The CUInsight Network podcast: Empowering financial futures - Zogo

“We want to meet people where they are, in an approachable way.” – Ben Brooks

Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.

My guest on today’s show is Ben Brooks, President at Zogo, Inc., a financial education app. He joins me to discuss his background and how he ended up working in the credit union industry, despite not originally envisioning that career path.

In our conversation, Ben explains Zogo's mission is to "empower everyone to take control of their financial future, one lesson at a time,” which Zogo achieves via a mobile app that gamifies complex financial concepts, making them engaging and digestible for users of all ages and experience levels. The app covers topics from basic budgeting to advanced investing, and a key focus for Zogo is partnering with credit unions to help them better connect with younger members around financial education.

Ben looks ahead and shares how Zogo is focused on continually enhancing the app experience, possibly even adding features like paper trading. He also highlights Zogo's "user-obsessed, partner-focused" approach, aiming to be a trusted resource for credit unions to rebuild relevance and trust with members.

As we wrap up, Ben shouts-out the moms in his life, shares his love for Upstate New York, and tells us why he loves James Clear's book Atomic Habits. Enjoy my conversation with Ben Brooks!

[01:12] – Ben reflects on admiring fatherhood and firefighting, valuing community roles from his blue-collar upbringing.
[02:28] – We hear how early startup roles sparked Ben’s passion for learning every function.
[05:18] – Joining Zogo felt deeply personal for Ben, aligning with his roots and desire to financially empower others.
[06:29] – Ben explains that Zogo’s mission is to gamify financial literacy via apps and integrations, making complex topics fun and more digestible.
[09:28] – Credit unions often struggle to connect emotionally with younger members.
[10:09] – Hear how Zogo bridges financial gaps by gamifying education, rewarding users, and making money feel more approachable.
[13:07] – Ben explains how Zogo studies user behavior weekly to optimize learning.
[16:27] – Ben highlights trust via timely education—not sales—especially during moments of financial stress.
[19:25] – Listen as Ben credits his mother and mother-in-law as tireless, humble role models who lead by example.
[20:32] – We learn how Ben values experiences over materials, especially spending time with loved ones in relaxing places.
[22:17] – Ben believes that everyone should read James Clear’s book Atomic Habits.
[23:10] – Work recharges Ben via creative collaboration, while home recharges him via peaceful moments with his wife.
[24:22] – Zogo invites credit unions to make financial learning fun and effective.