PHOENIX -- Elderly couples, business owners and young people here were recently helped when the head of a credit union investment and trust services CUSO participated in a local television segment on financial planning.

Michael Prior, president/CEO of Credit Union Financial Network, a CUSO providing investment and trust services to credit unions in Arizona, was one of eight experts taking phone calls on NBC Affiliate Channel 12 on Monday evening. The station sought out the Financial Planning Association, of which Prior is a member, for volunteers.

The two-hour block of calls ran the gamut: from couples with extra cash wanting to know if they should pay down their mortgage, to a husband whose wife left him with a pile of debt "but half the income." An elderly woman wanted to know how a reverse mortgage worked.

By far, Prior said the most heartbreaking story came from a married couple in their 70s. Together, they spend $1,500 each month on medication.

"She was wondering if she should stop taking her medicine so that she could pay her bills," Prior said.

Calls like these inspired Prior to encourage all 19 of CUFN's financial advisors to join FPA.

"I left [the station] feeling like, 'I hoped I helped someone,'' Prior said.

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TV Segment Features CU Expert Fielding Consumer Calls

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