It’s often said, “you should make your money work for you, not the other way around.” But how do you do that, exactly? Perhaps you have stocks that automatically reinvest dividends or a 401(k) that grows through automatic deductions from your paycheck. Your salary is probably directly deposited into your checking account. Automation already plays an important role in how you manage your money. But are you maximizing its potential for helping you manage the complete...

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Financial goals have become more of a discussion lately. Millennials get a bad rap – they aren’t saving for retirement, they don’t want to buy a house, they can’t survive a $400 emergency. The majority of discussions show us that these issues – retirement, purchasing a home, saving for an emergency – are top of mind for many. When we look at what people are doing to combat the shackles of student loan debt or the lack of retirement savings, the conversation...

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Savings rates are on the rise, it’s a great time to develop a savings growth strategy. We frequently discuss savings rates with our customers.  Through most of the last decade savers were forced to settle for lower yields on deposits, stuck in a low-rate environment.  Even those fortunate to lock in higher returns during the brief market up-ticks grew weary of the feast or famine situation.  There is a simple diversification method to increase your savings returns over the...

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How old were you when you learned that money did not grow on trees? You might be able to vividly remember the disappointment you felt when you learned you had to work hard to earn money. To prevent your youngsters from suffering the same disappointing fate, teach them about finances earlier in their lives. Some experts say that it’s never too early to start talking about money. Even at 3 years old, kids can understand the concept of money and its importance. Here are some tips that we’ve...

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The Coronavirus outbreak has thrown a wrench in just about everyone’s plans this year. From smaller goals to major life plans, people around the country are finding it necessary to adjust. Since you can’t pay your bills in stockpiled toilet paper (yet), read a few of our finance tips on managing money below: The Basics of Adjusting Your Budget First off, we’d usually say cut out unnecessary spending, such as a night out at the movies or splurge trips to the mall, but the quarantine...

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When it comes to creating your budget for the year, a vacation allowance is not typically considered an important expense. But maybe it should be, especially if you have little ones in your household. Planning and saving for a vacation is a great way not only to create life-long memories but also give your children the tools to learn how to create a budget and instill saving at a young age. Where do you start? The most important lesson you can teach your children is conceptualizing money and...

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It’s 2020, so this should be the year that provides clarity for you to look at your personal finances with an eagle eye. Be honest with yourself, did the holidays cause you to go into debt? Because it’s a new start to the year, we want you to start the year strong and achieve financial stability before next December. Untangle yourself from all the debt you’ve accumulated over the years with these simple tips: Cut up your credit cards immediately The fourth biggest cause of...

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Gift-giving during the holiday season can be overwhelming. We often consider this the single chance we have during the year to spoil our loved ones and remind them of how special they are to us. Before you know it, your holiday gift list goes beyond one page and you’re spending a small fortune – just because. In order to stay on track this holiday season, here are three mistakes that many fall victim to amidst the holiday hype. Not setting a holiday budget Did you sit down this...

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Holiday season is quickly approaching, which means that your pocketbook is going to feel strained these next couple of months. In fact, financial experts anticipate that holidays sales, purchases made between November 1 until December 31, will rise this year to more than $730 billion. This is nearly a $3 billion increase from the year before, according to the National Retail Federation. With a large percentage of your earnings being spent on family dinners and gifts for loved ones, it’s important...

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New year, new me. It’s almost time to push the reset button. Eating better, getting more exercise and other self-care resolutions top the list, but not far behind is financial wellness. Saving money has made the top 5 in almost all polls. Financial-focused resolutions live among the most popular people set for themselves before the new year rolls around. Changing our behavior and the way we operate can be tough, but it doesn't have to be. We have some ideas to help jumpstart...

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