2025 Smarter in September: Our virtual series recap
In September, UBT’s Journey team brought back our beloved Smarter in September series, a virtual how-to lineup designed to inform, inspire, and spark meaningful conversations. Attendees joined us every other Tuesday at 2 p.m. for expert-led sessions that tackled some of life’s more delicate and important topics — including honoring loved ones through end-of-life planning, navigating the complexities of dementia, and safer ways to send money in today’s digital world.
Each segment featured live Q&A and helpful resources, with some presenters offering handouts to deepen the experience. Whether you joined us live or are catching up on YouTube, these thoughtful and practical sessions are well worth your time. So, settle in, browse the recaps, and get ready to push play — it’s time to get smarter!
Smarter Personal Expressions: A Guide to Celebrating a Life Well Lived
Featuring Kevin Orth, Director of Preneed Planning and Community Outreach – Butherus, Maser & Love Funeral Home
This heartfelt session offered a fresh approach to end-of-life planning, led by Kevin, whose warmth, humor, and honesty brought comfort to a topic often avoided. Through reflection on life’s past, present, and future, attendees explored how to capture meaningful memories, wishes, and insights. The goal: to ease the emotional and financial burden of funeral planning for loved ones while ensuring your memorial reflects who you are. From practical tools to emotional support, Kevin showed how planning ahead brings peace of mind, clarity, and a legacy of love. His message was clear — your final celebration should be as unique as your life. This is definitely time well spent — have a look!
Smarter About Sending Money: Safer Banking in a Digital World
Featuring Isabel Garcia, Assistant Trainer, Customer Support Team – Union Bank & Trust
Isabel delivered a clear, confidence‑building tour of UBTgo on both desktop and mobile app, showing how to set it up and move money quickly and securely. (Note: Message and data rates may apply.) She walked through BillPay, Zelle®, and other options step by step, then layered in essential best practices for online banking and peer‑to‑peer payments. Her guidance on fraud and scam awareness was practical and empowering — teaching attendees to spot red flags, safeguard accounts, and respond if something feels off. Throughout the session, Heather Rhea, Customer Support Team Manager, fielded questions, keeping the conversation interactive. Engagement was so high that Isabel extended the presentation by 30 minutes, ensuring everyone left with real‑world know‑how. If you want to feel safer and more in control when you bank digitally, this is a can’t‑miss session — check it out!
Smarter About Dementia: Insights for a More Supportive Journey
Featuring Gayleen Bradley, PAC Certified Dementia Consultant, Administrator at Orchard Park Assisted Living
Gayleen Bradley brought warmth, clarity, and deep expertise to this eye-opening session on dementia and memory care. With a no-nonsense approach and years of hands-on experience, she helped attendees better understand what dementia is — and why it’s often misunderstood. Gayleen explained the different types of dementia and their symptoms, shared surprising insights into potential causes, and highlighted new research linking healthy lifestyle choices to reduced dementia risk. Her practical tips for meaningful communication and connection were invaluable, not just for those on the dementia journey but also for their care partners. She emphasized the importance of recognizing common behaviors, interpreting what they may signal, and taking steps to avoid caregiver burnout. Whether you're supporting a loved one or simply seeking to understand more, this session is a must-watch.
That’s a wrap!
That concludes another series of Smarter in September! Thank you for joining us, Journey friends. We’re grateful to our presenters for sharing their time, wisdom, and compassion. These sessions were designed to help you feel more informed, empowered, and connected — and we hope you found them valuable, whether you joined us live or caught the recordings. Until next time, stay curious and keep learning!
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