Financial woes cause considerable anxiety. The debt from college loans or a medical emergency generates feelings close to panic. It doesn’t have to be that way. Financial wellness can be achieved and maintained by following a few general rules of proactive conduct.
- Never Take Counsel of Your Fears
The college graduate can be stunned by the loan repayments necessary to retire college debt. Many have debts as large as a house mortgage. The common worry is being forced to spend most of life paying a bill that could be more than the monthly rent. The same is true for medical bills or sizable credit card balance.
Excessive concern causes panic and forces a person to make poor decisions. These include forbearance, completely ignoring the bills, or overpaying a monthly bill when it is not necessary. Thinking calmly and making sound decisions are the best ways to meet a financial wellness problem.
- Know Thyself
Financially, that is. Many are not aware of their financial situation. They have no budget to work with and they don’t understand their assets.
Gathering information about income and expenses enables a person to have a clearer picture of his or her personal finances. The data can then be used to construct a workable budget and determine how to address major bills. An inventory of assets is an excellent means for shaping options and using assets to pay down debt.
- You Are the Captain of Your Destiny
Debt overwhelms people and makes them feel helpless. Anyone can gain control of financial wellness with accurate information and sensible planning. Many are challenged by not knowing what to do or even where to start. Assistance from a professional can be helpful. Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services will provide the needed assistance.
Offering the Best Help
The Countrywide Financial Wellness benefit uses certified counselors to help plan members. Our team of professionals have a wealth of financial experience and they’re willing to share it.
It is easy to have a face-to-face meeting with one of our counselors. They live in the community and the counselors give priority attention to our plan members.
A budget analysis will provide needed figures. The plan member will see where the money is coming from and where it is going. Further information can be gleaned from an asset inventory. These services will do a lot to calm shaking nerves.
The counselor will also help a plan member calm down. Countrywide believes emotional intelligence is more than idle chat. We want our counselors to show empathy and patience to all our plan members. Folks don’t enjoy talking about financial problems; they are embarrassed. Countrywide counselors are not meant to give strict lectures. They are problem solvers and the task of assisting a person in achieving financial wellness is their goal.
Asking for Client Input
Although Countrywide has provided service to organizations of all sizes, we do not know the needs of every employee. We ask our clients to help us in designing their plan. Decision-makers are shown all our options and we explain carefully what each service will do for the ordinary associate. We then step back and let the client decide what will be part of the plan document.
We back up every plan with administration that is streamlined for maximum efficiency. We do not want any plan member to have to wait an unnecessary time to get the attention their problems require. As we said before, we insist on good people skills and a level of emotional intelligence that is above the ordinary. Those who work with us must demonstrate they care about every plan member, regardless of the job title.
Financial wellness can be a challenge, but it is not an impossible dream. People can take charge of their affairs and meet all the bills as they come in. Countrywide wants to assist people in achieving financial independence and control over their wallets. We invite interested parties to contact us and find out more about our services and how each option provides significant value.