When it comes to personal finance, most of us think about goals—saving for a home, paying off debt, or launching a business. But financial wellness isn’t just about reaching milestones; it’s about the habits and choices we make every day. It’s a practice, and like any practice, it gets stronger with personalized guidance, practical support and trusted resources.
Chase Community Manager Aja Clark helps neighbors in D.C. turn financial wellness into a routine that fits your life, providing practical money skills education and support on important money skills like budgeting, saving, building credit, and scam prevention.
Making Financial Wellness Part of Everyday Life
You can start small when practicing financial wellness. It can look like a 10-minute weekly money check-in, setting up automatic savings, asking a question about credit, or joining a workshop to learn how to spot a scam before you get hit.
Through local collaborations and free workshops, Community Managers help neighbors build healthy money habits like budgeting, improving credit, planning for homeownership, and protecting against scams—open to everyone in the community, customers and noncustomers alike.
We sat down with Chase Community Manager Aja Clark in D.C. to learn more about the impact of their work and the opportunities ahead.
- What led you to the Community Manager role in D.C. and what has been the impact?
I’ve always believed that financial knowledge is one of the most powerful tools a person can have. I’ve witnessed firsthand how small, consistent steps can lead to big changes because it impacts the choices you make, the opportunities you pursue, and how much stress you carry day to day. Many people were never taught the basics in a clear, practical way—so when a surprise expense hits or prices rise, it can feel like you’re behind before you even start.
As Community Manager, I support D.C. by connecting neighbors, businesses, and local leaders to the right financial resources for their unique priorities. I host workshops at branches and out in the community to help people build money skills that improve their lives, and the lives of their family—whether it’s buying a home, growing a business, or simply feeling more confident about their finances.
It is so rewarding to help D.C. build towards a stronger financial future. Every day, I get to engage with people who are working towards their dreams, even when things feel overwhelming. Seeing someone leave a workshop with a new sense of confidence—or hearing that it helped them avoid a scam or start saving for the first time—reminds me that we’re building a stronger region together.
What do you recommend the community does to strengthen their financial wellness?
As inflation and rising costs stretch households’ budgets, the most effective response is a plan you can stick with. By focusing on repeatable habits—setting aside money weekly, building an emergency fund, and putting essentials first—you can cover today’s costs while still saving.
- Make a simple budget: A budget is a spending plan that can help protect both your essentials and your future. A practical budget starts with clarity on what’s coming in, what must go out, and what can be adjusted—then it turns saving into a weekly habit.
- Treat savings like a bill: Set aside a small amount every week, even if it’s just a few dollars. Automate it if you can. Consistency is more important than the amount.
- Build an emergency fund in phases: Aim for a starter buffer first—enough to cover a surprise expense—then work toward a bigger goal, like a few months of essentials. Even a small amount of money put aside every week can reduce stress and create flexibility when prices move.
- Check in weekly: Spend 10 minutes each week comparing your plan to what you actually spent. Adjust as needed, and don’t be hard on yourself if things change—like groceries and transportation, where inflation often shows up quickly. The key is to keep going.
Financial wellness isn’t about being perfect—it’s about building a system that helps you handle what life throws at you.
- What is Chase doing to make it easier for people to strengthen their financial wellness?
We’re bringing more financial wellness support and personalized guidance into more neighborhoods. Through the American Dream Initiative, JPMorganChase is doubling the number of Community Centers, hiring 150+ more Community Managers, and expanding our financial education programs with the goal of reaching 5 million people.
JPMorganChase’s American Dream Initiative is a multi-year effort to expand economic opportunity by scaling evidence-based solutions that help the economy work for more people. JPMorganChase will provide financing, facilitate capital, offer advice, training and tools to help people start and grow small businesses. The firm will also significantly expand investments in proven initiatives that help people find affordable places to live, save and plan for their financial futures, get good jobs, access quality health care, and strengthen local institutions.
Explore tools for every financial journey at chase.com/financialgoals and for more information on the American Dream Initiative, visit www.jpmorganchase.com/America.
For informational/educational purposes only: Views and strategies described in this article or provided via links may not be appropriate for everyone and are not intended as specific advice/recommendation for any business. Information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but JPMorgan Chase & Co. or its affiliates and/or subsidiaries do not warrant its completeness or accuracy. The material is not intended to provide legal, tax, or financial advice or to indicate the availability or suitability of any JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. product or service. You should carefully consider your needs and objectives before making any decisions and consult the appropriate professional(s). Outlooks and past performance are not guarantees of future results. JPMorgan Chase & Co. and its affiliates are not responsible for, and do not provide or endorse third-party products, services, or other content.
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