The Financial "B" Word: Budgeting
Today we are talking about the financial "B" word: Budgeting! If we are completely honest, most people hate the concept of budgeting, and for good reason! When people sit down and plan their budget, it starts with good intentions. They want to save more money, get control over their spending, and plan for their future. But the truth is setting a strict budget can actually set you up for failure. Because budgets feel so restrictive, they often don't work! Although we don't believe in strict budgeting, we do believe that understanding how much money you earn and how much you spend every month is really important to achieving financial security. Today we are going to talk about some guidelines you can follow to help you make sure you're spending and saving in a way that works for you that isn't oppressive or overly prescriptive.
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College Planning Timeline for Students
It's back-to-school season, parents! And if you have a high school senior in your household, than this episode is for you. Senior year can be stressful! Not only is your student working hard to graduate on time, but they have the added pressure of completing their college applications so they can be accepted to the school of their dreams. We all know how exhausting (and expensive) the college application process can be and it seems impossible to keep track of all the deadlines and important dates throughout the year. In this episode, we will walk you through everything your student needs to do to stay on track during their senior year of high school.
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Foreclosure: Bargain or Bust?
You've seen it on the HGTV shows a million times. A crummy house on the corner goes up for auction and the gorgeous realtor couple puts in an all-cash offer and completely renovates the house in 30 minutes including commercials. This is what most people think of when they hear about the foreclosure process but there is far more to it than that? Sold to the person in the back!? Biding on a foreclosed property can be one of the riskiest investments in the real estate world and it's hard to know exactly what you're getting in to before the county clerk strikes the gavel! In this episode, you will learn why properties go into foreclosure, how the bidding process works, and if a foreclosed property is a bargain or a bust. Thank you to our Chief Mortgage Officer, John Streuter, for answering all our foreclosure questions!
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Phishing For Trouble: Exposing Digital Scams
Fraud is something that we take very seriously at the bank and one thing we continue to learn is that fraud isn't the same scam over and over again. As technology evolves, fraudsters take advantage of ways to trick people into giving them sensitive information they can sell or use for their own evil purposes like stealing your money. Fraudsters are very smart and are unfortunately better at using technology for bad rather than good. During today's podcast, we are going to be sharing 5 of our favorite fraud stories and ways to protect yourself against fraud.
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Navigating the Estate Planning Journey
Estate planning is often thought of as something only the wealthy or elderly need to worry about. However, as Evan Taylor, a seasoned attorney from Lawler Brown Law Firm notes that estate planning is essential for everyone, regardless of age or financial status. Whether you're in your early 20s or enjoying your golden years, having a well-thought-out plan ensures that your assets are distributed according to your wishes and that your loved ones are taken care of when you're no longer around.
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