The Four Cornerstones of Financial Wellness

Financial well-being isn’t just about numbers — it’s about confidence, clarity and control. At the heart of financial education are four essential building blocks that equip people to make informed decisions and work toward achieving financial stability.

These are known as the Four Cornerstones of Financial Wellness.
Cornerstone one: Budgeting to create savings
Budgeting is the foundation of financial health. It’s more than tracking expenses — it’s creating a plan that aligns with your goals and values. A strong budget helps you set financial goals, learn where your money is going, prioritize slowly building assets, and helps you prepare for unexpected expenses. Think of budgeting as your road map — it guides you toward financial freedom.

Cornerstone two: Debt reduction & asset building
Debt can feel overwhelming, but with the right strategies, it’s manageable. Learning how to reduce debt and avoiding unnecessary borrowing and expenses can transform your financial outlook. The goal isn’t just paying off debt — it’s building habits that prevent future financial stress.

Cornerstone three: Building a good credit rating
Understanding credit is a game-changer for your financial health. Discovering how your credit report and credit score work together, what factors influence your credit score, and why it matters is key to building good credit.

Cornerstone four: Consumer protections & financial institutions
Safeguarding your money is about more than just saving — it’s about staying informed and proactive. Learning how to keep your funds secure, avoiding predatory lending practices that can trap you in cycles of debt, identifying the types of insurance that provide real protection for your needs, and spotting and protecting yourself from scams are important to your financial well-being.

Upcoming free workshops series
Join us throughout the year for our free virtual Four Cornerstones of Financial Wellness Workshops series — a deep dive into each cornerstone. Our workshops are designed to increase your financial knowledge, build your financial confidence, and provide tools for you to work toward achieving financial stability.

Each workshop is led by a trusted, certified financial counselor and includes meaningful, interactive activities and discussions.

Learn more and register: financialcounseling.lssmn.org/four-cornerstones

We are grateful for our partnership with Cummins Inc. Their support and sponsorship of these workshops help further our mission of people overcoming debt, building assets, and working toward achieving financial wellness.

If you attend all four workshops within a series you will be entered into a drawing to receive one of five, $100 Visa gift cards.

Class sizes are limited so register today!
Registration is required.
Tuesdays and Thursdays
6-8 p.m.
Virtual

• Attend all four workshop in this series and be entered into a drawing to receive one of five, $100 Visa gift cards.
  Series 1: January 27 and 29, February 3 and 5
• Attend all four workshops in this series and be entered into a drawing to receive one of five, $100 Visa gift cards.
  Series 2: March 31, April 2, 7 and 9
• Attend all four workshops in this series and be entered into a drawing to receive one of five, $100 Visa gift cards.
  Series 3: May 26 and 28, June 2 and 4
• Attend all four workshops in this series and be entered into a drawing to receive one of five, $100 Visa gift cards.
  Series 4: July 28 and 30, August 4 and 6
• Attend all four workshops in this series and be entered into a drawing to receive one of five, $100 Visa gift cards.
  Series 5: September 15, 17, 22 and 24
• Attend all four workshops in this series and be entered into a drawing to receive one of five, $100 Visa gift cards.
  Series 6: October 27 and 29, November 3 and 5
• Attend all four workshops in this series and be entered into a drawing to receive one of five, $100 Visa gift cards

North Star Credit Union offers six free financial counseling sessions through LSS Financially annually for members.

📞 Call 888.577.2227 to schedule an appointment with one of our certified financial counselors or get started by creating a financial profile.

Let them know that you are a member when you call.