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My Summit Financial Coach… My Biggest Fan!

August 7, 2024 When I was selected to participate in Project Money, they told me I would work with a financial coach. I was nervous – what if I didn’t feel comfortable talking to someone about my money? In my head, I wasn’t sure if a financial coach would approve of my lifestyle or if by looking at my finances, I would be judged.I was impressed with how Summit Credit Union’s Project Money team took the time to get to know me to be able to assign me the perfect financial coach. They nailed it! Paola Paulino is more than an advisor to me. We share our cultural heritage – she and I speak English and Spanish, and we both know what it means to be part of another culture and how to thrive in both worlds. She understands what is important to me and knows how to support me in my journey. Paola helps me with the behavioral and emotional components of managing money, helping me discover what drives my financial decisions to have better money habits. She is helping me reach my financial goals by teaching me money management skills and improving my financial literacy.Paola and I have been working together on the following financial needs:
  • Creating and managing my budget.
  • Defining my financial plan.
  • Understanding my spending habits.
  • Defining my financial goals.
  • Increasing my savings.
  • Understanding the emotional components of managing my money.
  • Learning how to set up an emergency fund.
  • Managing and reducing debt.
  • Planning for my retirement.
  • Having an empowering conversation over coffee… this one is the most helpful!
My journey as a participant in Project Money has been amazing, not only because Summit Credit Union has an incredible team, but also because they want me to succeed and win, and they are giving me the tools and resources to continue financially thriving even after this Project Money season is over. You might also be interested in I am committed to continuously learning about financial strategies, and developing good money habits is essential for long-term financial success. Here... Here are some steps I can take to prepare: 1. Review of my financial goals. I am reflecting on my financial goals for the past year. What did I achieve... It has been challenging to save after the holidays or recuperate the money spent on gifts, hosting parties or traveling. I am trying a few strategic plans... Developing sustainable money habits is essential for managing my finances to ensure financial freedom. Here are some strategies that helped me maintain... This is the holiday season. For me, it is time to visit my family, take a little vacation and relax after a year of working. But it is stressful to think... Reflecting on my financial journey since the beginning of the year, I realize it was full of surprises, challenges and learning experiences about finances... Every holiday season, I travel to my country, Colombia, to visit my family, and I also travel for my birthday during Thanksgiving. At the beginning, I... Keeping up with my financial goals takes time, discipline and ongoing commitment. Here’s how I am building my path toward a more secure financial future... After I started looking closely into my finances, I could analyze my strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities by organizing my money based on my...