Building Financial Confidence from the Ground Up

Trina Hoff, President & CEO

Northern Communities Credit Union

February 5, 2026

In this episode of Deda Sphere T.I.P.P.S., host Jami Jennings sits down with Trina Hoff, President and CEO of Northern Communities Credit Union and recipient of the 2025 Deda Sphere Community Champion Award.

Trina shares how a small conversation with five local students sparked the Financial Literacy Initiative (FLi), a real-life money education program now impacting schools, nonprofits, recovery programs, and tribal communities.  FLi empowers people to build confidence, set goals, and create practical financial plans.

Tune in here to learn:

  • What financial literacy really means—and why “real life” education matters
  • How partnerships with schools, nonprofits, courts, and tribal communities fuel impact
  • Why starting small, listening deeply, and filling local gaps is the key to success

If you’re passionate about community impact, cooperative values, and helping people build financial confidence that lasts, this episode is a must-listen.

🎧Listen Now

Notes:

Free Organizations with Resources and Materials

CUFEN – CUFEN CU Financial Education Network

Next Gen Personal Finance – Next Gen Personal Finance

FinHealth Hub | NCUF – FinHealth Hub – NCUF

NEFE – National Endowment for Financial Education | NEFE

Financial Education Software for Financial Institutions

Banzai – financial literacy education and life skills training | Banzai

Boucoup – Boucoup – Family Friendly Mobile Banking

RMJ Foundation – Richard Myles Johnson Foundation – Home

Cashy – Cashy

Cents of Adventure – CentsofAdventure – Digital Reality Fair Experience

Dream – DreamPublishing.com – The Growth Engine for Parent & Teen Account Openings.

EverFi – Homepage – Everfi

GoalSetter – Goalsetter Classroom Financial Education Platform and App – Goalsetter

Greenlight – Debit Card for Kids and Teens | Greenlight

Greenpath – Free Financial Counseling Services | GreenPath

Igrad/Enrich iGrad: Financial Wellness

KOFE – KOFEtime Financial Wellness Benefits Platform

Money Habitudes – Transform Finances with Money Habitudes: Card Game & Quizzes

Money Vehicle – Financial Literacy Curriculum for Students – Your Money Vehicle

MoneyEDU – Financial Wellness and Literacy Programs for Credit Unions | MoneyEdu

My First Nest Egg – Welcome to My First Nest Egg – Financial Literacy for Young Kids

Nudge Global – Financial Wellbeing Platform | nudge Global

Pathways – Pathway Financial: Free Financial Education and Training

StockTrak – Virtual Stock Market Simulator and Financial Literacy Games – StockTrak

Stukent – Stukent – First-in-the-world Simternships™ and Courseware : Stukent

Troutwood – Troutwood | Financial Planning & Engagement Platform

Zogo – Zogo – the Duolingo for Financial Literacy