Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Financial UA and Underearners Anonymous?
What is the difference between Financial UA and Debtors Anonymous?
When was Financial UA created? How old is this fellowship?
Are there Qualified Sponsors available in Financial UA? How do I get a Qualified Sponsor? Who do I choose?
How do I approach working the 12 Steps in Financial UA?
What does Recovery look like in Financial UA?
What types of Financial UA meetings are there?
How do I get started in this program?
Is Financial UA really a 12 Step Fellowship or a Non-Profit Organization or a Public Charity?
Is my donation to Financial UA tax deductible?
What is the difference between UA and Financial UA?
Underearners Anonymous helps people come out of the cave and become positively visible. In UA members track the passage of Time and document what they do with their time. UA was founded and incorporated in October 2005 in New York City, New York.
Financial UA helps people get a Job; heal their work ethic; channel more Earning Power; and improve their earning, income, savings & wealth. FUA was founded in the Summer of 1994 in Jessup, Maryland and later incorporated in 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland.
What is the difference between DA and Financial UA?
Debtors Anonymous helps people abstain from using credit cards or taking out unsecured loans and stop debting one day at a time--living a life of solvency and not incurring new unsecured debt. Members of DA commonly document their purchases through "record-keeping" and use a Spending Plan to manage expenses.
Financial UA helps people get a Job, heal their work ethic, channel more Earning Power and increase their income and wealth one day a time--living a life of prosperity. Members of Financial UA use an Earning Plan to maximize their income. They also use a Trajectory to plan out their Job or Career path; to plan their journey of investing & building wealth; or to plan out larger projects or Visions.
When was Financial UA created? How old is this Fellowship?
Financial UA was founded in the Summer of 1994 by Lucian J. and Jay K. (both A.A. members at the time) at Patuxent Institution in Jessup, Maryland. The FUA program of recovery combines 12 Step Recovery (from A.A.) with Think & Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill and resulted in the "Prosperity Method". This Prosperity Method was passed on to new sponsees in the Baltimore Metropolitan area using the "Baltimore Style" (placing a heavy emphasis on doing Interviews with prosperous people in recovery). After building a fellowship of prosperous 12 Steppers in Maryland, this approach was taught to members outside the state and the fellowship grew organically. In 2015, Higher Power/Earning Power spoke through the group conscience directing that the fellowship legally incorporate so as to better carry the message through more organized and structured channels. In the Summer of 2024, FUA celebrated 30 years since its founding and celebrated 10 years of legal incorporation in June 2025.
Are there Qualified Sponsors available in Financial UA?
As of May 1, 2025, there are FOUR (4) Qualified Sponsors available. More Sponsors will become available with time as people join Financial UA; work the FUA 12 Steps; learn the Recovery Tools, Prosperity Tools & Spiritual Techniques; and start more groups. You may consider attending the MONDAY EVENING Sponsorship & Step-work ZOOM group at 9:30pm EST.
Qualified Financial UA Sponsors are on each of these calls to do Q & A and to help members study the 12 Steps, 12 Traditions, & "The Golden Ratio".
How do I find a Qualified Sponsor to help me recover?
Consider attending six (6) Financial UA meetings; take a guided tour of the FUA website; get the phone numbers of 5 to 10 other FUA members and interview them about their experience, strength and hope around the FUA program. If you want what we have consider making a commitment to work the program of recovery. You may also consider attending other 12 Step meetings that focus on getting healthy around money. Ask the healthiest and most prosperous members you find at the FUA meetings if they know of any Qualified Sponsors who might be available to work with you. A Qualified Financial UA Sponsor is always on the 12 Step ZOOM Workshop to do Q & A and to help members process their Step-work. Additionally, FUA Qualified Sponsors lead ZOOM Workshops on the Traditions and also the Golden Ratio. You might consider connecting with a Qualified Sponsor there.
Who do I choose as a Qualified Sponsor?
You might consider choosing someone who is available to help you. It helps if that person has the prosperity and recovery that you want for yourself. A Qualified Sponsor has thoroughly completed the first 5 steps in Financial UA, being guided by another Qualified Sponsor, is employed (or retired) at a JOB, and has a working knowledge of how to use the various Tools of Recovery, Tools of Prosperity, and Spiritual Techniques in Financial UA. If no Qualified Sponsors are available in Financial UA, you might consider choosing a financially prosperous and open-minded member of Debtors Anonymous, Business Debtors Anonymous, or Alcoholics Anonymous to help you get started. While these alternative resources may not have recovery from financial underearning, they may still help you become familiar with the 12 Step Recovery process. Additionally you may learn more by reading the "Sponsorship" page on the FUA website.
How do I approach working the 12 Steps of Financial UA?
It is suggested you work the FUA 12 Steps with a Qualified FUA Sponsor. The Steps are spiritual exercises that come to life when people work them with other people. Recovery is a team sport. The Steps are not meant to be worked in isolation. You can also do the Step-work with other members of Financial UA within a group setting (such as a Step-Working ZOOM Workshop led by a Qualified FUA Sponsor ) or with an action partner (Step-working partner). We recommend that both action partners be working directly with a Qualified FUA Sponsor. Financial UA has a dedicated YouTube channel that hosts a variety of videos, many of which focus on How to Work the 12 Steps in FUA. While there are many options for working the Steps, the recommended way is to seek out a Qualified FUA Sponsor to work with you directly one to one. You may consider attending the Monday 12 Step FUA Workshop ZOOM groups. A Qualified Sponsor is on each call to do Q & A and to help members process their Step-work.
What does Recovery look like in Financial UA?
Financial UA is a Spiritual program designed to help people get a JOB, heal their work ethic and recover financially. People with financial recovery have experienced the Financial UA Prosperity Promises. Also, prosperous members will have experienced improvement with channeling Earning Power into their income, wealth and often also their career growth. For many unemployed financial underearners, the first sign of recovery is getting a JOB. Once employed, a financial underearner works to earn enough to cover all of his/her needs (or necessary expenses), some of his/her wants (optional luxuries or comforts), and to still have enough earnings left over to put into savings. If these milestones have been met he/she can authentically say that they have financially Recovered. From this point, the sky is the limit as they grow further toward building greater levels of sustainable Prosperity. The end goal of working is to eventually retire from the workforce in a way that allows each member to be financially prosperous, to live with grace and dignity, and to leave a legacy of service and prosperity, which they may choose to pay forward to the next generation.
What types of Financial UA meetings & workshops are there?
As of April 2025, there are 11 Meetings & Workshops of Financial UA held each week. These groups are offered over a dedicated free conference call line and also over the ZOOM platform. So far the Financial UA Meetings & Workshops tend to focus on Step-work, Traditions, Golden Ratio, Tool Usage, Prosperity Literature , studying the Symptoms of financial underearning, holding Mastermind sessions, and early morning check-in's. Additional "pop-up" meetings are frequently held on special topics such as "Introducing New Members to the FUA Website" or having an "Open Discussion about Sponsorship in FUA." The Financial UA World Service Office regularly offers in-person meetings, recovery bootcamps, recovery meet-ups, meeting marathons and share-a-day events at various major cities in the United States and sometimes in other countries. The FUA Service Office also regularly partners with other Fellowship committees (such as D.A., S.L.A.A., O.A., Al-Anon, A.A. and N.A.) to host combined recovery events where members can recover around multiple issues at the same time within a supportive fellowship space.
How can I get started working the program of Financial UA?
You might consider attending 6 meetings of Financial UA, in-person, on ZOOM or by phone. It is also encouraged that you thoroughly check out this website to learn more about the FUA program of recovery. Most of the FUA literature is free to download and print so that you can study it. There are YouTube videos about how to work each of the 12 Steps of Financial UA and also videos explaining how to use the Recovery Tools, Prosperity Tools and Spiritual Techniques of FUA.
Is Financial UA really a 12 Step Fellowship or a Non-Profit Organization or a Public Charity?
Financial UA is a 12 Step Fellowship and is registered with Alcoholics Anonymous World Service. FUA received permission directly from A.A.W.S. to use and adapt the 12 Steps of A.A. and the 12 Traditions of A.A. FUA is associated, but not affiliated, with A.A. in compliance with Traditions Four, Five, Six, Seven and Ten.
Financial UA is registered in the United States on the State and Federal level as a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization and currently has a tax-exempt status with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. This allows Financial UA to accept donations and allows our benefactors to classify their donations as tax-deductible.
Financial UA is registered on the State and Federal level as a Public Charity, allowing FUA to accept charitable donations to help further our Primary Purpose.
Is my donation to Financial UA tax deductible?
Financial UA is a registered 501(c)3 corporation, "public charity" and non-profit organization. Any donations, including 7th Tradition contributions, are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the United States law.
Submit your questions via the Contact page.
Participate in an Anonymous Fellowship Survey.
What is the difference between Financial UA and Debtors Anonymous?
When was Financial UA created? How old is this fellowship?
Are there Qualified Sponsors available in Financial UA? How do I get a Qualified Sponsor? Who do I choose?
How do I approach working the 12 Steps in Financial UA?
What does Recovery look like in Financial UA?
What types of Financial UA meetings are there?
How do I get started in this program?
Is Financial UA really a 12 Step Fellowship or a Non-Profit Organization or a Public Charity?
Is my donation to Financial UA tax deductible?
What is the difference between UA and Financial UA?
Underearners Anonymous helps people come out of the cave and become positively visible. In UA members track the passage of Time and document what they do with their time. UA was founded and incorporated in October 2005 in New York City, New York.
Financial UA helps people get a Job; heal their work ethic; channel more Earning Power; and improve their earning, income, savings & wealth. FUA was founded in the Summer of 1994 in Jessup, Maryland and later incorporated in 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland.
What is the difference between DA and Financial UA?
Debtors Anonymous helps people abstain from using credit cards or taking out unsecured loans and stop debting one day at a time--living a life of solvency and not incurring new unsecured debt. Members of DA commonly document their purchases through "record-keeping" and use a Spending Plan to manage expenses.
Financial UA helps people get a Job, heal their work ethic, channel more Earning Power and increase their income and wealth one day a time--living a life of prosperity. Members of Financial UA use an Earning Plan to maximize their income. They also use a Trajectory to plan out their Job or Career path; to plan their journey of investing & building wealth; or to plan out larger projects or Visions.
When was Financial UA created? How old is this Fellowship?
Financial UA was founded in the Summer of 1994 by Lucian J. and Jay K. (both A.A. members at the time) at Patuxent Institution in Jessup, Maryland. The FUA program of recovery combines 12 Step Recovery (from A.A.) with Think & Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill and resulted in the "Prosperity Method". This Prosperity Method was passed on to new sponsees in the Baltimore Metropolitan area using the "Baltimore Style" (placing a heavy emphasis on doing Interviews with prosperous people in recovery). After building a fellowship of prosperous 12 Steppers in Maryland, this approach was taught to members outside the state and the fellowship grew organically. In 2015, Higher Power/Earning Power spoke through the group conscience directing that the fellowship legally incorporate so as to better carry the message through more organized and structured channels. In the Summer of 2024, FUA celebrated 30 years since its founding and celebrated 10 years of legal incorporation in June 2025.
Are there Qualified Sponsors available in Financial UA?
As of May 1, 2025, there are FOUR (4) Qualified Sponsors available. More Sponsors will become available with time as people join Financial UA; work the FUA 12 Steps; learn the Recovery Tools, Prosperity Tools & Spiritual Techniques; and start more groups. You may consider attending the MONDAY EVENING Sponsorship & Step-work ZOOM group at 9:30pm EST.
Qualified Financial UA Sponsors are on each of these calls to do Q & A and to help members study the 12 Steps, 12 Traditions, & "The Golden Ratio".
How do I find a Qualified Sponsor to help me recover?
Consider attending six (6) Financial UA meetings; take a guided tour of the FUA website; get the phone numbers of 5 to 10 other FUA members and interview them about their experience, strength and hope around the FUA program. If you want what we have consider making a commitment to work the program of recovery. You may also consider attending other 12 Step meetings that focus on getting healthy around money. Ask the healthiest and most prosperous members you find at the FUA meetings if they know of any Qualified Sponsors who might be available to work with you. A Qualified Financial UA Sponsor is always on the 12 Step ZOOM Workshop to do Q & A and to help members process their Step-work. Additionally, FUA Qualified Sponsors lead ZOOM Workshops on the Traditions and also the Golden Ratio. You might consider connecting with a Qualified Sponsor there.
Who do I choose as a Qualified Sponsor?
You might consider choosing someone who is available to help you. It helps if that person has the prosperity and recovery that you want for yourself. A Qualified Sponsor has thoroughly completed the first 5 steps in Financial UA, being guided by another Qualified Sponsor, is employed (or retired) at a JOB, and has a working knowledge of how to use the various Tools of Recovery, Tools of Prosperity, and Spiritual Techniques in Financial UA. If no Qualified Sponsors are available in Financial UA, you might consider choosing a financially prosperous and open-minded member of Debtors Anonymous, Business Debtors Anonymous, or Alcoholics Anonymous to help you get started. While these alternative resources may not have recovery from financial underearning, they may still help you become familiar with the 12 Step Recovery process. Additionally you may learn more by reading the "Sponsorship" page on the FUA website.
How do I approach working the 12 Steps of Financial UA?
It is suggested you work the FUA 12 Steps with a Qualified FUA Sponsor. The Steps are spiritual exercises that come to life when people work them with other people. Recovery is a team sport. The Steps are not meant to be worked in isolation. You can also do the Step-work with other members of Financial UA within a group setting (such as a Step-Working ZOOM Workshop led by a Qualified FUA Sponsor ) or with an action partner (Step-working partner). We recommend that both action partners be working directly with a Qualified FUA Sponsor. Financial UA has a dedicated YouTube channel that hosts a variety of videos, many of which focus on How to Work the 12 Steps in FUA. While there are many options for working the Steps, the recommended way is to seek out a Qualified FUA Sponsor to work with you directly one to one. You may consider attending the Monday 12 Step FUA Workshop ZOOM groups. A Qualified Sponsor is on each call to do Q & A and to help members process their Step-work.
What does Recovery look like in Financial UA?
Financial UA is a Spiritual program designed to help people get a JOB, heal their work ethic and recover financially. People with financial recovery have experienced the Financial UA Prosperity Promises. Also, prosperous members will have experienced improvement with channeling Earning Power into their income, wealth and often also their career growth. For many unemployed financial underearners, the first sign of recovery is getting a JOB. Once employed, a financial underearner works to earn enough to cover all of his/her needs (or necessary expenses), some of his/her wants (optional luxuries or comforts), and to still have enough earnings left over to put into savings. If these milestones have been met he/she can authentically say that they have financially Recovered. From this point, the sky is the limit as they grow further toward building greater levels of sustainable Prosperity. The end goal of working is to eventually retire from the workforce in a way that allows each member to be financially prosperous, to live with grace and dignity, and to leave a legacy of service and prosperity, which they may choose to pay forward to the next generation.
What types of Financial UA meetings & workshops are there?
As of April 2025, there are 11 Meetings & Workshops of Financial UA held each week. These groups are offered over a dedicated free conference call line and also over the ZOOM platform. So far the Financial UA Meetings & Workshops tend to focus on Step-work, Traditions, Golden Ratio, Tool Usage, Prosperity Literature , studying the Symptoms of financial underearning, holding Mastermind sessions, and early morning check-in's. Additional "pop-up" meetings are frequently held on special topics such as "Introducing New Members to the FUA Website" or having an "Open Discussion about Sponsorship in FUA." The Financial UA World Service Office regularly offers in-person meetings, recovery bootcamps, recovery meet-ups, meeting marathons and share-a-day events at various major cities in the United States and sometimes in other countries. The FUA Service Office also regularly partners with other Fellowship committees (such as D.A., S.L.A.A., O.A., Al-Anon, A.A. and N.A.) to host combined recovery events where members can recover around multiple issues at the same time within a supportive fellowship space.
How can I get started working the program of Financial UA?
You might consider attending 6 meetings of Financial UA, in-person, on ZOOM or by phone. It is also encouraged that you thoroughly check out this website to learn more about the FUA program of recovery. Most of the FUA literature is free to download and print so that you can study it. There are YouTube videos about how to work each of the 12 Steps of Financial UA and also videos explaining how to use the Recovery Tools, Prosperity Tools and Spiritual Techniques of FUA.
Is Financial UA really a 12 Step Fellowship or a Non-Profit Organization or a Public Charity?
Financial UA is a 12 Step Fellowship and is registered with Alcoholics Anonymous World Service. FUA received permission directly from A.A.W.S. to use and adapt the 12 Steps of A.A. and the 12 Traditions of A.A. FUA is associated, but not affiliated, with A.A. in compliance with Traditions Four, Five, Six, Seven and Ten.
Financial UA is registered in the United States on the State and Federal level as a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization and currently has a tax-exempt status with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. This allows Financial UA to accept donations and allows our benefactors to classify their donations as tax-deductible.
Financial UA is registered on the State and Federal level as a Public Charity, allowing FUA to accept charitable donations to help further our Primary Purpose.
Is my donation to Financial UA tax deductible?
Financial UA is a registered 501(c)3 corporation, "public charity" and non-profit organization. Any donations, including 7th Tradition contributions, are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the United States law.
Submit your questions via the Contact page.
Participate in an Anonymous Fellowship Survey.