Findependence Day

Given that I am not financially savvy, I found Chevreau's book both very informative and entertaining. He has a great way of intertwining a fun story with invaluable financial information. If you invite me to a financial seminar, I am most unlikely to go but who needs to when so much information which is so needed now, is right there in Findependence? As well, as an avid bridge teacher, author and founder of the largest online bridge school [...], I love the character who seems to be able to manage a triple squeeze without batting an eyelash. And there is even a love story for the faint of heart. Who could ask for more? Bravo!

On any day of the week you will probably discover that another self-help non-fiction book has just been released concerning money management and financial planning. You will also notice that most contain the same information with a slightly different twist. However, very rarely would you see a work of fiction dealing with the same topic but presented in a way that is easily digestible and palatable. Such, however, is the case of Jonathan Chevreau's uncomplicated Findependence Day. Jamie and Sheena Morelli, who are both twenty-eight, are in debt up to their eyeballs and they decide to participate in the television reality show Debt March. Their hope is that they will learn something from this experience that will help get out of their financial mess that at present has them bogged down in debt totalling over forty thousand dollars. The first shock the couple experience is when the host of the show Didi Quinlan reaches for a large pair of scissors and asks the couple to cut up their credit cards or she will do it for them. At this point, Sheena is devastated that her precious cards have to go and furthermore both are sternly told by Quinlan that they must stop spending and start saving. Two words, which will be their map to financial security, are hammered home, guerrilla frugality. The Morelli's and the audience are informed that they are very much similar to other couples that earn too little and spend too much. Moreover, they haven't the foggiest idea as how much they spend on daily lunches, lottery tickets, booze, junk food, candy, and cigarettes, all of which prevent them from paying off their credit cards. At this point in the show, Quinlan introduces us to Theodoris Konstantin, a savvy financial planner who agrees with her that the Morelli's are typical of many young couples that succumb to the lure of easy credit and instant gratification. However, Konstantin assures the couple that there is still hope for them provided they follow a disciplined path to financial independence for the next twenty to thirty years. As pointed out, financial independence is what we should all strive for, which in French translates as, fin-dépendence or end dependence. After a bit of reflection, Jaime vows that he would like to reach this goal in twenty- two years when he attains the age of fifty. At this time in his life he will not be obliged to work and if he does continue to work, it will because he wishes to do it. The remainder of the novel takes us on a rocky ride with Jaime and Sheena as they learn all about the different elements of financial planning including, investments, insurance, real estate and home purchasing, retirement savings plans, stocks, bonds, different kinds of mortgages, amortization schedules, exchange traded funds (ETFS), real estate investment trusts (REITS), importance of wills and estate planning, investing as differentiated from gambling, and tax implications of their investments. Jaime also discovers that he needs to have som

Jon has worked as the personal finance columnist for the Financial Post since 1996. I was pleasantly surprised by the compelling story based on a young couple's debt ridden journey towards financial independence, personal happiness and peace of mind.