At Prosperity Credit Union, supporting their employees goes beyond the workplace. By partnering with the CSS Pension Plan as their pension provider, Prosperity helps ensure the financial wellbeing of their team at every stage of their career and into retirement. 

“We all want to retire, but it’s not always easy to prioritize savings on our own,” says Lesley Carlson, Chief Financial Officer at Prosperity Credit Union. “With the CSS Pension Plan as a trusted partner our employees are on the right path for retirement.”  

By offering the CSS Pension Plan as part of their total rewards program, Prosperity removes the administrative burden and balance sheet risk, allowing them to focus on running their business. They also benefit from expert pension administration and professional investment management at a low cost. 

“CSS does all the administrative work to ensure we are following all relevant pension rules,” Lesley adds. “That peace of mind is invaluable to us as an employer.” 

“Having a pension plan sets you apart as an employer,” Lesley continues. “It’s an important part of our total rewards package and shows that we’re invested in our employees’ long-term financial wellness.” 

Prosperity offers the CSS Pension Plan to help attract and retain top talent while maintaining control over contribution rates and overall pension costs. 

“We offer up to 7% matched contributions after one year of employment,” Lesley says. “Our employees are very happy to have a retirement savings plan, and they appreciate the stability and structure it provides.” 

As members of the CSS Pension Plan, Prosperity employees also gain access to retirement planning tools and calculators, educational webinars, and personalized support from CSS Retirement and Pension Advisors.  

“CSS is a trusted partner that really focuses on member service,” says Lesley. “As a member of the Plan myself, I’ve used their online tools and find them user-friendly. I also know I can talk to a CSS Advisor or participate in a webinar and that is pertinent to me.” 

Lesley, who is both a Plan member and a member of the CSS Board, values the importance of the co-operative governance structure. “Having plan members serve on the Board is important,” she explains. “There’s a vested interest in the overall success of CSS when you’re a member.”  

From her perspective, both employees and employers have a shared interest in the Plan's success. 

 “To stay relevant as a benefit offering, we need to ensure our employers are engaged, and that our employees’ needs are being met,” Lesley says. 

 “As a co-operative ourselves, member control through a governance structure is an important part of being a co-operative,” Lesley adds. “It’s important to have a co-operative partner like CSS that shares our values and commitment to serving our members.” 

Her advice to other employers considering joining CSS is simple:  

“Don’t hesitate. The best time to start is now. You’ll be giving your employees a benefit that ensures they can afford to retire in the future. CSS is a great partner for your business and your employees.”  

In the end, Lesley values the peace of mind CSS brings to Prosperity’s team. “We are setting up a retirement plan for the future that they don’t have to think about and that will provide them future security.” 

 Prosperity Credit Union was formed in 2025 through the merger of Cypress, Diamond North, and Prairie Centre Credit Unions. It is a member-owned credit union with a focus on driving rural prosperity and helping their members, neighbours, and communities thrive financially across rural Saskatchewan.  

Before coming together as Prosperity Credit Union, each of the founding credit unions maintained a long-standing partnership with the CSS Pension Plan: 

• Cypress Credit Union – employer member since 1964 

• Diamond North Credit Union – employer member since 1963 

• Prairie Centre Credit Union – employer member since 1973 

Lesley has been part of the credit union system and a member of the CSS Pension Plan for nearly 40 years. She has served as a delegate since 2020 and joined the CSS Board as a director in 2023.