Archive: Financial Education

Savings Tips for Mortgage Closing Costs

Saving for your next home’s mortgage loan can be a complicated undertaking. When it comes to payments, interest rates, taxes, and refunds — the math of it all starts to become a blur. Here are four tips our mortgage lenders recommend to help you get started. Open a Separate Savings Account ...read more

Deposit Interest Rates and APYs Explained

When it comes to saving money, you might shop around before choosing an account where you want to deposit your money. When you do, ‘Interest Rate’ and ‘APY’ are words you will see and hear as you look at deposit products such as savings accounts, money markets, and certificates of ...read more

Holiday Spending Tips

Ready to start your holiday spending? Follow these five simple tips to stay on track with your expenses: Start with a list. Make a list of the people you want to purchase a gift for. Then, make a second list of your other planned holiday expenses — gas, hotel stays, ...read more

Save for College with a 529 Plan

For many parents, the opportunity to pay for their children’s education means setting them up for success later in life. Among the myriad of savings options available, 529 savings plans offer a wide range of benefits that provide flexible ways for families to save. Ryan Mefford, a Financial Advisor at ...read more

Credit Tips for College Students

When college students start heading back to school, it's the perfect time to start thinking about credit. Every financial decision someone makes, even in high school, can affect credit. That's why being informed is so important. The more knowledge someone has, the better chance they have of succeeding. Below is ...read more

Simple Ways to Teach Your Kids About Money

Teaching kids about the value of money and saving at a young age can help them become financially responsible as they get older. If you're unsure of where to start, here are some simple ideas you can use now to incorporate money lessons into your child's everyday life. Ready, Set, ...read more

Give the Gift of Education this Holiday Season

With the price of a college education in the U.S. consistently rising, it’s never been more important to start planning ahead. By getting an early start with a 529 College Savings Plan, you can help your child or grandchild prepare for rising tuition costs. A 529 savings plan is a valuable ...read more

Fall Back Into Financial Success

The holiday season and the end of year will be here before you know it! If you’ve taken a couple detours that have prevented you from reaching your financial goals, fall is a great time to get yourself back on track. Review Your Spending Spent more than you should have this past ...read more

College 101: Building Healthy Financial Habits

Whether you’re a freshman or senior in college, it’s important to build healthy financial habits early on before heading into the ‘real world.’ Here are some tips to keep in mind when it comes to managing your finances while in college. Get in the Habit of Keeping a Budget If you have ...read more

Sweetening the Commercial Lending Process

Your dream flower shop, that unexpected expense to replace old machinery, or a much-needed expansion for your thriving accounting firm. No matter the business or the reason, you need access to hassle-free lending options. The loan pre-approval, negotiation, and final approval process can be tricky to navigate, so let’s discuss ...read more