If you’re planning to make 2025 a big year with a major purchase or paying off debt, you probably have a lot of different things to think about when it comes to your finances. No matter if you’re a teenager opening your first account or a future homeowner trying to maximize every saved dollar, everyone can benefit from getting a professional’s opinion on your financial path. That’s where a credit union like Ascend can help.

As not-for-profit, member-owned financial institutions, credit unions are driven by the success of their members. With that mission in mind, credit unions are uniquely positioned to offer personalized services to their members that are tailored to help them succeed financially, including educational and planning resources. Here are a few you should consider to make sure you’re on the right path:

Financial Health Checkup
Ascend offers its members free Financial Health Checkups with Certified Credit Union Financial Counselors who are there to make sure you’re steering the correct course to meet your goals. It doesn’t matter what stage of your financial path you’re on, either. They’ll go over your budget or help you create one, analyze any debt you have and how you can best manage it, and help with your savings strategies.

Members can schedule an in-person or virtual appointment for a Financial Health Checkup at ascend.org or by visiting any of our 28 Middle Tennessee branches.

Stay on Course
Once you have a plan in place, you need to track your progress to make sure you’re staying on course. Ascend makes it easy with our digital banking platform, where you can view your account balances, create account alerts, set up recurring payments or automatic bill pay, deposit checks, and more from anywhere. Also included in Ascend digital banking is SavvyMoney, our free credit monitoring tool that helps you analyze your credit, set customized alerts, and more — all without impacting your credit score.

Always a Good Time for a Review
It doesn’t matter what stage of life or financial plan you’re on — any time is a good time for a financial review to make sure you’re following the correct path. By setting a clear way forward and being disciplined, you can find financial success and reach your goals.