I hope you’ve all enjoyed a safe and warm winter so far. As we welcomed in the new year, many of us set resolutions for ourselves, guiding us to focus our time and energy on specific goals and objectives. But, as I’m sure many of you are aware, keeping resolutions long-term can be difficult. Now mid-way through January, I thought this might be a good opportunity to check in. Are your resolutions still intact?

When it comes to reaching your financial goals for 2023, you may need more than resolve to succeed. Many Nova Scotians felt the pressure from rising inflation in 2022, and with Canada’s key interest rate having increased from 0.25% at the start of 2022 to 4.25% by the end of the year, we can anticipate that rates will likely not be decreasing soon. However, even in the face of these economic challenges, there are ways for you to stay prepared while working towards a better financial future.

One way to set yourself up for success in 2023 is to book an appointment with one of CUA’s Financial Advisors. Our team will work with you so that you feel more confident in achieving your full financial potential. You can also take advantage of our CUAdvice webpage, which offers a range of resources to help our personal and commercial members improve their confidence and knowledge of money matters. Whatever your objectives are for the year, if you need help developing a plan to reach your financial goals, you can contact a member of our team any time.

For business owners looking for other financing opportunities in the upcoming year, CUA offers the Small Business Loan Guarantee Program, which is a unique financing program designed to empower small businesses in Nova Scotia to succeed. Through the Program, CUA can provide you with financing up to $500,000 in the form of term loans, working capital and lines of credit. For non-profit organizations, we also offer the Social Enterprise Loan Guarantee Program. If you have any questions about either of these Programs, or are interested in learning more, you can speak with a member of our team.

Finally, I’m excited to advise that CUA’s Community Investment Grant Program will open for applications next week on January 17th. Each year, we provide direct funding to individuals, organizations, small businesses and social enterprises as part of this Program. For some inspiration, you may want to revisit the list of our previous grant winners. This year’s five grant categories include: 1. small business; 2. community; 3. health, wellness and recreation; 4. sustainability; and 5. arts and culture. Further details, including eligibility criteria and how to apply, are available on our website.

Going forward into 2023, from everyone here at CUA, we wish you well on your upcoming personal and financial journeys. As always, if you have any questions about one of CUA’s products or services, please reach out to a member of our team at 902.492.6500 or info@cua.com.

Your CEO,

Marie Mullally

President & CEO

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