Showing up for those who show up for others
What’s ahead
Getting ahead of the holiday squeeze
Introducing the Newark Nonprofit Wealth Project
Stackwell joins the National Day of Empowerment with the National Urban League Young Professionals
Community spotlight: investing together
Getting ahead of the holiday squeeze
The holidays come with joy, connection, and (let’s be honest) a lot of pressure to spend. At Stackwell, we don’t believe in strict budgets, guilt trips, or pretending December isn’t expensive. Instead, here are five ways to move through the season with more clarity and less stress:
Start with what actually matters to you. Not what Instagram says. Not what your family always did. Think about the moments, traditions, or people that genuinely make your season feel full — and spend in ways that support those, not everything.
Don’t get tricked by the “flash sale” effect. Holiday sales are designed to feel urgent and unmissable — so much so that we end up whipping out our credit cards before we get a chance to think. If something wasn’t on your radar before the banner ad popped up, take a breath. Write it down. Revisit it tomorrow and see if it still feels like a good idea.
Plan for the “invisible” expenses. We think about gifts, but forget the add-ons: food for gatherings, travel, shipping, outings, last-minute surprises. Listing them out — without judgment — gives you a clearer picture of what December actually costs.
Choose one or two areas to go big, and give yourself permission to go smaller everywhere else. This isn’t about restricting yourself — it’s about being intentional. Maybe that means prioritizing one or two meaningful gifts. Buying pricey gifts is just one way we show the people around us that we care.
Create your own “future me” check-in. Ask: Will this purchase still feel good in January? If yes, great. If not, it’s worth pausing. This isn’t about saying no — it’s about making choices your future self will thank you for.
No matter what your holiday looks like, the goal isn’t to restrict yourself — it’s to feel good about where your money’s going. A little intention now can make your December a lot lighter.
Introducing the Newark Nonprofit Wealth Project
At Stackwell, we believe in showing up for those that show up for others. That means when we have a chance to directly improve the lives of nonprofit workers — we take it.
Nonprofit workers are the backbone of our communities. Day after day, they’re on the front lines supporting others — which often means their own financial wellness gets pushed to the background. At Stackwell, we believe the people who give so much deserve the tools, resources, and confidence to invest in themselves, too.
That’s why we’ve partnered with the United Way of Greater Newark, with support from the Prudential Foundation, to launch the Newark Nonprofit Wealth Project. This program is designed to help nonprofit employees build financial confidence and long-term stability. Participants will receive $1,500 in seed funding, a free Stackwell account, workshops, and in-app learning experiences — real support for the people who keep Newark running.
As Trevor Rozier-Byrd, our Founder & CEO, puts it: "Nonprofit workers give so much of themselves — emotionally, physically, and financially — to care for others. This program is about helping them refill their own cups. By pairing investment capital with education and community support, we're equipping nonprofit employees to build lasting financial security for themselves and their families."
Initiatives like this reflect our broader mission: building programs that meet real community needs and deliver meaningful, measurable impact. The Newark Nonprofit Wealth Project is just the beginning — and we’re proud to keep showing up for the people who strengthen our communities every single day.
Stackwell joins the National Day of Empowerment with the National Urban League Young Professionals
We are so excited whenever we have the opportunity to connect with people about the power of investing because we know that these conversations can change everything.
Earlier this month, we did just that when we took part in the National Urban League Young Professionals National Day of Empowerment. Trevor Rozier-Byrd, our Founder & CEO, joined Angela Simmons-Smith, President of the National Council of Urban League Guild, and Tyler Litt, NULYP President, for a panel on one of the biggest questions facing young professionals today: Where do we start when it comes to building generational wealth?
At Stackwell, we work hard everyday to help people answer this question — and the foundation to the answer is a simple fact: investing in the financial markets is the primary path to long-term wealth in the U.S.
But too often, that knowledge feels out of reach — wrapped in jargon, gatekeeping, or a sense that “investing isn’t for people like me.” Many people don’t know the role investing plays in wealth building, and even fewer know how to take the first step.
That’s why conversations like these matter. Trevor shared practical, accessible ways to begin, answered questions from the audience, and emphasized that building wealth isn’t about perfection — it’s about starting where you are, with what you have, and building confidence over time.
We’re grateful to the National Urban League Young Professionals for creating space for honest dialogue, community learning, and real empowerment. Moments like these remind us why we do the work: to make wealth-building tools clear, approachable, and available to everyone.
Community spotlight: Investing together
Alexis Smith was always a natural leader — on the soccer field, in the classroom, and around campus. So when Stackwell’s Student Ambassador Program came across her radar, she jumped in without hesitation.
A few years later, her younger brother Blake headed off to college, ready to tackle basketball, journalism, and, thanks to Alexis, the world of investing. Stackwell became a shared spark — a way to think about money differently, build financial skills, and help their peers do the same.
For Alexis and Blake, investing is all about the basics — and that’s exactly what they tell people who are just starting out.
“Don’t be intimidated,” Alexis says. “At the time when I started, I was doing — I can’t even remember what the dollar amount was — it was very small, it was what I could afford right before graduating college and starting my first job.”
Over time, taking that chance has paid off. “Just seeing how much my own portfolio has grown over the years is honestly amazing,” she added.
Right now, Blake may not have a lot of cash to invest, but it’s laying the groundwork for financial wellness that will serve him as he gets older.
“It’s the principles and the tactics that when I do make big money, I’ll know what I’m doing,” Blake says. “And until then, I’ll always have a certain amount of money set aside that’s building money. That’s why I think it’s the perfect time to invest.”
As for Alexis, she sums up the meaning of financial wellness in a single word: “Empowerment.”
Read more about Alexis, Blake, and our other community spotlights
Disclaimer: This paid client testimonial was of an actual Stackwell client. This testimonial may not be representative of the experience of other clients. No testimonial is indicative of future performance or success. This testimonial may not represent all interactions or relationships with Stackwell.