Dimensions Newsletter July 2026

JULY 2026

DIMENSIONS

DIMENSIONS: CONNECTING ELEMENTS OF WELL-BEING

IN THIS ISSUE:

Our quarterly Dimensions newsletter is here to support you on your path to well-being with useful personal wellness information.

Explore Financial Guidance for Every Stage of Life Don’t Skip the Appointment: Routine Screening Catches Cancer What a Midyear Financial Tune-Up Looks Like

WELL-BEING PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES

How Creativity can Boost Your Health and Happiness

Well-Being Overview

Get Creative for Your Next Meal With Sweet Corn Fritters

Well-Being Programs

HealthFlex Program FAQs

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Explore Financial Guidance for Every Stage of Life Financial decisions don’t happen in a vacuum, and they’re not limited to planning for retirement. Through Wespath’s partnership with EY Navigate, you have access to professional, confidential financial guidance designed to support your full financial picture at no additional cost to you*.

What EY Can Help With Budgeting and cash-flow planning Managing debt and credit Planning for major purchases like a home or car

Whether you’re managing debt, planning a major purchase or thinking about long-term goals, EY Navigate offers guidance across a wide range of needs. People just like you have received guidance around budgeting and credit management to tax considerations, education planning and estate decisions.

Evaluating insurance needs Saving for education Understanding tax considerations Retirement and long-term planning

As one participant shared, “I had an eyeopening experience… making me more aware of the need for this service.”

Visit EY Navigate

*Costs for these services are included in Wespath’s operating expenses that are paid for by the funds.

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One-on-One Support Focused on You, Not Products A defining feature of EY Navigate is access to experienced financial planners who provide objective, unbiased support without selling products or services. Moreover, if you’re United Methodist clergy, these planners also understand your unique circumstances and the financial considerations involved.

I am forever grateful for the EY planner that I am working with!

Through ongoing conversations, you can ask questions, explore options and build a financial plan that reflects your unique goals and circumstances.

Coming September 2026: A NextLevel EY Navigate Experience What’s New Faster, easier navigation to tools and resources Online appointment scheduling to connect directly with your EY financial planner A clearer, more complete view of your financial picture The updated platform will continue to pair powerful planning tools with personalized guidance, helping you turn financial goals into actionable steps more easily than ever before.

New website, new log in You’ll need to create a new username and password Your Wespath participant number is also required for secure login

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Turning Questions Into Confident Decisions With the right support, financial questions become opportunities to take action.

In one example, a participant worked with an EY financial planner to better understand investment options and advisory fees. With those insights and guidance in visualizing their financial picture, they chose to consolidate their retirement plan assets into their Wespathadministered account, reducing fees and simplifying their overall strategy.

Professional and personable… helped us with all our questions.

EY Navigate can help you move from uncertainty to clarity, and from planning to action, all with greater confidence in your decisions.

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Turning Questions Into Confident Decisions EY Navigate Is Available at No Additional Cost

In addition to one-on-one guidance, EY Navigate offers digital tools that can help you take control of your financial well-being. Once you register at wespath.eynavigate.com, you can easily:

EY financial planning is available to active participants and surviving spouses with an account balance in Wespath-administered retirement plans, as well as to terminated and retired participants with an account balance of at least $10,000. Costs are included in Wespath’s operating expenses that are paid for by the funds.

Track spending and build budgets Evaluate debt and repayment strategies Visualize savings and investment goals Create step-by-step financial action plans Together, these tools and personal conversations break complex financial topics into manageable, meaningful steps.

Visit EY Navigate

To register for EY Navigate, you’ll need your Wespath participant number, which can be found in Benefits Access by clicking your name in the upper right-hand corner. You can also call 1-800-360-3539, business days from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Central time, to start the process of connecting with a financial planner. Start your journey with a trusted partner to help you navigate financial decisions at every stage of life.

Looking Ahead: Single Sign-On (SSO) In August, EY Navigate Single Sign-On (SSO) will make accessing your financial information even easier, allowing seamless movement between benefitsaccess.org and wespath.eynavigate.com without multiple logins. The result: quicker access, fewer barriers and a more connected experience.

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Don’t Skip the Appointment: Routine Screening Catches Cancer For Joanne Hinrichs, Active Benefits manager at Wespath, taking care of others had always come naturally. But in the midst of helping a family member through a health crisis, she put her own care on hold, delaying routine appointments and preventive screenings. It’s a decision she now reflects on with clarity and conviction.

“As a concerned family member and professional whose role focuses on health benefits, I regularly remind others to take care of themselves,” Joanne shared. “Yet I wasn’t practicing what I preach.”

That changed in early 2025, when a small symptom she initially brushed off—an inflamed area and a small lump—prompted her to finally schedule the mammogram she had postponed.

What followed was a whirlwind of appointments, tests and, ultimately, a diagnosis: two aggressive forms of stage 3 breast cancer.

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Asking for Help and Support Within weeks, Joanne began an intensive treatment plan that included chemotherapy, surgery and ongoing immunotherapy. The pace was overwhelming. Like many patients, she found it difficult to process information and advocate for herself in those early days.

“In those moments, it’s like your brain just shuts down,” she said. “You need help navigating it all.”

That’s where support resources can make a meaningful difference. Programs like Care Coordination* for those in HealthFlex can help individuals understand treatment options, ask questions and feel confident in their decisions, especially during emotionally charged moments.

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Asking for Help and Support

Finding Purpose to Stay Motivated

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For Joanne, finding the right care team was critical. After seeking a second opinion, she connected with a multidisciplinary team that not only supported her physically, but mentally and emotionally as well.

As she progressed through treatment, Joanne found another unexpected source of healing: connection. Whether through her care team, coworkers or cancer support groups, staying connected helped her resilience.

“They didn’t just treat the cancer,” she said.

“They prepared me for the journey. Nutrition, mental health, everything.”

Support for the whole person is a cornerstone of well-being. Joanne credits counseling support and mental health resources with helping her stay grounded throughout treatment and encourages individuals covered by HealthFlex to take advantage of the Employee Assistance Program (EAP)*.

“The mental and the physical have to go hand in hand,” she said.

Joanne’s family supporting her through her cancer journey.

“For me, coming back to work helped my mental health,” she said. “It gave me purpose again.ˮ While Joanne found her renewed drive through her career, motivation may look different for everyone.

The Power of Preventive Care Today, as Joanne continues her follow-up care, she has a powerful message for others: “Make the time for your health. Don’t assume something is nothing. Get it checked out. If something feels off, call your doctor. And most importantly, put yourself first.”

Joanne having fun styling accessories as a way to stay positive during her cancer journey.

Finding Purpose to Stay Motivated Even during the most difficult moments, including multiple hospitalizations, Joanne focused on small, daily goals. Getting out of bed, taking care of her dogs and maintaining a routine helped her keep a sense of normalcy.

“Give yourself a task to complete,” she advised.

“Even if it’s just one thing a day.ˮ VOL. 11 | ISSUE 3

She added, “If I had done my mammogram earlier, things might have been different. I’ll never put my health last again.”

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The Power of Preventive Care (CONTINUED)

*HealthFlex Well-Being Programs

Her advice is simple but urgent: take advantage of preventive care opportunities, such as annual doctor’s visits. And, if you participate in HealthFlex, take the Health Check* and Blueprint for Wellness* screening to catch potential issues early.

Wespath’s HealthFlex plan offers a range of well-being programs and tools to help you care for your health, such as preventive care benefits and mental/emotional support.

Some programs include:

Joanne’s journey is a reminder that while life can pull us in many directions, our health must remain a priority. Taking care of yourself isn’t just about you—it’s what allows you to continue showing up for those who depend on you.

On her last day of treatment, Joanne rings the bell signifying the completion of cancer treatment.

Blueprint for Wellness: a biometric screening that can provide valuable insight into your overall health, such as blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose and more. (HealthFlex participants and covered spouses are each eligible for a $100 annual incentive for completing the screening.)

Health Check: a confidential online health questionnaire that measures lifestyle risks in areas of stress, sleep, physical activity nutrition and more.

(HealthFlex participants and covered spouse who complete the Health Check between January 1 and August 31 will avoid a higher annual deductible in the next plan year.)

Care Coordinators: a dedicated team of nurses, benefits specialists and claims experts who help make navigating health care easier. (Support is available at no additional cost to HealthFlex participants.)

Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Often used interchangeably with “bond.” A classification of securities that represents an obligation to make periodic payments in the form of interest and to return principal at a future specified date.

Explore Well-Being Programs

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What a Midyear Financial Tune-Up Looks Like As summer begins, many of us take time to do some maintenance around the house, such as reviving our garden or getting that long-overdue oil change in our car. Your finances deserve the same attention.

Whether you're focused on paying down debt, building savings or preparing for retirement, simply checking in on your progress can help you stay connected to your long-term goals.

A midyear financial tune-up doesn't require major changes or a complete overhaul. Instead, it can be an opportunity to pause, review and make sure important information is up to date. Taking a few moments now may help you feel more organized and prepared for whatever the rest of the year brings.

The following are a few areas you may want to review.

Revisit Your Financial Goals The beginning of the year often comes with resolutions and plans, but life doesn't always follow a script. Midyear is a good time to revisit the goals you set for yourself and determine whether they still align with your current priorities.

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Review Your Savings Contributions If you participate in a retirement savings plan, consider reviewing your current contribution rate. Has your financial situation changed since the beginning of the year? Have you received a raise or experienced a change in expenses?

Understanding how much you're currently saving can help you make informed decisions about your finances. Even if you decide not to make any changes, being aware of your contribution level is an important part of staying engaged with your financial future.

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Check Your Beneficiaries Beneficiary designations are easy to overlook, but they play an important role in many financial accounts and insurance benefits.

Life events such as marriage, divorce, the birth of a child or the loss of a loved one may affect whether your current designations still reflect your wishes. Taking a few minutes to review this information can provide peace of mind.

Organize Important Documents Consider creating a simple system for storing important financial documents, whether digitally or in paper form. This may include account statements, insurance information, tax documents and estate planning materials.

Knowing where these documents are located can save time and reduce stress when you need them.

Small Steps Can Make a Difference A midyear financial tune-up isn't about making dramatic changes. It's about taking a moment to review where you are today and ensuring your information, goals and plans still align with the future you envision.

Sometimes one of the most valuable steps you can take is simply checking in. A few minutes spent reviewing your progress today can help you feel more informed, organized and prepared for the months ahead.

Financial Education Resources

Take Advantage of Available Resources Wespath offers several educational tools, webinars and planning resources designed to help you better understand your benefits and finances. Exploring these resources can help you build knowledge and confidence as you work toward your goals.

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Looking for additional support? Explore the financial education resources and tools available through through your benefits to help you stay informed and engaged throughout the year.

Explore Financial Resources

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How Creativity can Boost Your Health and Happiness Wespath employees and their families get creative at the annual Summer Staff Event in August 2024.

Positive emotions can spark creativity, and creativity itself can increase feelings of happiness, creating a reinforcing cycle that supports well-being over time. This means that even small moments of creativity can have a meaningful impact on your mood.

When was the last time you did something creative without worrying about whether it was “good” or productive? Artists aren’t the only ones that use creativity. Whether it’s doodling in your notes or growing a new plant in your garden, you’re engaging your imagination.

Creativity is a natural part of how we think, problem-solve and connect, and research shows it can have a powerful impact on both our mental and physical well-being.

The Link Between Creativity and Well-Being While creativity is often associated with selfexpression, it also plays an important role in how we experience happiness. Studies show there is a strong connection between creativity and overall well-being. In fact, research has found that people who engage in creative activities report higher levels of subjective wellbeing, even after accounting for stress and other life factors.

The relationship works both ways.

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A Natural Antidote to Stress and Loneliness Creativity also plays an important role in addressing stress and social disconnection— two factors that can significantly impact overall health. Experts at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health highlight how creative expression can help reduce feelings of loneliness and strengthen a sense of connection. Creative activities like storytelling, music or art can provide a way to process emotions and share experiences with others, even when words are difficult to find. In a world where many people face increasing stress and isolation, creativity offers a simple but powerful way to reconnect with yourself and with others.

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How Creativity Supports Your Brain and Body

The benefits of creativity go beyond how you feel in the moment—they also influence how your brain works.

By making space for creative expression in your daily life, you may find it easier to reduce stress, build resilience and experience more moments of joy.

So, the next time you feel stuck, overwhelmed or simply in need of a reset, try doing something creative. It might be exactly what your brain and well-being need.

When you engage in creative thinking, multiple parts of the brain work together, supporting flexibility, problem-solving and innovation.

Creative activities can also promote a sense of focus and calm similar to meditation, helping reduce stress and improve mental clarity.

Over time, these effects can strengthen your ability to adapt, manage challenges and think in new ways, which are important skills for both well-being and everyday life.

Simple Ways to Build Creativity Into Your Routine The good news? You don’t need special skills or training to experience the benefits of creativity.

What matters most is making time for it.

Track Your Creativity (and Other Healthy Habits) with Personify Health

Here are a few simple ways to get started: Try something new. Cook a different recipe (such as this sweetcorn and carrot fritter meal), rearrange a room or explore a new hobby.

Write it out. Journaling can help process thoughts and reduce stress.

Make it social. Join a class, share creative projects or collaborate with others.

Start small. Even 10–15 minutes of creative activity can make a difference.

Focus on the process. Let go of perfection and enjoy the act of creating.

Remember, creativity doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s about finding new ways to express, explore and engage with the world around you.

If Personify Health is included in your benefits package, log in or register for the program to start tracking your daily Be Creative and/or Color Away Stress Healthy Habits (find Healthy Habits under the Home tab).

Healthy Habits and other actions in Personify Health earn you points, which count work toward earning “Rewards Cash,” the “rewards currency” for HealthFlex. Use your Rewards Cash to shop the Personify Health Store (found under the More tab).

You’re eligible for the program if you’re a HealthFlex participant or covered spouse. If you’re not in HealthFlex, you may be eligible for Personify Health as a retiree or if your conference or employer offers standalone Personify Health. Check with your conference office or human resources representative to confirm your eligibility.

Making Creativity Part of Your Well-Being

Creativity is more than a pastime. It’s a tool that can support your mental, emotional and even physical health.

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Register for Personify Health

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Get Creative for Your Next Meal With Sweet Corn Fritters Bored of remaking your usual recipes? Get creative and boost your health* with this out-of-the-box meal: Sweet Corn and Carrot Fritters Serves: 4 2 medium canned sweetcorn, drained 6 oz grated carrots 1 garlic clove 1 tsp ground cumin 2 tsp paprika 3 oz self-rising flour 5 medium eggs 4 sprays cooking spray 4 oz fat free natural yogurt 2 Tbsp lemon juice 2 large canned chickpeas, drained 14 oz halved cherry tomatoes 1 small thinly sliced red onion 1 ½ Tbsp fresh parsley

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*Learn how creativity can help improve happiness and well-being.

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Instructions: 1. Preheat the oven to 325°F. Put the sweet corn, carrots, garlic and spices into a bowl and stir to combine. Season to taste, then stir in the flour. Beat one of the eggs, then add to the mixture and mix well. Form the mixture into 8 patties, then transfer to a plate and set aside.

2. Mist a large nonstick frying pan with cooking spray and set over a medium-high heat. Fry the patties in batches of 4 for 3 minutes on each side, until just golden. Transfer to a baking sheet and keep warm in the oven, then repeat with the remaining patties.

3. Wipe the pan clean, then mist with more cooking spray and fry the remaining eggs for 3-4 minutes, or until the whites are set and the yolks are still soft.

4. Meanwhile, combine the yogurt and lemon juice in a small bowl, then season to taste. In a separate bowl, toss together the chickpeas, tomatoes and red onion, then spoon over the yogurt mixture. Scatter over the parsley and toss to combine.

WeightWatchers (WW) Who: If you are a HealthFlex participant, you, your spouse and your dependents age 18 or older are eligible for a WeightWatchers discount.

Cost: $9.75 per month for the digital plan; $19.11 per month for the digital and workshops plan (more than 50% off the retail price).

Learn More About WW

5. Serve the fritters with the fried eggs and chickpea salad, with the extra parsley and some freshly ground black pepper scattered over.

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