

• “Do I want a second set of expert eyes to make sure I’m not missing anything?”
• For big financial decisions, peace of mind alone can be priceless.

4. Is managing your finances becoming stressful instead of satisfying?

Many people enjoy managing their money — until:

• The stakes get higher
• The tax rules get confusing
• Or the time required stops fitting their lifestyle

If you’re starting to feel burdened instead of energized, that’s a sign it might be time to delegate.

5. Do you want to protect your spouse or family from future overwhelm?
   Even if one person has always handled the finances, working with an advisor creates:

• A clear roadmap for the surviving spouse
• A point of contact for the family
• A reduced risk of costly mistakes during emotional times

Planning now prevents crisis later.

6. Would working with an advisor help you enjoy retirement more?

For many Atrium employees, the draw isn’t performance — it’s simplicity:

• No more worrying about whether you’re doing it right
• No more tax surprises
• No more decision fatigue

You get your time back, along with confidence and clarity.

If you’re still enjoying managing everything, and you’re confident in your retirement income strategy, tax planning, and risk management — great. Keep going. But if you’re starting to think:

• “I don’t want to make a mistake this close to retirement,”
• “I’d like someone to double-check the plan,” or
• “I want this to be easier going forward”

— then that’s usually the point where partnering with a financial advisor becomes a smart next step. A good advisor doesn’t replace your independence — a good advisor protects it.

Q: What are some of the unique financial planning challenges you commonly see among your clients who are Atrium Health employees and how do you help them overcome these obstacles?

Nicholas: After working with many Atrium Health employees, I’ve noticed that their financial challenges are rarely about not saving enough — they’re typically rooted in the complexity of their benefits, taxes, schedules, and retirement timelines. Here are the most common obstacles and how I help solve them.

1. Balancing a demanding career with proactive financial planning

Healthcare workers take care of everyone else first. Their own financial world usually gets whatever time is left — which isn’t much. How I help: I simplify everything. I help create a coordinated financial plan without adding stress or homework, and I do the heavy lifting so planning fits into their life, not the other way around.

2. Knowing how to coordinate multiple income streams in retirement

Atrium employees often retire with:

• A pension
• A 401(k)
• Social Security
• HSA savings
• Brokerage or bank assets

The challenge isn’t having enough pieces — it’s knowing how to turn them into a predictable paycheck.

How I help: I build a personalized retirement income strategy that shows exactly:

• Which account to draw from first
• How much to withdraw
• How to minimize taxes and extend savings

This turns confusion into clarity — and replaces the paycheck with confidence.

3. Understanding which employee benefits to prioritize

Atrium offers terrific benefits — but they can be overwhelming. A lot of money gets left on the table. Common examples:

• Not maxing the employer match
• Misusing the HSA like a checking account instead of an investment vehicle
• Underinsuring through disability/life benefits
• Leaving Dependent Care FSA dollars unused

Not knowing vesting deadlines before leaving the company How I help: We turn benefits into a strategic advantage — not guesswork. I show clients exactly which benefits matter most for their situation and how to get the maximum value.

4. Protecting against taxes now and later

Many Atrium retirees end up with large pre-tax balances in their 401(k) or pension — which can turn into a “tax bomb” in retirement if not planned for. How I help: I develop a long-term tax strategy that may include:

• Roth contributions
• Roth conversions
• HSA tax-free medical planning
• Strategic Social Security timing
• Withdrawal sequencing

Lower taxes = more retirement income and less financial stress.

5. Supporting aging parents and adult children — while trying to prepare for retirement

It’s common for clients to be in the “sandwich generation” — caring for parents while still supporting kids or grandkids. How I help: I balance generosity with protection. We create:

• Boundaries that don’t derail retirement
• Tax-efficient ways to give financial support
• Plans for caregiving and long-term care costs

This ensures they can support the people they love without sacrificing their own future.

6. Financial uncertainty driven by burnout or identity shift
   

Healthcare employees experience high burnout, and many approach retirement feeling more nervous than excited — not because of the money, but because of the transition. How I help: I guide both sides of retirement: the math and the lifestyle. Together we explore:

• What they want more of in life
• What gives them purpose
• A spending plan that supports joy, not fear
• A great retirement isn’t just funded — it feels fulfilling.

Atrium employees are hardworking and financially responsible — the challenge isn’t motivation. It’s complexity. My job is to take all the moving pieces — benefits, taxes, retirement accounts, family goals, lifestyle dreams — and create a plan that feels:

• Clear
• Predictable
• Stress-free

So they can stop worrying about money and start enjoying the life they’ve worked so hard for.

Q: What questions do you recommend Atrium Health employees ask financial advisors they’re considering hiring to help them decide if they’re a good fit?

Nicholas: “Do you have experience working with healthcare workers or Atrium employees?” Not all advisors understand:

1. The Atrium 401(k) plan

• Pension options
• HSA/FSA strategies
• Benefit vesting rules
• Deferred compensation eligibility
• Social Security coordination with a pension

Experience with your specific employer matters — it can save (or cost) thousands in taxes and missed benefits.

2. “How do you get paid?”

Transparency protects you. Possible answers:

• Fee-only (flat fee or AUM — no commissions)
• Commission-based
• Hybrid

There’s no universally right model — but you should clearly understand who benefits from the recommendations.

3. “Are you a fiduciary 100% of the time?”
   You want a yes, not “sometimes,” “when possible,” or “depends on the account.” A fiduciary is legally obligated to put your interests first.
4. “How will you help me turn my savings into a reliable income in retirement?”
   Lots of advisors focus on growing assets. Fewer know how to:

• Build a retirement paycheck
• Minimize taxes
• Sequence withdrawals
• Protect income during downturns

If they can’t explain their income planning process simply — that’s a problem.

5. “How will you help reduce my taxes over time?”

A great advisor should talk proactively about:

• Roth vs Traditional contributions
• Roth conversions
• Social Security timing
• HSA planning
• Withdrawals sequencing
• Required Minimum Distributions (RMD) strategy

Investing is half the job. Tax planning is the other half.

6. “How will you communicate with me — and how often?”

You want expectations, not vague promises. Ask:

• How many meetings per year
• What happens during market volatility
• How fast they reply to emails / calls

You’ll learn a lot about their service mindset.

7. “Do you build retirement plans that include my spouse/partner?”

Even if one person manages the money, BOTH should:

• Understand the plan
• Know who to call
• Feel confident about retirement

It’s about protecting the household — not just the portfolio.

8. “What happens to me if something happens to you?”

Clients rarely think to ask this — but they should. A professional firm should have:

• A continuity plan
• A licensed backup advisor
• A secure system to protect your financial data

You want support — not uncertainty.

9. “If we start working together, what does the first year look like?”

The answer should be clear and structured, ideally something like:

• Step-by-step planning process
• Clear deliverables
• Ongoing reviews
• Help with taxes, investments, and benefits

If the advisor can’t articulate their process, that’s a red flag. The right advisor for an Atrium employee should:

• Understand healthcare benefits
• Understand how to build a retirement paycheck
• Understand tax strategy — not just investments
• Be proactive, transparent, and easy to communicate with

If an advisor can explain how they add value in plain English — and you feel more confident after the conversation than before — you’re probably in good hands.

Q: Is there anything that comes up frequently in your initial meeting with Atrium Health employees that surprises you?

Nicholas: Honestly, the biggest surprise isn’t about money — it’s about confidence. Most Atrium employees I meet with are saving consistently, working hard, and doing far more right than they give themselves credit for… yet they walk into the first meeting worried they’re behind or that they’ve “messed something up.” And nine times out of ten, what we discover is the opposite:

• They’ve been using their 401(k) well
• They’ve saved more than they think
• They’ve built a pension benefit stronger than they realize
• They’re tracking toward retirement better than they expected

The surprise isn’t their financial situation — it’s how little peace of mind they’ve allowed themselves to feel. Other common surprises that come up early in conversations

1. They don’t realize how powerful their benefits really are

Atrium’s retirement package is excellent — but not always explained well. Many employees are shocked to learn how much they can improve their retirement simply by:

• Using the HSA as an investment vehicle
• Coordinating Social Security with pension income
• Planning 401(k) withdrawals to reduce lifetime taxes

A few small tweaks can move the needle dramatically.

2. They’re saving aggressively — but without a strategy

It’s extremely common to hear: “I’m saving everywhere I can, but I don’t know if it’s right.” They’ll have money in:

• Roth + Traditional
• HSA
• CDs
• Brokerage
• Pension
• 401(k)

…yet still not know how it all translates to income later. Once they see a clear income plan — the stress disappears.

3. They think they need more money — when what they really need is a plan

I’ll often ask: “If you knew you were on track to retire comfortably, would you still want to work as long as you’re planning to?” A surprising number of people say: “No… I just don’t know if I’m OK.” The uncertainty — not the finances — is what keeps them working longer than they want.

Q: For highly compensated Atrium Health employees and executives, are there any special benefits you believe it’s important to take into consideration when preparing their financial plan?

Nicholas: Absolutely — highly compensated Atrium Health employees and executives have access to planning opportunities that can significantly boost long-term wealth if they’re used strategically. The challenge is that these benefits are rarely explained in a way that makes their value obvious, so they often go unused or misused.

Here are the most important ones I emphasize when building a financial plan for higher-income earners at Atrium:

1. The Deferred Compensation Plan (457b)

This is one of the most powerful — and underutilized — planning tools for Atrium executives. It allows eligible employees to:

• Defer income above 401(k) limits
• Reduce taxable income during peak earning years
• Potentially control taxation timing later
• Used properly, it can dramatically reduce current taxes and smooth taxable income in early retirement — especially before Social Security begins.

2. Maximizing “Dual Source” Tax Strategy

High earners can often benefit from using:

• Traditional 401(k) → for current tax reduction
• Roth HSA + Roth 401(k) → as long-term tax-free growth buckets

This builds a tax-diversified retirement income plan — key for executives who risk a large tax bill later due to high pre-tax balances.

3. Supplemental Executive Disability and Life Insurance

Atrium offers enhanced options for many high earners that:

• Cover bonus + shift differential income
• May have favorable pricing compared to individual policies
• Can sometimes be portable after leaving the company

This can help protect income and family wealth more appropriately than the default “basic” coverage.

4. Pension Optimization (if eligible)

Executives often face unique pension decisions:

• Lump sum vs. monthly income
• Spousal protection options
• Impact of early vs. delayed retirement
• Tax implications of each choice

Evaluating these decisions inside a broader income plan — rather than in isolation — can create six-figure differences over a lifetime.

5. Long-Term Incentive / Bonus Structuring

For employees paid through:

• Incentive bonuses
• Retention bonuses
• Performance payouts

We evaluate:

• How they affect tax brackets
• Whether bonuses should be deferred (if available)
• How to match bonus timing with Roth conversion windows

Income timing is just as important as income itself.

6. Executive-level education benefits

If available for the role, these can support:

• MBA / master’s programs
• Leadership certifications
• Advanced clinical training

These don’t just improve income potential — they can provide long-term financial optionality and negotiating power later in a career.

7. Exit strategy planning

High earners have more to lose when they change jobs or retire suddenly. Before leaving Atrium — or even considering it — I typically evaluate:

• Vesting schedules
• Bonus payout dates
• 457b distribution requirements
• Healthcare coverage transitions
• Pension milestone ages
• Non-compete implications

Timing a departure by even 3–6 months can create — or erase — enormous financial value. For most Atrium executives, the biggest opportunity isn’t about earning more — it’s about:

• Keeping more
• Lowering taxes over decades
• Structuring income and benefits to support financial independence earlier

The right plan can turn high income into lasting wealth.

Q: Is there a particularly memorable experience or a moment you recall with a client who worked at Atrium Health when you realized they have unique opportunities and circumstances when it comes to their financial planning needs?

Nicholas: I was sitting with an Atrium employee who had been saving diligently for over 25 years. She had:

• A strong 401(k)
• A pension she’d barely thought about
• An HSA balance that had quietly grown
• A sizable taxable account from side income

She walked in apologizing before we even got started: “I don’t think I’ve done a very good job with this. I’ve just been winging it.” What happened next changed the way I think about financial planning for Atrium employees. We laid out every piece of her financial life on the table — and for the first time, she saw how all the parts connected:

• Her pension was strong enough to cover most of her baseline retirement income
• Her 401(k) could be used strategically — not just tapped randomly
• Her HSA could be invested and used tax-free later for medical costs

Tax planning could significantly reduce the bite from Required Minimum Distributions down the road. It wasn’t that she needed to save more. It was that she needed a plan that translated her benefits into a paycheck. Halfway through the meeting, she got quiet, glanced down at her notes, then looked up and said: “I’ve worked here my whole life and I never realized how much I’ve actually built. I just didn’t know how to turn it into a retirement I could picture. That was the moment it really hit me: Atrium employees aren’t just “people with retirement accounts.” They’re people with layers of benefits that can be incredibly powerful — if someone helps tie them together.

Since that meeting, I’ve made it a priority to help Atrium employees uncover:

• The full value of their pension
• The tax power of their HSA
• Income planning strategies that make retirement feel predictable
• Which benefits to prioritize (and which to ignore)
• How to retire with confidence — not fear

And I’ve seen the same pattern again and again: They’ve worked hard. They’ve saved consistently. They’ve done far more right than they realize. What they’re missing isn’t discipline — it’s clarity.

Get to Know Nicholas St. George, Financial Advisor for Atrium Health Employees:

View Nicholas’s profile page on Wealthtender or visit his website to learn more.

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