Financial Well-Being
GW employees have access to programs to help you meet your financial goals and are eligible for special discounts as members of the GW community.
NEW! GW's 2025 Financial Well-being Campaign
In 2025, align your spending, saving, and goals with your core values
Money is more than just numbers in a bank account. It is tied to our emotions, values, and life choices. Whether it's family, security, or personal growth, our financial choices are often influenced by our priorities. When you align your spending, saving, and other financial decisions with your personal values, you create a sense of purpose and clarity in your financial life.
Join us and our vendor partners to take control of your money in a way that reflects who you are and what matters most to you. By using tools, resources, webinars, meditations and more, you can learn to manage financial stress and build a plan rooted in your values, while moving toward a healthier, more fulfilling financial future.
Budgeting with Purpose
A budget is a tool used for financial wellness, but it also ensures your spending reflects what matters most to you. It gives you a clear picture of where your money is going, helping you make intentional choices that support your values.
- Get Started
- Use budgeting apps or a simple spreadsheet to track your income and expenses. This will help you stay on top of where your money is going and catch spending patterns that might conflict with your goals.
- Before making a purchase, take a mindful pause. Add items to your cart, but wait a day before buying, or talk a walk and return to the decision afterward. These small pauses can reduce impulsive spending.
Expert Guidance with Headspace: Budgeting Basics
Managing Debt Mindfully
Debt can be overwhelming, but addressing it step-by-step helps reduce financial stress. Create a plan to pay down your debt based on your goals, lifestyle, and stress levels.
- Get Started
- Focus on paying off debts that are causing you the most stress or that clash with your financial goals. Whether you start by paying off high-interest debt or smaller balances first, ensure your strategy feels manageable for you.
Seek financial resources and counseling if you are feeling overwhelmed to ensure you receive expert tailored guidance on debt management.
Expert Guidance with Headspace: Confronting Debt
Saving with Intention
Saving money can feel like a challenge, but when it's tied to something meaningful, it becomes purposeful. Whether you're saving for a home, travel, or future security, think about how your savings goals reflect what's important to you.
- Get Started
- Use visual tools, like a vision board, to keep your savings goals in sight and stay motivated.
- Set clear, specific savings goals. For example, rather than "Save more", try setting a goal like " Save $50 each month for a travel fund."
Expert Guidance with Headspace: Save More Money
- Use visual tools, like a vision board, to keep your savings goals in sight and stay motivated.
Prioritizing Mental Health
Maintaining a healthy mental and emotional state is key to making better financial decisions. If stress or anxiety impacts your habits, addressing these feelings at the root can improve your relationship with money.
- Get Started
- Take care of your mind and body such as getting enough sleep, practicing meditation, or even speaking with a mental health counselor to help manage the impact of financial stress.
- Practice gratitude for what you have to help reduce stress and encourage a more positive outlook on your financial situation.
Expert Guidance with Headspace: Your Mental Health Matters
- Take care of your mind and body such as getting enough sleep, practicing meditation, or even speaking with a mental health counselor to help manage the impact of financial stress.
Gauge Your Financial Well-being
- Take a Financial Check-up Assessment
- Explore What Financial Well-being Means to You
Reflect on Your Financial Goals and Values
Use the the following journal prompts and reflection time to better understand your financial motivations, strengthen your sense of purpose, and create a path that feels right for you.
- What matters most to me? List your top three values. Examples include family, personal growth, freedom, security and more.
- How do my current spending and saving habits reflect my values? Refer to your budget and spending patterns. Some example considerations might be - Are you investing in things that bring you closer to the life you want? Do some of you spending habits conflict with your values?
- What changes can I make to align my finances with my priorities? Identify an area or two where you can adjust your financial habits to better reflect what's most important to you.
- Why do I want financial security? Understanding the 'why' behind your financial goals can keep you focused and motivated.
- What does financial independence mean to me? Examples include being debt-free, having freedom to pursue passions without financial worry and more.
- What habits or beliefs have shaped my relationship with money? Consider possible messages you have internalized about money from family or society and if these beliefs still serve you.
- What are my short-term and long-term financial goals? Consider goals that reflect your values and the life you want to build.
- How does financial stress impact me? Recognize how financial stress shows up in your life, whether it be through anxiety, insomnia, relationship tension, or something else, so that you can address it head-on.
- Review Self-Paced Learning Opportunities
Fidelity
TIAA
- Utilize Financial Tools and Calculators
- Register for an Upcoming Event
On Demand Sessions
Fidelity
- Identify and Prioritize Your Savings Goals
- Create a Budget You will Actually Use
- Investing for Beginners
TIAA
- Take Control of Your Financial Life: 5 Steps to Save Money and Manage Debt
- Investing Essentials: 5 Principles to Invest with Confidence
- Financial Wellness and Mental Health
UnitedHealthcare
Live Sessions
Fidelity
- Explore the Latest Ways to Save and Pay for a Child’s Education I May 29 at 12pm ET
TIAA
- How can I afford college for my kids or grandkids? I May 7 at 12pm ET
Virginia 529
- Saving for Education with Invest529 I May 22 at 1pm ET
Maryland 529
- An Introduction to College Savings I May 29 at 12pm ET
DC 529
Additional Financial Well-being Resources
Retirement Counseling
Retirement consultants from Fidelity and TIAA are available to assist GW employees who are enrolled in the GW retirement plans. Gain more understanding about the plans, available investments, how to create a savings plan and more. If you need help preparing to meet with a financial consultant, check out Tips for Working with a Financial Professional prior to booking an appointment.
Support from the GW Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Call the Employee Assistance Program number at 888-881-5462 to speak with a financial consultant for free 30-minute consultation for each financial issue:
- Create a budget
- Set long-term goals
- Understand bankruptcy options and requirements
- Avoid foreclosure and handling creditors
- Prepare for a home purchase and saving for your down payment
Castlight
Castlight is on a mission to make it as easy as humanly possible for individuals to navigate the healthcare system and live happier, healthier, more productive lives.
Our health navigation platform connects you to health vendors, information related to your specific medical plan, FSA and HSA balances, and more. It's a comprehensive health and well-being experience.
Health Advocate
The GW Health Advocate Program is an independent healthcare advocacy and assistance company that offers individuals and their families personalized, expert help to navigate the healthcare and insurance systems to save time and money.
Headspace
Learn to approach finances through a lens of mindfulness and compassion with Headspace's financial well-being courses, meditations and resources located in the app.
View Past GW Financial Well-being Campaigns
- 2024
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Money Management Style Definitions:
Juggler - employees who desire financial stability and may be anxious about how to best prioritize expenses to get by, however are hopeful to improve their current financial situation.
- Short -Term Priorities = pay current bills, start to save for emergencies, pay down debt
- Long-Term Priorities = Save for retirement, Save for big purchase like home
- Challenges = building financial literacy, rebound from financial setbacks
Safeguarder - employees who desire financial certainty and are cautiously managing their finances and seeking safe, non-risky ways to save more.
- Short -Term Priorities = pay off student loans, start saving more for retirement, pay off debt
- Long-Term Priorities = plan for retirement, save for a big purchase like a home
- Challenges = prioritize competing obligations, save enough to retire comfortably
Aspirer - employees who desire financial freedom and are motivated to make improved financial decisions while actively exploring ways to achieve/make progress toward their financial goals.
- Short -Term Priorities = pay off debt, Save for college costs, start investing/build wealth
- Long-Term Priorities = Save for big purchase like home, retire comfortably
- Challenges = build investing knowledge, save for multiple goals
Collaborator - employees who desire financial security and are free of short-term financial worries, however, prefer guidance to feel confident in their financial decisions for their future.
- Short -Term Priorities = maximize investments, protect against inflation
- Long-Term Priorities = retire comfortably, preserve money for future generation
- Challenges = live comfortably, maintain lifestyle & health
DIYer - employees who desire financial independence and want to feel empowered to make their own financial decisions and strategies.
- Short -Term Priorities = build wealth, save for retirement
- Long-Term Priorities = retire comfortably, preserve money for future generation
- Challenges = navigate complex financial topics, stay happy and healthy
Among today's diverse workforce, the path to financial well-being can be unique for every individual. Do you constantly struggle to get ahead and pay the next lot of bills? Or maybe you’re someone that always has money in the bank for whenever you need it. Whether you consider yourself a money juggler hoping for financial stability, a safeguarder desiring financial certainty, an aspirer wishing for financial freedom, a collaborator looking for financial security, or a DIYer set on financial independence, we invite you to join us as we explore strategies, tools, and resources tailored across these 5 different money management styles that can help you to improve your financial well-being and reach your financial goals.
- 2023
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Grab your GW financial passport and join us on our journey together towards improved financial well-being.
During your travels, acquire unique GW stamps and earn chances to win incentives along the way as you move through the following locations: managing money, building resilience, growing wealth, and protecting wealth. Once you complete a session, you will receive your stamp via email to add to your passport and you will be automatically entered into the pool of employees eligible for prize consideration.
Wherever you are traveling from, GW Benefits together with our vendor partners are here to help equip you with financial tools and resources to reach a healthy and secure destination.
