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COMMUN i TY & EVENTS
COMMUN i TY SPOTL i GHT The Pink Walk & Fun Run
FEATURE
One of the Most important Memberships: Your Local Credit Union
It’s Time To Check In on Your Financial Fitness.
Your success is our top priority. That’s why our members have access to free financial coaching from our team of certified counselors. We’ll help you identify ways to optimize your financial health so you can hit the ground running toward your goals.
Schedule your FREE check-in today!
Dear Members,
For many of us, the new year reignites our passion for goals, old and new. Whether you’re refocusing on past financial goals or dreaming up new ones, we are here to help you craft a financial fitness plan that fits your life and equip you with practical tools to help you turn those goals into accomplishments.
Letter from the President
Brian McKay PRESIDENT
Worthwhile goals aren’t achieved overnight. Whether they’re physical or financial, reaching your goals takes intentional focus and consistent effort. Just as a gym membership is a critical part of many people's physical fitness, local credit union membership can be one of the most important parts of financial fitness. In this edition, we’ll dive deep into the topic of financial fitness — exploring the connection between Fad Diets & Your Wallet and A Couch to 5K Approach to Finances.
No matter where you are in your financial fitness journey, we’re here to help you find ways to optimize your financial health, strengthen your money management, and speed up your progress toward your goals. From personal check-ins with our “coaches” to reward checking accounts and competitive loan programs that strengthen your financial base, Spero offers a wide array of tools and resources to power your training plan.
As your credit union, we’re here to help you get your finances in shape in the new year. We look forward to partnering with you to help achieve your goals!
I appreciate you!
No Pain, All Gain.
Get Your Finances into Shape With
Enjoy a no-fee account that pays you for staying active with smart spending. Simply meet three monthly qualifiers to earn 5.00% APY* on balances up to $15,000 — along with other great rewards! Plus, you can add a Kasasa Savings Account to earn 2.50% APY* on balances up to $100,000!
KASASA CASH ® CHECK i NG Open your account today!
To qualify for rewards each month:
Make 12 debit card transactions of $5 or greater Enroll in and agree to exclusively receive eStatements Receive one direct deposit or perform an ACH transaction
Insured by NCUA. Membership required. *Annual Percentage Yield (“APY”) is valid as of 01/06/2025 and is subject to change without notice. The Monthly Qualification Cycle (“Cycle”) begins at 12:01 am on the last day of the month and ends at midnight of the second to last day of the following month. The Minimum Service Requirements (“MSR”) include: 1) make 12 debit card point-of-sale purchases of $5.00 or greater that are posted to your Kasasa Cash account during the cycle; 2) have one direct deposit to OR an electronic debit or credit (ACH) post to your Kasasa Cash account during the cycle; and 3) exclusively receive your monthly statements electronically (e-statements). This account is a tiered rate account. Dividends are calculated based on the Average Daily Balance. APY of 5.00% applies to balances up to $15,000 in the Kasasa Cash account, and APY of 2.50% applies to balances up to $100,000 in the Kasasa Saving account, if the MSR are met during the cycle. If you do not meet all the MSR during the cycle, an APY of 0.05% will apply to the entire balance in your account. Transfers between accounts do not count as qualifying transactions. The dividend period begins on the first calendar day of the month and ends on the last calendar day of the month. Kasasa accounts are limited to one each per primary account holder’s social security number. Available only for personal accounts.
The Pink Walk & Fun Run
MAKING A DIFFERENCE TOGETHER— that’s what The Pink Walk has always been about. From the very first walk, the purpose has always been to walk in support of those impacted by cancer and in honor of those we have lost to cancer. Since 2021, Team Spero and members of our communities have gathered on a Saturday in October to do just that. Whether walking in honor of a loved one, a friend, or, in some cases, themselves, participants have honored those who have battled cancer during this annual event.
While The Pink Walk looks a bit different this year, its purpose remains the same. Below, we’ll honor the foundation laid by past events and look forward to the future of The Pink Walk, now known as The Pink Walk & Fun Run! We’ll dive into the heart of the event and the “why” behind it.
Making a Difference Together
It is estimated that roughly 2 million people in the United States will be diagnosed with cancer this year alone. With a number like that, the disease will likely impact all of our lives in one way or another —whether through personal experience or walking alongside someone close to us. The Pink Walk has long been an opportunity to honor the courageous men and women in our lives and in our communities who have fought against cancer— a mission the reimagined Pink Walk & Fun Run will carry on.
Play4Kay Fundraising Initiative
One way we’ve chosen to honor those who have fought against cancer is by joining efforts with Anderson University’s Women’s Basketball Team— a team that raises funds for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund each year. Created in honor of Coach Kay Yow and her fight against breast cancer, Play4Kay and the Kay Yow Cancer Fund work to fulfill Coach Yow’s hope to inspire others to make a difference in the fight that means so much to so many. The fund reaches programs across the country while extending hope to survivors and raising money to aid in the fight against all cancers affecting women.
Since its inception, $8.78 million has been awarded to scientific research grants and programs that are a part of the fight against cancers affecting women. Through Play4Kay, the organization aims to bring communities together to honor cancer warriors, survivors, and thrivers. The Play4Kay initiative allows players, coaches, officials, and fans to make an impact and achieve something greater than wins and losses in competition. Over 1,000 schools participate in Play4Kay, directly contributing to the almost $9 million in fundraising, with Anderson University Women’s Basketball raising $16,000 in 2022 alone!
Reimagined for 2025
Inspired by the event’s original purpose and our desire to make a difference, The Pink Walk has received a reimagined look for 2025. In years past, the event has always featured a free walk as the main event. Looking toward the future, we determined that shifting to the Pink Walk & Fun Run model will be instrumental in fundraising efforts, pushing us forward as we look to make an even bigger difference together! With a primary focus on honoring and remembering those around us in their fight against cancer, we wanted to ensure we are moving the needle forward in the fight against cancer. While funding for research makes a physical impact on the institutions that receive it, it also provides hope for everyone involved — those who can give joyfully and those blessed to receive humbly.
With this in mind, event registration and sponsorships are integrated into the 2025 Pink Walk & Fun Run. The proceeds from the event will go directly to Play4Kay and eventually become grant funds for hospitals and institutions actively fighting cancers of all kinds. With millions of dollars already given to research, we hope that the Pink Walk & Fun Run becomes a way for all of us to remember those who have fought and to join in the fight against cancers affecting women.
Make plans to join us for the 2025 Pink Walk & Fun Run, which will take place on February 1st in Anderson, South Carolina. We invite you to participate in the opening and closing programs as we honor and remember those close to us. We also encourage you to walk or run with us as we raise funds to aid in the fight against the disease. For more information, visit our event page!
Your Local Credit Union
One of the Most important Memberships
IT SEEMS LIKE everyone loves talking about physical fitness — especially when a new year rolls around.
From the latest diet trends to the newest workouts and training apps, we’re constantly looking for ways to get in shape.
What if we took our financial health just as seriously?
While running on a treadmill and tracking our meals won’t do much to boost our economic health, there are plenty of other tools we can use to stay financially fit. Think of them as workout equipment for our wallets.
Why Membership Matters
Our bodies can tell a difference when we consistently go to the gym. In the same way, you’ll likely notice some positive changes to your financial health when you join a credit union. Your membership gives you access to programs and resources that can help you become financially strong — such as savings accounts, lower loan rates, and financial education resources.
When looking for a gym, we’ll probably evaluate the available equipment and training options to determine if they meet our needs. The same goes for joining a credit union. Every credit union differs slightly, from member service and account offerings to membership perks. You need a credit union that takes time to understand where you are on your journey to financial health and offers the resources you need to succeed. As a member of Spero, our goal is to do just that.
Strengthening Your Financial Health
So, what does it mean to be financially healthy? The answer may differ from person to person and situation to situation. One simple answer is living comfortably within our means and paying for our current expenses while saving for future ones.
Building financial strength takes repetition and good habits. Like physical training, small, consistent actions — such as saving a portion of your paycheck each month or making your credit card payments on time — will help you get stronger over time.
We all experience setbacks from time to time and have to adjust accordingly, but what matters is that we can adapt and keep pushing forward. As your needs and goals change, the guidance and support of financial experts can go a long way. That’s where Spero Financial comes in.
Spero: Your Financial Coach
As a Spero Financial member, you get access to a team of experts dedicated to helping you become financially healthy. To start your journey to financial fitness, here are a few tips from your personal trainers at Spero:
create a plan and stick to it
Just like physical fitness, financial fitness requires a plan. Start by setting specific, achievable goals and use those to guide your plan. Then, identify smaller steps toward specific targets or milestones. No matter what steps you choose, remember that consistency is key.
02 03
cut back on debt
Debt can be a huge obstacle to financial strength and stability. Not only does it keep you from putting money toward other goals, but it also can damage your credit score. Identify all your debts and organize them based on interest rates, then choose a repayment method to follow. Whether it’s the snowball method (paying off smaller debts and working your way up), the avalanche method (paying off debts with high interest rates first), or consolidating your debt, consistent focus is the key to progress.
build up your savings
Whether you’re saving for emergencies, retirement, a dream vacation, or all of the above, regular contributions to a savings account make all the difference when preparing for a big purchase or future expenses. Whatever your goals, we’ll help you find a savings account that’s right for you.
The journey to financial health looks different for everyone. At Spero, we care about each of our members. That’s why we take the time to understand your individual needs and goals. As a Spero member, you have access to free financial coaching from our team of certified counselors. Schedule your financial check-in today at spero.financial/financialcoaching. Together, we can craft a personalized training plan to help you get your finances into shape.
Don’t Let Debt Slow You Down
Is debt dragging you down? Lighten your load by consolidating your debt with a Spero Personal Loan. With competitive rates, same-day funding1, and a convenient online application, you’ll be equipped to cross the finish line to greater financial freedom and success.
Success Doesn’t Happen Overnight
For many of us, at least one of our New Year’s resolutions revolves around our health: cutting back on carbs, working out four days a week, losing a little weight, or something along those lines. But health goes beyond our physical fitness; it applies to our finances, too! Many of us likely set some financial goals going into the new year, such as saving for a big trip, buying a home, or getting debt-free.
In an ideal world, becoming financially stable would be easy. However, like physical fitness, financial health requires patience, consistency, and intentionality to achieve results. And it all starts with setting financial goals for ourselves.
Setting Your Financial Goals
Without a clear, meaningful objective to work toward, it can be easy to become distracted or complacent — which is why setting financial goals is so important. No matter where we are on our financial journey, there will always be ways to grow and improve our financial health.
We recommend starting each year with some financial planning. This is the perfect time to review current goals, add new ones, and evaluate progress from the previous year. As a good rule of thumb, every goal should be SMART: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-based.
Your financial plan should include long-term and short-term goals, but the specifics of those goals are entirely up to you! Ultimately, your financial goals should be tailored to you and your current finances, not based on the opinions and appearances of those around you.
The Value of Good Spending Habits
As with physical fitness, consistent effort is the key to improving our financial fitness. In addition to repping weights, try repping good spending habits, too! For example, if you feel the urge to make an impulse purchase, take time to step away and think about it first. In many cases, an extra day or two gives you the perspective you need to avoid making a bad financial decision or incurring unnecessary debt.
Most importantly, make a plan! Planning how you spend and save will help you be more aware of your finances. Start by determining how much money comes in and goes out each month, and then build your budget around that. Then, pay attention to how you use your money and adjust as needed until you’ve set a realistic budget.
Ultimately, your financial goals should be tailored to you and your current finances, not based on the opinions and appearances of those around you.
it’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint
While being motivated to reach our goals isn’t bad, it’s important to remember that the result often matters more than how quickly we achieve it. Here are a few ways to increase your financial stamina as you race toward your goals:
1 | start with a long - term mindset
When setting and working toward your financial goals, keep the bigger picture in mind. How will your choices today affect you later? Buying those new shoes or treating yourself to takeout when you still have food in the fridge may feel good at the moment, but it helps to consider whether they will get you closer to your future goals.
2 | set a sustainable
pace
If you try to sprint a marathon, you will run out of energy long before you finish. Similarly, overcommitting to your financial goals can lead to increased stress and early burnout. Instead of biting off more than you can chew, set achievable savings goals, create a manageable budget, and follow a realistic debt repayment plan.
3 | celebrate small victories
The final result isn’t the only thing that matters. Every step you take toward your goal is a little victory. Small wins now can lead to bigger victories down the road, so celebrate each one and use them as motivation to keep moving.
4 | stay focused on the finish line
When you start any race, you know that a finish line waits at the end, whether you can see it or not. The same goes for your financial goals! Your end goal may feel far away, but if you focus on making consistent progress every day, you will eventually cross the finish line with your hands held high!
Healthy habits take time to form, so be patient with yourself as you work toward your financial goals. There will be setbacks, but there will also be wins. Just take everything in stride and continue pushing forward. We promise it will be worth it in the end!
A Couch to 5K Approach to Finances
The Couch-to-5K training plan is an approach to running that breaks down the steps to help people move from a sedentary lifestyle to completing a 5K within a set timeframe. Essentially, the program takes someone with no running experience — a complete beginner — to someone able to run 3.1 miles. Through gradual advancements, the program moves from workouts that blend walking and jogging to workouts of running the entire distance.
In the same way that we use the Couch-to5K approach for our physical health, we can implement a similar program within our financial health journey, taking us from beginner level to flexing our financial muscles in no time! By following a gradual program for our financial goals, we will set ourselves up to make consistent progress that leads to long-term success.
Creating Your Program
One of the best things about typical Couch-to-5K programs is their adaptable structure. They allow you to change the program based on where you’re starting, your training capacity, and how fast you want to reach the ultimate goal. Flexibility and customization can carry over into your financial fitness journey. Financial situations and goals aren’t one-size-fits-all, so the steps we take along the way often look different, too.
To create your financial fitness program, follow these 4 simple steps
01 02 03 04
determine your “ 5 k ”
Step one in creating your financial fitness program is determining the end goal. Just like Couch-to-5K programs focus on running a 5K, your financial fitness program needs to focus on a goal you want to accomplish. Otherwise, the small steps you plan won’t lead to anything worthwhile.
The beauty of creating your own program is that you can identify your financial goals and figure out a training plan that works best for you. Whether you’re working to become debt-free, building your savings, or making a significant purchase, you can create a plan that fits your life.
determine your pace
The second step is to determine your pace and set a timeline for your training. Many Couch-to-5K programs set a certain number of weeks for their programming. Whether you choose eight weeks or eight months, determining a timeline for your journey can help propel you toward whatever financial goal you identified in the first step.
figure out your walk ⁄ jog ⁄ run
You can’t expect to take off into a full sprint and run the distance without getting winded. Building endurance is essential in any physical training plan. Your financial fitness journey is no different. Creating sustainable and attainable steps within your financial journey will allow you to make consistent progress without getting burned out after the first mile. In creating your personal financial fitness program, create smaller goals along the way to working toward your big goal(s). This will help you feel like you’re making steady progress.
make it happen
Creating the program is one thing; following through with it is another. Getting started can be the most challenging part! While building the program is essential, the most impactful part is choosing to make it happen by dedicating yourself to doing whatever it takes.
While this can feel intimidating, remember that you have built a program that is tailored to you. As you walk through it week by week and month by month, you can always make changes and adjustments that align with your financial fitness goals. Remember — progress is more important than perfection.
While our physical and financial fitness journeys are personal and self-led, we don’t have to go on them alone. Just like personal trainers and accountability partners in the gym, you have access to the same resources within your financial journey. Our team of Certified Financial Counselors is here to coach you and cheer you on as you pursue your financial goal!
Schedule a time to meet with one today.
Fad Diets & Your Wallet What’s Trending
Quick fixes are always tempting, aren’t they? Whether for our physical fitness, financial health, or anything in between, it would be nice to have an easy solution to our challenges. While we often see promises of quick fixes, what’s on the surface doesn’t always represent the whole truth. Those ads that lead with “lose 10 pounds in 10 days” or “get rich quick with this simple trick” make big promises but usually fall short.
Fad diets and fad financial strategies have a lot in common. They offer the too-good-to-be-true promise of fast results. Those results, however, often fail to stick because they require unsustainable approaches to reaching your goals. In most instances, you end up back where you started.
The Appeal and Problems of the Quick Fix
The appeal of fad diets and quick fixes lies in the promise of immediate gratification. While immediate solutions sound great, they’re often unrealistic and unsustainable. With promises of gaining muscle fast, losing weight quickly, getting rich overnight, or paying off debt at lightning speed, it’s no wonder that so many want to give these gimmicks a try!
SHORT-TERM RESULTS FOR LONG-TERM GOALS
One problem with fad diets and financial strategies is the idea that a short-term fix will help a long-term goal. While they may promise to help you shed pounds quickly or boost your income, the second you stop using the diet or strategy, you end up back where you began — or, in some cases, even worse off. Any shortcut to a goal has unintended side effects.
UNSUSTA i NABLE PATHS
Most fad diets consist of extreme practices that are impossible to maintain. This is why most nutrition experts suggest implementing small, sustainable changes to your current lifestyle. Similarly, some financial shortcuts suggest unsustainable methods to achieve the goal. Quick fixes like skimping on essentials or making risky investments can negatively impact your quality of life and even put you in a worse financial position.
if Fad Fixes Don't Work, What Does?
Looking for a good alternative to quick fixes? Consistent, intentional, and sustainable changes that foster positive habit changes might be the answer. But what does this approach look like?
SETT i NG REAL i ST i C GOALS
Whether you want to build wealth, pay down debt, or accomplish any other financial goal, it's vital to create realistic goals for your current financial journey. This includes a realistic timeline of expectations for when you will reach your objectives.
MAKE SUSTA i NABLE PROGRESS
Just as it’s important to set realistic goals, it’s critical to follow a process that includes sustainable practices. Instead of viewing it as one huge goal you have to tackle, consider breaking it down and recognizing the small, consistent actions you’re taking that will eventually produce the ultimate results you want. This approach requires a commitment to the journey and patience along the way, as long-term success isn’t always obvious as you’re working toward it.
While it can be tempting to go for immediate results and quick fixes, long-term results and worthwhile change require commitment and patience. Just as sustainable nutrition and fitness habits foster a healthy lifestyle, disciplined financial practices lead to financial health. Take the time to build smart, lasting financial habits instead of chasing a quick fix. By doing so, you’ll live a healthier and wealthier life!
