Discover the key differences between long-term and short-term investment strategies. Learn which approach aligns with your financial goals, risk tolerance, and timeline to build wealth effectively.

Long-Term vs Short-Term Investment Analysis | orsa credit union

Investing can be tricky, and there are plenty of different philosophies for approaching it best.

Most investors and financial professionals swear by the long game, touting the benefits of a slow and steady approach. Some folks like prefer short-term opportunities, taking advantage of market fluctuations to maximize gains. Most financial professionals prefer an approach with a diversified balance of long-term growth and short-term gains. Let’s explore the pros and cons of short- and long-term strategies.

Long-term investments are appealing for their lean toward more sustainability, reliability, decreased volatility, consistency, a track record of excellence, transparency, and simplicity.

Basically, long-term positions aren’t those that are here today and gone tomorrow but are established mainstays that can carry a portfolio for decades. They should be easy to understand, provide solid returns, and be less volatile. A long-term investor thinks about holding their positions for a while, despite what they hear in the financial news. And many short-term investors try to time the market, trying to call when the best time to get in and out of the market or positions may be. And a strategy that attempts to time the market is nearly impossible.

The main advantage of choosing a long-term strategy over a short game is the lack of excitement. For some, this may seem dull, but for most investors, that mundaneness is highly welcome and often indicative of financial stability.

Short-term trades often provide us with an allure of upside that rarely comes to fruition in reality. Yes, refraining from short-term investing will cause you to miss out on some big runners that benefit from investor speculation, but this is rare for most of us. Nevertheless, sticking purely to the long game may create a fear of missing out on some investors.

One of the requirements of long-term investing is that you invest for a long time. The tenure of your portfolio is what gives this mundane strategy its valiant returns, and years of compound interest are required for it to all be worth it.

Short-term investing—a risky undertaking

Short-term investments tend to be unsustainable and unreliable, bringing higher volatility and erratic, unpredictable returns.

Short-term investments can be here today and gone tomorrow, and it’s precisely that volatility that can lead to a lucrative upside for those who dare take the risk to pursue.

The allure of short-term trading is purely in its potential for a more significant profit compared to a more long-term asset. But remember: with high reward comes high risk.

Another interesting aspect of short-term investing is learning the tricks of the trade—literally. Active trading forces you to learn about how markets and investor psychology work.

The drawbacks of short-term investments can outweigh their upside

Simply put, short-term investments are risky, and it's tough for an individual investor to get these "right." A stock that has the potential to run up 50% in a day has a 

While there’s no singular correct route to investing, most financial professionals will lean heavily on strategic and intentional long-term investing. Even the best short-term traders acknowledge the importance of a long-term portfolio. The long-term road is safer, and if you’re diligent in your practice, it can provide enough returns to secure a fulfilling retirement.

What to consider when building your investment strategy

Before jumping into trading within the capital markets, ensure you've built a cash reserve, have a plan for your debt, that you are consistently saving for retirement, and planning and saving for the future.

Once you’ve checked off the basics, move on to what other things you’d like to accomplish with your investing. If one of those goals is to become proficient and profitable at trading and you’re financially secure elsewhere, it might make sense to give it a shot, but do so with intentionality... slow and steady.

 dictate how you can invest. If you’ve only got enough extra income to max out your retirement account this year, it’s probably best to stick to the long-term game. In contrast, if you’ve got disposable income, you can diversify into other areas with a more active strategy.

Your risk appetite will also help determine what works best for you and if short-term investing fits your preferences. Investing actively and holding single stocks makes your portfolio more prone to volatile movements and mayhem than those broader holdings often associated with more passive methods.

There’s no right way to invest, and everyone’s exact approach is unique to their situation and needs. However, we're here to share the guidelines that will shape your finances for the better over the long run.

Keep your discipline going. Digital banking is a great place to start. Don’t forget to 

, update your goals, and keep your to-do list checked off as you continue your journey to financial freedom.

orsa, the credit union you knew as Community Financial Credit Union (CFCU)
Content before 2026 may contain references to our former name.

Short-Term vs Long-Term Investments Blog Content

Short-Term vs. Long-Term Investments

Celebrate the power of connection through purposeful gatherings, whether at industry events or team activities, and learn how shared experiences inspire collaboration, engagement, and future growth.

Seize the Day: The Power of Bringing People Together

“Celebrate we will, for life is short but sweet for certain.”

Nothing matches the bubbling anticipation of an occasion that brings your tribe together. This weekend, I am capturing a double dose of this joy. I enjoyed an 18-hour stop in Las Vegas to see the Dave Matthews Band with dear friends and now fly to Washington, D.C., to one of the most anticipated annual events in our industry where some of my favorite humans will congregate. Credit unions will vibrantly advocate for cooperative finance during 2024’s Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC), hosted for the first time by America's Credit Unions Credit Unions. Huzzah!

This sense of anticipation is not unique to this week; we all long for the precious dates on our calendars marked for gatherings with loved ones. Whether we plan to break bread, experience a concert, cheer at a sporting event, or celebrate a holiday, the time leading up to those events goes slowly, and the time spent together flies by, making your heart race.

Gatherings ignite joy. They also nurture our most important relationships and promote a sense of belonging and community. A simple and quiet afternoon shared with friends or family can leave you feeling incredibly inspired, rejuvenated, and connected.

I learned from great mentors about the power of connection. As leaders, we must provide those around us with that same sense of rejuvenation we experience when we spend time with those we love. Creating opportunities for purposeful gatherings and moments of connection matters and builds cushions. At Community Financial Credit Union, we do this in a host of ways, including:

Annual small-group dinners with every single department,

Monthly “six impossible things” roundtables with six team members who sign up to enjoy 90 minutes of dreaming,

Our president’s council, where a small cohort of leaders spend time strategizing and growing,

Monthly State of the Credit Union “townhall meetings” with our entire team,

Annual picnics, including family members,

Our annual all-staff c3 (Community, Collaboration, Connection) event,

Community impact days for our team as we volunteer across the great state of Michigan,

Springboard meetings for all leaders in the organization (monthly and in-person quarterly),

Yaydays where we get to surprise team members with food and experiences, and

LIFT (learning, igniting, fellowship, and training) days that bring our strategy to life for the team and allow people to learn experientially.

Connection matters as this is a human business. According to the 

, “Social isolation and loneliness are widespread, with an estimated 1 in 4 older people experiencing social isolation and between 5 and 15 percent of adolescents experiencing loneliness.” As we craft the future of work and include strategies to amplify the well-being of our teams, it’s striking to consider the impact of isolation. The WHO shares, “The effect of social isolation and loneliness on mortality is comparable to that of other well-established risk factors such as smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity.” We can play a role in shifting this for our teams.

As you consider the best approach for your organization and shape the connection experiences that will best amplify your strategies, consider that every good gathering shares these eight things in common, regardless of setting, budget, or length:

Whether it is a family bond, your alma mater (Go Blue!), your team (Go Lions!), your favorite band (Go DMB!), or your passion (Go Credit Unions!), a powerful gathering starts with a common bond.

The best gatherings have meaning and purpose. This week, credit unions will advocate to ensure legislators have context for the most critical issues facing credit unions as they serve Americans. When I serve grilled cheese to our team, it demonstrates a commitment to service. It also allows for the sharing of personal passions and creativity. The reason to bring people together matters deeply.

Organization matters, and ironically, it allows for spontaneity. As people commit their time, they want to know what to expect, and the more details are managed, the more the human connection can occur.

Sometimes, the planning of a vacation brings nearly as much joy as the vacation itself. Creating opportunities to build curiosity about content sparks pre-event conversations. It also builds connection as those attending can experience that anticipation together.

In a world of distractions, supporting people in enjoying the experience matters. An event bursting with sensory stimulation encourages deeper engagement and connectedness.

A good gathering leaves you wanting more and dreaming about next time. Reflecting on the experience, building on what went well, and learning-forward with opportunities to enhance the next gathering can powerfully build experiences that dynamically improve over time.

Good gatherings leave us enthusiastic to share. It might be the mic drop moment when a new idea was synthesized and shared boldly. It might be the joy that came from learning about a shared interest. It might be the dad joke that everyone can’t wait to own when they get home. Just as anticipation builds before the event, reflection carries the momentum of time spent well into the future.

As the time together comes to an end, it’s time to dream about next time. We started sowing the seeds for our next show at the end of last night’s concert. Imagining our plans starts the anticipation building again. I can’t wait to dance until my feet are sore!

My anticipation grows as I near our Nation’s capital. The opportunity to come together in advocacy ensures that the future of credit unions shines brightly. The spark and experience people will have as colleagues and friends this week will sustain and grow careers, dreams, and impact. Let’s use our time in fellowship this week to spark even more opportunities for connection and gathering when we return to our organizations. Let’s capture the moment today. The Dave Matthews Band says it well in “Cry Freedom”: “The future is no place to place your better days.”

Seize the Day: The Power of Bringing People Together Blog Content

This blog post emphasizes the importance of fostering body confidence in young female athletes to reduce sports dropouts, highlighting how this mindset can shape future leaders and enhance the talent pool for industries, including credit unions. #KeepHerConfident

Your Future Workforce Deserves Confidence - #KeepHerConfident

As credit unions, we are in a war for talent. I often speak about the challenges we face in telling our brand story to consumers. We have a parallel deficit as it relates to our employer brand. It remains unusual that someone graduates from university dreaming about working for a credit union. We can change that as we create the future of work by shaping cultures and strategies that put human beings first as we design the workplace experience for the next generation.

Throughout my career as a hiring leader, I’ve observed that participation in athletics is often a strong indicator of success in the workplace. Inc.’s “

7 Reasons Athletes Make the Best Employees

” outlines several positive outcomes: perseverance, strong time management, learning from failure, accountability, putting the team first, commitment to improvement, and handling criticism. 

 also demonstrates how sports leads to stronger team and individual outcomes in the workplace.

This leading indicator of success in recruiting exceptional talent is exciting. It also demands attention to the devastating statistic that 45% of girls quit sports by age 14 due to low body confidence.

Tansley, you’re lousy at tennis, but you look great in your tennis skirt, so we’d love to have you on the team

This brash remark from my tennis coach landed swiftly and left me fighting to maintain my composure. Being a congenial colleague of my mom’s made him, more or less, a friend of the family, and I’m certain this comment, which rolled off his tongue, was never meant to stoke feelings of shame or inadequacy. His words were two-fold, both an acceptance and a joke, though this was a joke told at my expense.

While I remember the conversational exchange as if it were yesterday, the mid-1990s was a different era altogether before the groundswell of sweeping social movements such as Cancel Culture and Me Too, which would turn contemporary life on its head in more recent years, for better or for worse.”

This is an excerpt from my upcoming memoir. (

Keep your eye out for the book later this year.

) I was reminded of this passage as I watched the “biggest game” recently. I awaited the new commercials with anticipation and was struck by Dove’s 30-second spot, “

.” It highlights a vibrant reality I experienced when becoming a teenager. Double faulting during a tight third set of a tennis match fueled me to practice hitting my serve for hours the next day. It stung, and yet, I could control consistent improvement. My confidence grew as my actions, commitment, grit, and tenacity resulted in consistent improvement. The Dove spot illuminates the striking opposition to my insecurities about my body, which drained hours from vastly more important endeavors with hours spent obsessing about how thin I could become.

As the dramatic statistic points out, low body confidence is the number one reason girls quit sports. Approximately two in three girls consider quitting the sport they love. This strikes me closely. With a 13-year-old daughter dedicated to lacrosse, basketball, cross country, and track, my goal is to support her in experiencing all the growth I did as I improved my tennis game and not waste one minute on the expectations for how she looks as she plays.

Because 61% of girls would be interested in hearing about body confidence education from their coach, Dove’s campaign includes 

 to create an environment where young female athletes can thrive and belong by using tools such as “body talk” free zones. Across our schools and organizations, these kinds of resources can help us ensure that the next generation’s experience grows to be something completely different, allowing girls to keep their focus on their athletic passions and avoid the negative connotations of low body confidence.

One of the best coaches in my life, Mike Neill, demonstrates the strong impact a mentor and leader can make. He truly changed my life. Over the years, we developed a warm and meaningful connection grounded in our shared values, love for credit unions, and shared sense of humor. He always cheered me on. He modeled exceptional performance. He saw opportunities that I might not have. He also candidly told me when I could improve. He was not shy to remind me when I’d wallowed in my delicious misery for too long and needed to move on. Walking with Mike helped me find new roles and, most importantly, helped me sharpen my skills and improve in places where I had blind spots. Coaches make an impact on the field and in our organizations.

Focus and energy that support girls differently ensures a better future for half of our population, and it helps our organizations have even more talented athletes who should be a part of our future workforce. The coaches we nurture and share with our teams can enhance talent and provide cushions during challenging times. We must empower the girls in our lives and the employees in our organizations. It truly can change the world and your credit union as we welcome and grow strong, exceptional team members. #KeepHerConfident

Your Future Workplace Deserves Confidence Blog Content

Explore how Return on Assets (ROA) serves as a crucial financial indicator for credit unions, and how balancing this metric with strategic planning, member needs, and long-term goals can drive sustainable success.

Return on Assets is Music to Your Earnings

During a recent meeting I attended, a colleague from another credit union made a statement that many of us in our credit union movement believe deeply, “There can be no mission without margin.” I am fond of this simple description that connects the heart of our work with our industry’s business fundamentals. In a world full of data, it can sometimes be complicated to pare down what matters most to any organization. It can be even more challenging to connect the dots between functions and how they come together to demonstrate member impact.

For those of you who have a favorite band that tours regularly, the day that band announces their tour dates truly lights up with joy. Recently, I experienced that joyful day as the Dave Matthews Band released their summer plans. The joy quickly expands as the consideration for picking shows comes to life. I feel privileged to have friends who have a similar passion for live shows and planning. Together, we toss around ideas as we consider the location, the reputation of the venue, our calendar commitments for work and family, and the historical connectedness the band has to the setting. While heading to an epic venue like The Gorge might be higher in the consideration set, the matrix of variables all come into play, and sometimes, the sheer logistics of merging busy calendars marks the decision.

The same can be said for the financial measures of a credit union. There are many to consider, and some weigh more heavily than others. Perhaps no financial ratio is as frequently cited as a measure of success as return on assets (ROA). Yet, overall, it is only one of many ways to paint the picture of a healthy organization. ROA is a key measure of relative operating performance, and the beauty of the credit union model is how a not-for-profit financial cooperative can return value in ways other financial institutions cannot.

Most credit unions maintain a close eye on various financial indicators, including ROA, return on equity (ROE), core deposit growth, and, in this season, productivity indicators such as total shares per full-time employee, that demonstrate the delicate balance of providing technologically-forward personalized service that creates a modern experience and drives efficiencies. Many balanced scorecards also include member and team member input. As a financial cooperative, our members’ and team members’ voices matter deeply. Looking across measures allows for a complete picture of the impact of the cooperative, as no one measure on its own tells the whole story of either progress or success.

One of the key differentiators of the model for credit unions is the ability to think in long-term horizons to maximize the impact on those who need us most. Unlike other stockholder-driven organizations, we are not driven to react to keep up with quarterly forecasts and results. When used in a balanced way, financial indicators, like ROA, fuel the organization’s long-term success in mid-term (3 years) and long-term (7 to 10 years) horizons. This can liberate credit union leaders to:

Bring to life an enduring, evolving, and unique culture,

Develop and implement an audacious strategy,

Make appropriate investments and use innovation to build member value,

Identify change as it is occurring and, iterate strategy through that change, and

Direct improvements in performance within the organization to achieve and sustain competitive advantage.

The anchoring effect bias is one peril of relying on ROA as a dominant metric in isolation. For years, we have been conditioned to think of an ROA of 1.00 to be heuristically solid. This characterization creates a tendency to rely heavily on the first piece of information encountered when making decisions (our ROA heuristic). It influences subsequent judgments and choices, leading to a selective perception of information that aligns with the initial anchor. So, what does it mean? Is achieving an ROA of 1.00 no longer the gold standard? Is a low ROA a bad thing? It all depends. At times, credit unions may need to map out lower ROAs, perhaps near zero or even negative, as a point in time over a long-term journey with a plan to return to higher earnings as the forecast’s horizon elongates.

Just like a group of incredible friends crafting their concert-going summer experiences, effective executive teams are well-positioned to discuss the short and long-term forecasts for earnings and how those will bring to life the best strategies to return value to members. The following are just a few questions related to levers available to credit union leadership teams that could drive essential considerations depending on the unique needs of the organization in any given season:

Should we decrease the interest rates we pay on deposits?

What are your organization’s alternatives to member deposits to fuel lending?

How long might your current rates serve your short-term needs before you adjust them? What does that shift look like? What are the consequences?

Does your brand and product line support such a decrease? Or is your value proposition hinging on offering one of the highest rates in your market?

Might we increase the interest rates we charge on loans?

If you face liquidity challenges, how quickly is your asset liability committee willing to adjust loan rates? As fast as banks do? As a result of a competitor analysis? How fast does it need to be?

How long might your current rates serve your short-term needs before you adjust them? What does the shift look like? What are the consequences of your position in the market?

How is our cost of funds impacting our bottom line? How do we balance the good of individual members and the interest rate environment with the broader membership’s needs and the credit union’s health?

Should we launch and promote new revenue-generating products?

Might your organization be able to shift investments and loan portfolios to higher-interest investments and loans?

Are there untapped opportunities to increase fees on existing products?

How might innovation help based on what you are hearing from members? What needs to exist that your organization is uniquely positioned to solve?

How might cost control efforts impact our efforts and impact?

What will be the cultural implications of cost-cutting measures? What costs are worth reducing, and what should you not touch to maintain long-term investments in the future?

Will members’ experience be negatively impacted? In what ways? Will this cost reduction allow us to further invest in our differentiator?

How might you optimize your heavy machinery to attain big wins in the market?

Planning for the joy of seeing Dave Matthews play live jumpstarts the experience of the actual show. The mapping of plans starts the anticipation of seeing an epic band play joyfully. The same can be true for the questions a leadership team weighs as it considers how to map a successful forecast. While the credit union’s evolving results might not be quite as much fun as attending a concert, the considerations can create a vibrant opportunity for a leadership team to collaborate and leverage data and trends to build an iterative strategy. Credit unions have an incredible opportunity to leverage our unique model to invest in member needs, think in longer horizons, and build toward scale. ROA can be one of many vital tools guiding our path. There is genuinely no mission without margin.

Return on Assets is Music to Your Earnings Blog Content

Tansley Stearns delves into the three core drivers of trust—authenticity, logic, and empathy—and how leaders can consciously build trust to foster stronger, more effective teams at work.

Trust: Building Cushion for Your Team

Implicitly, trust is the foundation of almost everything we do. Having watched one too many scary movies, I often think about how much trust we put in others as I walk through a parking garage at night and feel such relief when I’m in my car safely. It’s present in our daily commutes when we trust a driver will stop at a red light, knowing that a meeting will start on time, the confidence that we have in our colleagues at work, it’s the reason why we share something personal with a friend, it’s core to our laws and contracts, and it’s why we cast a ballot for someone who will represent our interests. It’s also foundational for leaders as they create the conditions for employees to realize their wildest potential fully.

And as essential as it is, we don’t always talk about trust openly with our loved ones, our teams at work, the people we lead, and our leaders. Explicitly investing time exploring and improving trust might be the boost you need to get a team dynamic unstuck.

Author and Harvard professor Frances X. Frei eloquently explains in 

. Frei’s research describes three core drivers of trust: authenticity, logic, and empathy. Whether at work or in your personal life, trust is dependent on people knowing they are interacting with the real you (authenticity), that they believe in your judgment and competence (logic), and that they feel you care about them and their success (empathy). If you observe trust decay, reflect on one of these three drivers.

As I consider trust and how we build that for our team at Community Financial, I reflect on the following:

As a leader who dreams boldly, I have dealt with a fair amount of skepticism throughout my career. When people first got to know me, saw me on a stage, in my time as an advisor at Filene, or even as a new leader at the organizations I have worked at, I faced people questioning if my loud laugh, joy, and charisma were authentic. That skepticism dissolves over time as people consistently see that I show up over and over again in the same way. They realize that my storytelling and persona are honest and while different, are genuine. This is what the authenticity driver represents, and until people realize they are experiencing the real you, trust cannot be attained.

I have been fortunate and work hard to surround myself with brilliant teachers and professionals who, through dialogue, learning (academic and behavioral), coaching, and practice, have shaped my leadership philosophy. In our financial industry, the rigor of our analysis and ability to execute must be airtight. My early beginnings as a marketing leader have sometimes caused me to over-index on logic to ensure those who only know my creativity also see my strategic and analytical strengths.

Lastly, people must be sure that, as leaders, we are not putting our personal gain ahead of the interest of the whole. At Community Financial, we vividly manifest it as Relentless Care. We are firmly aligned as a team that we put others before ourselves. We genuinely care for one another and our members. Listening is our superpower to grow empathy, and that supports our drive for relevant and meaningful transformational change.

Think for a moment of the people you trust most. For me, it’s my parents. I notice that my shoulders drop when I am with the two of them, and a comfort rises. I can speak openly, share fully, and relax. This is why trust magnifies results in an organization. That ease allows human beings to be their best. No strategy, no plan, and no relationship will ever thrive if trust is not nurtured consciously. Which trust dimension might you enhance to give your team even more cushion?

Trust: Building Cushion for Your Team Blog Content

Discover the vital role of credit union Board Chairs in driving strategy, fostering collaboration, and ensuring sustainable growth by balancing oversight with future-focused governance, as shared insights from a recent conference.

The Mantle of Credit Union Leadership: Board Members

Recently, I had the opportunity to participate in a conference uniting credit union Board Chairs and CEOs. Having observed a host of chair/ceo relationships throughout my career especially during my time at Filene when leading strategy work and most recently from having experienced firsthand forming one with our Community Financial Credit Union Board Chair, Teri Kuehn. As keynote presentations, roundtables, dinners, and hallway conversations fade into memory, I revel in inspiration and encouragement. I also recognize several paradoxes.

I am a firm believer in the cooperative finance model. When a group of people with shared communities come together and form a system to accomplish the goals of the whole, it creates the best possible outcome for human beings. In credit unions, members elect a peer group of volunteers to represent their interests in the dedicated Board of Directors who serve in this role. These volunteers hire a competent CEO capable of not only managing the everyday operations but with the vision to manifest the members’ dreams to life using important tools like loans, deposit products, payment tools, technology solutions, and guidance and advice to support financial well-being.

The complexity of twenty-first-century banking at times distracts us. I often revisit the cooperative principles for credit unions, which are eloquently illustrated on the 

National Credit Union Foundation’s website

The fact that credit unions are not-for-profit financial cooperatives, offering services to people willing to accept the responsibilities and benefits of membership.

Credit unions serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative principles by working with other cooperatives.

While focusing on member needs, credit unions work for the sustainable development of communities, including people of modest means, through policies developed and accepted by the members

I have always believed that two seemingly opposing concepts can be true at once. We can simultaneously be not-for-profit and grow sustainably. In fact, growth matters deeply because it maximizes the potential of a financial cooperative. The more members that use a credit union more deeply, the more value the credit union provides to each member that have been there the longest. I firmly believe that the operational demands of complex banking must be every credit union’s strength. And there is so much more we can do by listening to members’ aspirations (especially the impossible ones), strengthening our cooperation, and making our impact on the sustainable development of our communities reverberate loudly. This symbiotic relationship between membership and strategy is fed daily by their liaison, the credit union’s Board of Directors.

The most recent conference reaffirmed that while many traditional Boards focus solely on oversight, the best Boards go beyond this responsibility, to challenge the organization to create even more impact and bring to life a vibrant future. Doing that requires a Board to take a more active role in engaging in future-focused dialogue, bringing richness and color to the strategy, and collaborating fully with the leadership team who carry imperative subject matter expertise. And it all starts with the Board Chair. An effective Board Chair ensures not only productive meetings and nurtures a Board/CEO dynamic but also nurtures a culture of trust and feedback, sparks constructive debate, and actively participates in the manifestation of the strategy.

For those avid readers in my circle (I see you!), that wonder how to leap forward to do even more, I suggest the following "future read" entitled “

The Future of the American Board Report: A Framework for Governing into the Future

It lays out 10 principles for Boards to consider as they tailor their governance for changing circumstances. Yes, it is for all Boards, including for-profit companies, and the principles can be translated from Corporate Purpose to Ends or Mission. Their advice resonates loudly.

I feel invigorated by the incredible people volunteering to represent the interests of our membership at Community Financial Credit Union and those volunteering at their credit unions across the globe. Cheers to all the Board Chairs taking on the heavy mantle of leadership and representing the thousands of member voices you amplify locally. You are the heart of our movement.

The Mantle of Credit Union Leadership: Board Members Blog Content

Reflecting on the pride and excitement of our partnership with the Detroit Lions, inspired by the team's leadership and grit to fuel the credit union's mission of helping Michiganders achieve their impossible dreams.

Let's Roar! | orsa credit union

As the Lions prepare for the NFC Championship game, I vacillate between nervous energy in preparation to cheer our team on and reflection about what incredible pride we feel at Community Financial Credit Union as an official Proud Partner of the 

. Similarly, the decision to partner with an organization as iconic as the Lions was thrilling and nerve-racking. The scarcity of having only 32 football teams in the country, the millions of fans each team has, the emotional connection of being part of a team, its identity, the communities it represents, and the loyalty through the many ups and downs. It is so primal.

Humans have always craved a sense of belonging. We are conditioned to discover and become part of a tribe. Our energy ignites as the fire in our bellies rises, and we root for those we love. It manifests joy so deeply that many of us nearly burst to tell the world about it. In the last 12 months, I’ve reconnected with some of my tribes. I enjoyed the thrill of participating in a sensational year for my alma mater's football season, culminating in a National Championship (Go Blue!), I met Dave Matthews for the very first time, and I experienced the electrifying energy of a Ford Field stadium that recorded its loudest decibels ever three times this season! (Last week's game against Tampa recorded 134.3 decibels, roughly the sound of a 747-jet engine, according to the Center for Disease Control).

At Community Financial Credit Union, we admire and aspire to the kind of leadership Dan Campbell demonstrates. In a short three-year span, Campbell went from a 3-13-1 record in his first year as the head coach of the Detroit Lions, finished his second year with a winning record of 9-8, barely missing the playoffs, and in the current season, he has achieved many Michiganders' impossible dream of hosting two playoff games at Ford Field, and now being one game away from the Superbowl. The team’s tenacious, determined, and passionate approach fueled the decision to partner with the Lions. Each individual at CFCU puts the hustle and grind resembling the “grit” coach Campbell elicits from his team. And through our partnership, our team has brought hundreds of impossible dreams to life at each game and well beyond. We are entering year two of a three-year strategy. We built the structure in year one; in year two, we'll continue to optimize the machine; and year three? We’ll leave that as a curiosity gap…

We are a Proud Partner of the Detroit Lions. Tying our Community Financial Credit Union brand affinity to the Lions fills our hearts with pride. It creates joy. And that is the essence of our purpose to create joy and ignite Michiganders' Impossible dreams.

Let's Roar Blog Content

Let's Roar

Tips to help your aging parents with their finances, from estate planning to wills to investments

Helping Aging Parents with Money

Disclaimer: The information provided is not intended as tax or legal advice. Individuals are encouraged to seek specific advice from their personal tax or legal counsel.

It can be difficult to figure out how to reciprocate and repay the people that have given you so much throughout your entire life. Yep, we’re talking about your parents.

Sure, they may have been the ones who taught you most of your financial habits. And, as our parents age, they may need your help to keep everything in order.

Maybe their mental or physical health is deteriorating, or you just think it’s time to incorporate their financial burden into your own plans. Whatever the reason, you’re helping your parents out with their finances, and we’re here to help make the transition as seamless as can be. And, in the meantime, you (and your parents!) will be able to sleep at night knowing your parents are financially well.

Helping your parents with estate planning

First off, we recommend you help your parents with their estate planning, if they haven’t already ticked that off the list.

Estate planning is making a plan for all of your assets—including everything from your jewelry to your pets—for the event of your death. Yes, it’s pretty morbid. But, it’s incredibly important to have these types of conversations early, so they’re not forced or overly emotional.

Since you’re helping your parents go through all of their assets and assigning a plan for them, it’s understandable that things can get rather tricky. If things get too confusing or difficult, remember that you can always hire an estate attorney. That way, you can ensure your parents are prepared and satisfied with their estate plans—and that everything makes good legal sense.

Have your parents assign a power of attorney

We recommend having your parents consider a power of attorney for both their finances and health.

A power of attorney helps to prevent a chaotic mess of arguments over who is to make the final call on your parent's financial or medical decisions. Even more than estate planning, we recommend having these conversations with your parents early. Especially when you’re making final calls on your parents’ medical decisions, you’ll want to have as much ironed out ahead of time to save yourself from unnecessary turmoil.

Help your parents with their will and living-will

You may be familiar with the term “living-will,” which is the same thing as an 

personal directive, advance directive, medical directive

That verbiage is just a list of fancy terms for a legal document that specifies how that person wants their medical decisions made if they’re not able to do so themselves. Take, for example, life support. This legal document helps the doctors determine if and when they should take the patient off of life support, pending things like if their condition is deemed incurable, or if they want to be kept on life-support for the hope of new treatment discoveries.

An estate attorney can help your parents determine if they should consider an individual, joint, or other trusts. Trusts can offer some flexibility, as they grant tax benefits and avoid the probate process. Establishing a personal trust is an often overlooked, but very beneficial, way to help your parents allocate some of their money.

When should your parents elect social security?

Depending on the year you were born, the earliest you (or your parents, for that matter) can start receiving social security is at age 62. But, not so fast. Unless your parents’ health is deteriorating rapidly, this may not be the best option for them. If they’re able to stick it out for a few more years, their annual income from social security will typically be higher.

Safe to say that delaying social security payouts typically result in more monthly benefits. So, if your parents can do without the money, we recommend they hold off on receiving their social security.

That reminds us...delaying distributions from retirement accounts such as 401(k) accounts and IRAs can also help maximize tax-free growth. If your parent can delay their social security payout until age 70, and can put off withdrawing from their retirement accounts, they may get higher monthly benefits and continuous growth. Now, that’s what we call a win-win!

For many, old age is synonymous with a conservative investment portfolio. Since stocks tend to out perform bonds over the long term, but are more volatile over the short term, you need to have a comfortable risk tolerance to maximize your returns.

Take it easy with yourself and your parents

Especially when it comes to wills and powers of attorney, no one likes imagining these scenarios. But, ensuring your parents are prepared puts your family in the best possible position where you can feel comfortable making choices you’re certain they’d support.

This process can be overwhelming—for you and your parents and family members—so make it as gradual as you all need it to be. Take it one step at a time and remember, you’re not alone. If you feel like it’s not a necessary transition in the given moment, start thinking about how you can prepare to make it smooth when the time comes.

Helping Aging Parents with Money Blog Content

Tips to navigate a more expensive world of debt when the cost of borrowing is spendy

How to Navigate Expensive Debt

Before we can understand how to navigate expensive debt, we have to lay down the basic tenets of debt. Or, in other words, the key pieces to the borrowing puzzle.

 is the rate at which banks charge one another interest for their overnight lending—something they do to meet reserve requirements, and subsequently impacts the entire financial market. From late 2008 through mid-2017, this rate sat below 1%, only trickling up to a 2.4% crest in 2019 and falling back to 0% during the pandemic (2020-2022). As of early 2025, the new, historic average is closer to 4.33%.

The prime rate is the interest rate that commercial banks charge creditworthy customers. Banks generally use fed funds rate + 3% to determine the current prime rate. Because this rate is preceded by the Federal Funds rate, it tracks right along with it.

Mortgages usually bear the brunt of the Fed and its interest rate swings. However, mortgage rates were unsustainably low, not having topped 5% between 2010 and 2022. Historically, the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has clocked in at 

As a result of economic moves, such as the pandemic stimulus and changes in interest rates, Americans can feel the pinch of inflation, unaffordable debt, and concerns for the future.

In 2022, for example, the Federal Reserve enacted record rate hikes, raising the cost of debt across the board in an already expensive environment.

Planning for changes to debt and borrowing costs

The rising cost of debt can take a toll on the market, creating a more volatile situation. Investors watch for Fed news like hawks (no pun intended) and react to news of more rate hikes. The markets will take dips and dives, but history is on our side. The right time to invest is now, later, and forever, and we wouldn’t suggest taking your foot off the pedal just because of the uncertainty. 

Handle debt of all kinds with prudence and make shrewd decisions. Don’t take on credit card debt if you don’t have to, use credit cards for their benefits, and make timely payments to avoid paying higher interest payments. Take a look at your student loans and see if you’re eligible for forgiveness or restructuring them with a new lender for a better rate.

We’re big fans of equity. When home prices cool, it’s more important to keep paying down your mortgage and racking up that equity if you can.

Uncertainty reminds us of the importance of having a solid plan in place. That plan should include things like 

, planning for the future, auditing your budget, and reviewing your insurance policies.

Debt may be a part of life, but it doesn’t have to take over it!

Sure, debt management requires care, planning, and due diligence. Pop into our 

 and get working at your Debt Elimination Plan. It only takes about 3 minutes and you’ll set yourself up for success. Let’s do this!

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Tips on how to build a stronger, more resilient budget during tumultuous times

How to Create a Resilient Budget

Budgeting is an essential component to our finances, and while it’s pretty basic from a distance, there’s truly a lot of planning and details that go into creating a good one. Life throws a lot of surprises at us, and because everything costs money, our budget must absorb most of that.

Realistically, it’s best to plan for the unexpected and have enough cash to help you get by. Life will inevitably put our budget and budgeting ability to the test. In order to craft a budget that’s sustainable, it must also be resilient.

Leave Room in Your Budget for “Extras”

The first goal of budgeting is to be able to account for all of your income and expenses and knowing where that next dollar should go. This is the first and most important step to establishing and following a budget, but there’s another one that will help 

If you’ve maxed out your budget, there’s not much room for unexpected expenses, savings, investing, new goals, or even discretionary spending. So, once you create a solid budget that fits all your expenses, your second goal is to create space.

Creating a buffer within your budget can be difficult when things are tight, but it almost always comes down to two things: spending less and making more. Easier said than done, of course, but achievable with enough commitment.

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