Join our participants as they reduce debt and increase savings with the help of Summit financial coaches.
Join our participants as they reduce debt and increase savings with the help of Summit financial coaches.
Meet the season 15 Teams
Hannah
Along with a full-time job helping families impacted by community violence find housing and services, Hannah works part-time on evenings and weekends and is raising her four godchildren, ages 5-16. She hopes Project Money gives her knowledge to take a proactive approach to money vs. learning through difficult experiences.
Q: What’s the value of getting to work with a Summit financial coach?
A: Since my promotion, I know what it’s like to earn more but it makes me want to spend more. Having a coach to guide me and to bounce ideas around is a huge advantage over making decisions on my own that I “think” are best.
Q: What would reducing debt and increasing savings help you accomplish?
A: I’d be able to move to a bigger home, which we need, or take a stress-free vacation. It would also help get in a good position for my goal of retiring before I’m 60.
Q: What do you wish you knew more about when it comes to finances?
A: Credit – like what impacts credit, how do things end up on your credit score, good vs. bad credit, how do medical bills show up, etc. I think I’m good at saving but I want to understand all the numbers and the interest rate side better.
Q: What does financial freedom and financial confidence look like to you?
A: Where I’m saving and also spending money on things I want to do, and smaller amounts of money don’t feel like so much. My mom and grandparents have been generous in giving to me and the kids for holidays, and I want to be able to do things like that or to donate $50 worry-free.
Q: Fun fact about you?
A: The kids and I run to a lot of activities including track, baseball/softball, wrestling, swimming lessons and football/cheer! I want them to see through Project Money that working hard toward an end goal together can lead to the reward of having money to do fun things later.
We’re excited to see all you accomplish, Hannah!
Hannah's Journey
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Diana & Greg
Diana, a marketing business owner active in local tourism and property management, and Greg, a newly retired master carpenter, are looking to Project Money to shift their mindset from “wants” to “needs” to make sustainable financial decisions.
Q: Why did you apply for Project Money?
A: We’ve had some financial setbacks this last year or so. Summit has great member success stories (and is the only financial institution we know that offers something like Project Money!), and we want to be that feel-good story to inspire others too.
Q: What’s the value of getting to work with a Summit financial coach?
A: Knowing we have a partner guiding us in this journey will keep us more disciplined and accountable. It will be a relief to have someone give us a plan and the best ways to execute it, like “Here’s your financial recipe to follow.”
Q: What would reducing debt and increasing savings help you accomplish?
A: Right before Greg retired, the government said they’d overpaid his Social Security by $19,000 and suspended it for a year! We had to lean on credit cards, and we hope getting things back on track will help us get our credit score back up, pay off our mortgage faster and have more money to invest.
Q: What does financial freedom and financial confidence look like to you?
A: We like to have fun! We want to get to a place where we’re not spending time or mental capacity worrying about things like how going to eat with our friends will affect what we can buy for groceries. We also want to be able to give back more to our church and other non-profits we’re passionate about.
Q: Fun fact about you?
A: We’re remodeling our house so we can sell it and move to Lake of the Ozarks. Hopefully, through Project Money, we’ll be able to pay off our home equity line of credit and mortgage faster and get to Missouri sooner!
We’re excited to see what’s ahead, Diana and Greg!
Diana and Greg's Journey
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As we take this Project Money journey, we sometimes reflect on things our parents would have said: Put 10% of your earnings in a savings account, 10% to tithing, and live off the 80%. You know, at the time it seemed odd. We were young, and we wanted it ALL. Moving forward, how right they were.
Thankfully Greg and I found Project Money. Did we have financial struggles before? Of course, we all do. Yet, for the FIRST time, Greg and I see beautiful blue skies. And thanks to the team at the Beaver Dam Summit, James and Paula, we are on the journey of a lifetime.
Kelly & Travis
Kelly supervises an outbound driving team and Travis is a long-haul truck driver, while also keeping things moving at home with their 18-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son. They always thought if they worked harder, they’d do better, and now they’d like Project Money to help make their money work for them!
Q: Why did you apply for Project Money?
A: We believe Project Money can get us on a path to our current big money goals: Giving our daughter the support she needs as she heads to college this fall and making it possible for Travis to come off the road and work locally so he can enjoy more family time.
Q: What’s the value of getting to work with a Summit financial coach?
A: Learning new ways to reach our financial goals and making new choices and habits that we’re held accountable for. We want to be good financial role models for our children and take a team approach – right now, we’re more like two individuals working together, money-wise.
Q: What do you wish you knew more about when it comes to finances?
A: Having more of a savings plan for retirement and understanding the investing part and what’s affordable for us. We used funds from Travis’ retirement to buy a house and we feel like no matter how much money we make, it’s not enough to substantially save long-term.
Q: What does financial freedom and financial confidence look like to you?
A: Not living paycheck to paycheck and having a savings safety net. We just want to know money’s there so we can do things as a family or couple, like go on vacation somewhere other than Wisconsin. We work hard but all the best memories are when you’re really living life beyond just work.
Q: Fun fact about you?
A: Our family is a fan of Formula One racing, and it would be a dream come true to attend a race in person, either by traveling to Las Vegas or Austria.
We’re excited to see where you go from here, Kelly and Travis!
Kelly and Travis' Journey
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Steph
Steph is as an Interventional Radiologic Technologist who enjoys free time with her dog, Willow, and her craft beer group, as well as hiking and camping. She’s excited to imagine herself one year from now – on a path to a new financial direction and a healthier mind, body and spirit after Project Money.
Q: What’s the value of getting to work with a Summit financial coach?
A: My main challenge with money has been not having the knowledge – not knowing the best way to budget and pay off debts, or other ways to get ahead. Being mentored by someone with financial expertise is something I’ve been looking for.
Q: What would reducing debt and increasing savings help you accomplish?
A: It would help me feel financially secure again. And it would free up money so I could buy more income properties and make safe, affordable housing available, which is a big passion of mine.
Q: What do you wish you knew more about when it comes to finances?
A: How to properly invest. I want to retire around age 55-60 but having enough money for retirement’s always scared me. I also eventually want to run my own income property business, so I’m looking for insights on where to start with that.
Q: What does financial freedom and financial confidence look like to you?
A: Being able to let go of a breath I’ve been holding for a long time and really feeling like I have enough money, with extra leftover after I pay bills. I’d still be diligent about my money, just more emotionally free to do things.
Q: Fun fact about you?
A: I’ve learned a lot from my dad about how to fix things. We remodeled my kitchen together, and I updated my bathroom and my tenants’ bathroom on my own, plus put in a patio and fence. I enjoy learning new skills and think that will really help me learn financial skills in this experience.
We’re excited to watch your journey to your goals, Steph!
Steph's Journey
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