Free Tools to Help You Take Control of Your Finances

The difference between feeling stuck financially and feeling confident often comes down to having the right tools and the right guidance. As a Bellco member, you can take advantage of access to both at no cost. 

Learn at Your Own Pace with MoneySmarts 

Bellco has teamed up with EVERFI, an online leader in financial education, to bring members MoneySmarts, a free and user-friendly program featuring short online tutorials to help you develop key personal finance skills. Topics cover everything from building emergency savings and creating a budget to understanding credit scores and planning for retirement. The tutorials are quick, mobile-friendly, and available to everyone at no cost. Follow this link to get started.   

Get Personalized Guidance with Financial Counseling

If you’re personally dealing with a complex financial situation, sometimes reading a general tutorial isn’t enough. That’s where personalized financial counseling comes in. Through Bellco’s arrangement with GreenPath Financial Wellness, members have access to expert financial counseling to help with budgeting, managing debt, saving for the future, and making informed financial decisions tailored to their unique situation. It’s exactly the kind of one-on-one support that can make a real difference when life gets complicated.

Complimentary Webinar: Wills & Trusts 101 

Planning for the future financially is one of the most important things you can do for the people you love, and Bellco is making it easier to get started. Attend a complimentary Wills & Trusts 101 webinar presented by The Hughes Law Firm on Sept. 30, where you’ll get a plain-language introduction to estate planning basics. Just make sure to register for this complimentary webinar.

Start Your Financial Journey Today

From on-demand tutorials to live events and personalized coaching, Bellco is committed to making the tools members need to move forward with clarity and confidence available to all members. Follow the link to explore all of our free financial education resources. 

Bellco is not affiliated with nor responsible for the products and services provided by any preferred vendor.

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Celebrate Labor Day Without Blowing Your Budget

Labor Day Weekend falls at a beautiful time of year in Colorado. Great weather for hiking, camping, or spending time at a farmer’s market makes this extended weekend a great last hurrah for favorite summer activities.  

Whether you’re looking to explore the mountains or stay in town, Bellco has you covered with fun seasonal activities without the financial hangover.

Camp Sites for Outdoor Adventurers 

If you’re craving a weekend getaway without the expenses that traveling brings, check out the variety of campgrounds offered by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Once you decide which amenities you’d like for your site, you can choose from campgrounds, often ranging from $20-$40 per night. The Bureau of Land Management also offers free dispersed campgrounds as well as developed campgrounds, which can be found on their website.  

Road Trip Ideas that Won’t Drain Your Wallet 

Visit Great Sand Dunes National Park 

Looking for a change in scenery? Take in the views of Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in southern Colorado. This unique park offers free camping on Bureau of Land Management lands just outside of the park and requires an entrance fee. A pro-tip for weekend getaways is packing snacks and shopping at grocery stores for picnics on the road instead of eating out to save some cash! 

Drive the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway  

The stunning Peak to Peak Scenic Byway is Colorado’s oldest scenic drive, established in 1918. With attractions all along the drive such as the ghost towns in Hesse and Apex, Rocky Mountain National Park, Golden Gate Canyon State Park, and more, this trip is easily doable in a day from Denver, or it could be stretched over a long weekend.  

Free Labor Day Weekend Events Near You 

Labor Day Lift Off – Colorado Springs 

Sept. 5-7, 2026 

At this three-day event you can see 70 hot air balloons take to the sky each morning. Afterward, you can enjoy breakfast and drinks from local vendors and activities including skydiving demonstrations, wake boarding exhibitions, paddle boarding, live entertainment, chainsaw carving, and donut eating competitions. 

Louisville Labor Day Parade and Fall Festival 

Sept. 7, 2026 

If you’re excited to welcome fall to town, look no further than the Louisville Labor Day Parade and Fall Festival. Starting at 9 AM, there will be a children’s pet parade with a variety of animals, followed by the rest of the parade showcasing marching bands, dance troupes, and equestrians. Stop by Memory Square Park afterward for food trucks, local crafts, fresh produce, and baked goods, all from local vendors. 

Explore a New Trail in Boulder 

If you’re in the Front Range and looking for an escape to nature that will still have you home by dinnertime, check out some of Boulder’s many hiking trails. Whether you’re looking for views of the flatirons and wildlife or just a day out with your dog, Boulder has options for everyone.  

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Balance Returns and Flexibility with CD Laddering

For many people, a certificate of deposit (CD) is a great savings option to get a fixed interest rate for a set amount of time that’s much higher than a typical savings account. But if you’re someone who’s worried about possibly losing access to your savings in case an emergency comes up, the idea of putting a large amount into a long-term CD might seem risky. For anyone who is looking for a good way to balance getting the higher returns of a CD and still maintain financial flexibility to access your funds if needed, then a CD ladder strategy can be a great tool to build savings.

What is a CD Ladder?

A CD ladder is a savings strategy where multiple CDs are opened at one time with different maturity dates staggered in an equal timeframe (typically every six months or every year). As a result, once the CDs are established, you will have a CD maturing every six months or every year, giving you regular access to funds without sacrificing the high rates that longer-term CDs offer.

For example, if you have $5,000 dollars to invest, instead of putting it all in a single five-year CD, you’ll split it into five $1,000 CDs:

• CD 1: Six-month term
• CD 2: One-year term
• CD 3: Two-year term
• CD 4: Three-year term
• CD 5: Five-year term

Once CD 1 matures, you will then reinvest the $1,000 (plus interest it accrued) into a new 5-year (or whatever timeframe gives the best return rate) CD. When CD 2 matures at the end of year one, you do the same. Every time a CD matures, you’ll have a chunk of your initial deposit to spend if needed or otherwise reinvest into a new CD with the best rate. If you keep staggering the maturity dates of the CDs, you will have access to a portion of your money at the end of each term.

By spreading your money across cascading CD terms, you’ll have constant access to at least a portion of your cash. Also, by increasing your liquidity and knowing when you’ll be able to enjoy that liquidity, you are less likely to end a CD term early and thereby pay an expensive fee. If you end up not needing the money, you can still take advantage of earning longer-term CD rates knowing you’ll have a CD maturing and more funds available within the timeframe you originally set if cash is needed then.

What are the Pros and Cons of a CD Ladder?

Pros include:

• Rate Protection from Both Rising and Falling Rates: If rates rise, you’ll have the opportunity to “catch the wave” with your maturing CDs. If rates fall, you have peace of mind knowing your existing long-term CDs remain locked into yesterday’s better rates.
• Liquidity on Your Terms: Depending on your ladder structure, you’ll have access to some of your funds without early withdrawal penalties.
• Predictable Returns: Unlike investing in stocks, you’ll know exactly what you’ll earn and avoid volatility.
• Zero Risk to Principal: Insurance (FDIC for banks and NCUA for credit unions) will cover up to $250,000 per depositor, per account type, per institution.

Possible cons include:

• Opportunity Cost: Trading stocks holds more potential risk but also can yield higher potential gains.  In the same way, choosing a shorter (or longer) term in order to make sure you stagger the CD maturity dates could leave some money on the table, because you’re not always choosing the CD with the best rate.
• Limited Access: With CD laddering, you’ll gain annual access to a portion of your money each year, but the majority of it will still be inaccessible without penalties.
• Effort Involved: CD Laddering requires keeping track of your CDs to have an effective strategy. It’s important to keep in mind that if you don’t close your CD during the grace period, your bank or credit union may automatically renew your CD for the same term. While this isn’t a major issue, it does diminish the intended purpose of the ladder.

Build a CD Ladder with Bellco

Building a CD ladder is a straightforward process, though there are a few basics to consider.

Start by deciding how much money you wish to dedicate toward your effort. Once you’ve got that sorted, determine how frequently you want your CDs to mature. This should depend on how long you can make do without your cash and the current state of interest rates. You don’t have to put the same amount into each term, but it’s generally a good idea to spread your cash evenly across accounts. It’s easier to manage, involves fewer decisions when a CD matures, and you’ll get the benefit of hedging against interest rate risks.

In the end, choosing a CD ladder strategy is all about maximizing certainty in your returns while still maintaining some flexibility in your finances. If you’re interested in learning more, you can speak with a Bellco Credit Union representative at your nearest convenient branch today. Additionally, Bellco is currently offering a special rate of 3.90%* APY on a 12-Month CD that you can factor into your ladder. You can open a Bellco CD with as little as $500 so it’s a great option whether you’re on the start of your savings journey or looking for a great short-term return for a large chunk of your savings.

Bellco is federally insured by the NCUA.  Membership eligibility required.

*The annual percentage yield (APY) is accurate as of September 1, 2026 and is subject to change without notice at any time prior to the issuance of the certificate. After the point of issuance, APY is fixed for the full term of the CD. Early withdrawal penalties may apply. Fees or withdrawal may reduce earnings on the account.

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Don’t Let Colorado’s Fall Catch Your Home Off Guard

If you’ve lived in Colorado for more than one season, you know how fast the weather shifts. Summer lingers just long enough to feel comfortable, and then the temperatures drop, the leaves turn, and the first snow arrives way ahead of schedule. For homeowners, that’s a reminder that preparation matters more than timing. 

The good news is that fall is one of the best times to invest in your home, and Bellco has a smart, flexible way to help you fund those projects before winter arrives. 

Getting Your Home Fall-Ready 

A little preparation now can save a lot of headaches later. Here are some of the most impactful projects to tackle before the first freeze hits. 

• Seal windows and doors. Drafts drive up heating bills. Re-caulking and weatherstripping make a noticeable difference in comfort and energy costs. 
• Inspect your roof and gutters. Clearing gutters and addressing weak spots before the season turns protects against costly winter damage. 
• Service your heating system. Having your furnace inspected before you need it most helps avoid emergency repair costs at the worst possible time. 
• Insulate pipes and crawl spaces. Proper insulation can protect your home from pipes bursting, one of Colorado’s most disruptive cold-weather problems. 

Fund It All with Bellco’s Home Equity ChoiceLine 

Bellco’s Home Equity ChoiceLine combines the stability of a home equity loan with the flexibility of a line of credit, giving you access to funds when you need them. You can have up to three fixed-rate subaccounts open at any one time, and ChoiceLine rates are typically lower than unsecured loans, with the added benefits of no annual fees** or pre-payment penalties.  

Visit Bellco.org/ChoiceLine or stop by any Bellco branch to learn more or apply today and put your home’s equity to work this season. 

Bellco is an Equal Housing Opportunity Lender.

**Variable Annual Percentage Rate (APR) for well-qualified borrowers as of September 1, 2026, is 6.75% and is subject to change without notice. Maximum APR for variable rate advance is 21%. Variable rate may change after account opening. Property must be insured, owner occupied (primary or secondary), and located in Colorado. Membership eligibility required. All loans subject to approval.