2025 Newsletter — Volume 4

Empower yourself to invest with confidence¹

Investing often seems complex and risky — but it's also one of the most effective ways to grow your wealth over time. That combination can feel both confusing and intimidating.

The good news is that you don't need to have all the answers to start your investment journey. Feel encouraged to take your first steps by:

• Make investing feel less risky: An option to ease that fear is to spread your money across various types of investments.
• Focus on the long term: It's about creating something that grows alongside you — gradually and consistently. Keep in mind that short-term fluctuations don't determine long-term success. Patience is essential.
• Build confidence: Confidence grows with time, and you don't need all the answers to start. Taking the first step matters most — waiting for the perfect moment may feel safe but can hold back your future growth.

Financial wellness: Practical strategies²

If you want to excel toward a goal, you must put in the work. Financial wellness is no different. It requires lifelong learning, understanding your mindset and habits, facing financial fears, challenging misconceptions and knowing when to seek help.

Here are some tips to implement to build a brighter financial future:

1. Define your goals.

   Goals guide you toward your destination. When creating goals, it's essential that they are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time bound — often called SMART goals.

2. Utilize basic techniques.

   Any conversation about strategies is incomplete without covering the fundamentals, as consistent practice of these is key to achieving financial wellness. Gaining this insight helps to empower you to make smarter decisions and steer clear of pitfalls.

3. Measure your financial journey.

   Although there are numerous ways to measure your financial well-being, there are three key measurements that are particularly important to view your financial growth.
   • Liquidity ratio: Total cash divided by expenses.
   • Savings rate: Percentage of income that is saved.
   • Net worth: Total assets minus total liabilities.

Considerations on how (and when) to increase your 401(k)³

As the new year approaches, it can be a great time to consider increasing your retirement savings contribution. An increase by just 1% or 2% can have a meaningful impact on your financial readiness for retirement. When you contribute to a 401(k), you're taking important steps toward securing your financial future. But have you considered whether you can save even more? By reducing nonessential expenses or allocating additional income — such as a year-end bonus or a salary increase — toward your retirement, you can increase your contributions without significantly affecting your day-to-day budget.

Although a 1% increase may seem small on your paycheck, over time it can potentially grow substantially in your retirement account, thanks to compound interest. Taking full advantage of your employer's retirement plan now can lead to greater financial stability once you retire, helping you build a more secure and comfortable future.

Remember, even a small boost in your contributions can make a big difference down the road.

Log in to BenefitsForYou to take action today!

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