We use cookies to provide the services and features offered on our website and to improve your experience. To learn more, please review our
terms of use
.
Accept
Close
Chat
Find a Location
Search
×
Close
Login
× Close
Open an Account
Contact
Find a Location
Bank
Back
Checking Accounts
Debit Card
Savings Accounts
Certificates of Deposit
Bank Rates
Online & Mobile Banking
Learn More
Visit Us
Personal Banking Resources
Find the Mortgage That Fits Your Needs
Buying a home is exciting — and scary. Choose from one of our multiple loan options featuring competitive rates. Our Mortgage Loan Originators give you personalized advice and walk you through the process.
Learn More
about mortgages
Borrow
Back
Explore Borrow
Mortgage
Free Consultation
Types of Mortgage Loans
Mortgage Loan Originators
Credit Cards
Home Equity
Learn More
Mortgage Lenders
Homeownership Resources
Download Our Mobile Banking App
Our mobile app makes banking on the go efficient and secure. Access your accounts whenever, wherever.
App Store
Google Play
Business
Back
Business Checking
Business Savings
Business Lending
Business Online Banking
IntraFi® Deposit Network
Business Credit Cards
Learn More
Business Banking Resources
Let’s Talk Through Your Situation
Everyone’s situation is different, and our experts are here to talk through yours. Whether you’re opening a new account or applying for a mortgage, contact us today.
Visit Us
Learn
Back
Explore Learn
Personal Banking Resources
Banking
Owning a Home
Financial Planning
Security
Calculators
Business Banking Resources
Managing Your Small Business
Guides
Learn More
Community Impact
Open an Account
Master Your Credit
From the basics to tools and resources, take a step toward financial wellness by learning the ABC's of credit!
Get Started
about Savvy
About
Back
Community Impact
Community Voices
Our News
In the News
Invest
Careers
Management Team
Board of Directors
Learn More
Contact Us
Open an Account
2024 Community Impact Report
From supporting local businesses to giving back to our neighborhoods, our first-ever 2024 Community Impact Report tells the story of all the great things that made our community flourish - thanks to you.
Read How You Made an Impact
×
Close
Login
× Close
Log Into Your Account
Username
Password
Submission
Log In
Forgot Password?
Login Assistance
Not enrolled in online banking?
Enroll today!
Not enrolled in business online banking?
Enroll Here
New Customer?
Welcome! If you're a new customer, we understand you may have questions about your checking account. Rest assured, we've all been there. We're here to guide you and set your mind at ease with our helpful guide.
Download Guide
Search
What are you looking for?
Submission
Routing#
242071855
NMLS#
504911
Download Our Mobile Banking App
Our mobile app makes banking on the go efficient and secure. Access your accounts whenever, wherever.
App Store
Google Play
Owning a home. It is the American dream, right? However, once you get started on your path to home ownership, you will find that there is much work in the process that goes beyond choosing a home and acquiring the loan to pay for it. Closing on your home requires quite a few thoughtful steps. This guide will help walk you through them.
CFPB “Know Before You Owe”
CFPB stands for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. It was created as part of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 and offers protection for consumers when it comes to loans, including mortgage loans, and credit cards. In October of 2015, the CFPB created the “Know Before You Owe” initiative. The purpose of this initiative is enhance the ability of consumers to make informed decisions about their home loan choice. The CFPB offers several resources and tools on Owning a Home at consumerfinance.gov that can help you avoid unpleasant surprises at the closing table or that could jeopardize your ability down the road to stay in your home.
Items to Shop Around For
Home Inspection Services.
Once you’ve found the home that’s right for you, it is important to have a thorough home inspection. Your home inspection lets you know if there are problems, or potential problems, with the home that may result in costly repairs. This gives you an opportunity to adjust your offer on the home to accommodate the costs of the repairs or create a deal in which the seller is responsible for making those repairs. Your priorities in finding an inspector for your home involve finding one with a reputation for honesty and thoroughness. Ask people you know and trust if they have recommendations. If no one has one to give you, consider looking online or even using a referral service. Always check reviews to see what other home buyers have to say about the inspector. The sooner you schedule your inspection, the faster you’ll be able to decide if the home is a good investment for you or if you may no longer wish to purchase the property.
Homeowners Insurance.
Most lenders require you to have adequate homeowners insurance to cover their investments in your home. At the same time, you will need to protect your investment in the home. It is a good practice to do the following when searching for the right insurance company for your home purchase needs.
Get quotes from several different companies in writing so that you can compare coverages, costs, deductibles, and more.
Work with trusted agencies – seek recommendations from friends, family, or online resources if necessary.
Research the reputation of the company you’re considering doing business with. Look through online reviews and ask around town when dealing with local agencies.
Don’t overlook the importance of flood insurance – even if your home is not located in a high-risk area for flooding. Floods are not covered by most homeowner’s insurance policies.
Title Insurance and Closing Services.
Closing costs vary greatly from one lender to the next and can cost new home buyers thousands of dollars. Some of those costs go to third-party services that you can shop for the best prices. Your lender or real estate agent may recommend a service, but you are under no obligation to use that service and may save money by choosing to do your business elsewhere. Two of those services are the closing services and title insurance. When it comes to choosing a closing service, look for businesses that offer competitive rates and have excellent reputations for services. Ask for quotes and don’t be afraid to ask for, and verify, references. Most banks will require that you purchase a lender’s title insurance policy to protect their investment in your home, but you should also consider purchasing an owner’s title insurance policy to protect your investment.
Every little bit you can save at the closing table is money you do not have to come up with up front to purchase your home and is money you can later invest in things to make your new house feel more like your home.
Understanding Your Loan Estimate
One of the key documents that the “Know Before You Owe” program requires is the Loan Estimate. The Loan Estimate shows all of the details of the loan program you have selected to finance your home purchase. This document provides, in simple and easy to understand terms:
Loan Terms offered,
including the Loan Amount, Interest Rate and Monthly Principle and Interest payment. It will also identify any prepayment penalties or balloon payments required if they are part of the loan terms.
Projected Payments over the loan term.
This is important if you have an adjustable rate mortgage or if the loan requires Mortgage Insurance for the initial years of the loan term. You should make sure you understand how your Monthly Payment will change over the term of the loan and be comfortable with your ability to make that monthly payment for the entire term of the loan.
Costs at Closing.
This is the Estimated amount of cash you will be required to bring to the table at closing. Make sure your finances are in order so that you will be able to make all of these required commitments.
The “Know Before You Owe” program makes it illegal for lenders to initially offer you a loan under one set of terms and then to switch out that loan offer with much higher costs in a revised offer. However, there may be legitimate reasons for a Loan Estimate to change. These include changes to the loan programs offered by the lender, changes in the down payment amount you have available, changes to the home value that become apparent after an appraisal, changes in your credit score, or the inability of the lender to verify income information. If your Loan Estimate changes, make sure the lender explains why the changes were made and you know how those changes impact your ability to afford the home over the long term.
Right Before Your Closing Date
Your lender is legally required to provide you with a Closing Disclosure three days before you are scheduled to close on your home. The Closing Disclosure provides the same information included in your Loan Estimate, including Loan Terms, Projected Payments, and Costs at Closing. Additionally, it will provide a more detailed breakdown of the following:
Closing Costs.
Including Origination Charges, Services Borrower Did Not Shop For, and Services Borrower Did Shop For
Other Costs.
Including Taxes and Other Government Fees, Prepaids, Initial Escrow Payment at Closing and Other costs.
Cash to Close Calculations.
Summaries of Transactions.
Which details both Borrower’s and Seller’s cash flows.
Loan Disclosures.
Which describes any additional information about the loan, including details the finance charges to be paid over the loan term and Annual Percentage Rate.
You should contact your closing agent one week before closing to ask who will be sending the document and how you’ll be receiving it. It may come via postal services, email, or you may be required to download it from their website. Compare the Closing Disclosure to the most recent Loan Estimate and make sure it matches your Closing Disclosure. Also, carefully review your Closing Disclosure during this time to make sure you understand it fully, allowing yourself time to ask any questions you may have. Some fees will change by small increments, which is normal, though some fees may change substantially. If you are surprised by some of the changes, don’t hesitate to question them. If anything is different from what you were expecting, especially regarding your loan, make sure to ask questions and demand answers before you close. Once you have gone through all the steps above, asked and received answers to all your questions, and have the funds in hand, it is time to close on your new home. Congratulations! It is a big step and one you are sure to enjoy for many years to come.
Closing on a Home
View Resource
Closing on a Home
When it comes to your money, one of the most important decisions you will make is how you go about saving for retirement. It can also be one of the trickiest decisions too. The good news is, you can stay on track with your saving by following some simple retirement milestones.
Savings Goals by Age
Most people save a part of their income (typically 15 percent ) for their retirement. This is fine if you are young and have many years left for saving. But, what happens when you are trying to catch up on your retirement savings or if you began your retirement savings very early? Well, you can see if you are on track by checking out age-based savings milestones. Your retirement savings goal is broken down by your present salary amount that you needed to have already saved up at certain ages.
Savings Milestones Guidelines by Age
Below is a retirement savings guidelines to help you set yourself up with a secure retirement. Remember, these are guidelines, and your retirement savings may be more or less than what the table advises. Keep in mind, that you have the opportunity to “catch up” if you see you are falling far behind the recommended milestones.
By age 30 – 1x your annual salary
By age 35 – 2x your annual salary
By age 40 – 3x your annual salary
By age 50 – 6x your annual salary
By age 55 – 7x your annual salary
By age 67 – 8x -10x your annual salary
Your specific circumstances will vary, of course.
Power of Compounding
Compound interest works the best over longer periods of time, particularly in growth investments like stock mutual funds within a 401K or an IRA account. The earlier you invest, the more time compounding has to make your money work for you by generating interest, requiring you to save less of your earned income at a later date. If you have a tax-deferred account, your investment earnings aren’t taxed until you withdraw them, typically at retirement. In the earlier decades, your savings will double slowly at first. In later years, your money will then begin to grow faster since you will now be doubling higher dollar amounts after you have been investing for a while.
Compounding Works like Magic
For effective retirement saving, the key is to begin early to allow your money over time to earn money by itself. For instance, if you invest your dollars wisely, it will earn a potential seven percent. At seven percent, within 10 years, a single dollar will double. In an additional 10 years the $2 will now double to $4. Ten years more and you are up to $8 and so forth.
Milestones before Retirement
Starting your 401K
This happens when you start your first job. If you have a 401K plan option in your workplace, take it. This will allow you to start getting that tax-free compound interest working for you.
Age 50 and Beyond
If you have slacked over the years in putting money away in your 401K plan, this is the time where you can play catch-up to make up for the time you lost. You can increase how much you contribute to your retirement plan and even add an extra $5,500 to your contribution limit if you are over 50 years old.
Age 59 1/2 and Beyond
It is at this point that you can begin withdrawing from your 401K retirement plan penalty-free. If you are younger than 59 1/2, you will pay a 10 percent penalty for early withdrawal. You will also have to pay income tax on the money you take out.
Age 70 and Beyond
At this age, the government requires you to start taking your IRA and Social Security disbursements. If you have been diligent about adding money into your 401K plan and have not made any withdrawals, this could be where you can finally bank on your saved money and have a great retirement. You can withdraw your money from your 401K plan and begin living the life you have always dreamed about. If you follow these guidelines, you should have around 8 to 10 times your ending salary by retirement age. You can then replace 85 percent of your pre-retirement income, which is far better than trying to save up a million dollars.
Important Retirement Savings Milestones
View Resource
Important Retirement Savings Milestones
The minimum wage could be as little as $7.25 an hour, depending on where you live in the United States. You could be struggling to live off your minimum wage job and pay for your meals and living expenses each month. Although some have pushed to raise the minimum wage, amd succeeded in some areas of the country, it’s still a challenge that requires lifestyle and living adjustments just to be able to afford everyday expenses.
Minimum Wage Budget Figures
Below are some estimates of what your monthly income and expenses could look like while living off a minimum wage job. These estimates include:
$7.25 an hour federal minimum wage
40 hours a week is equal to $290 before taxes
$290 a week is equal to $15,080 a year before taxes
Income after taxes is $13,572 a year
Available monthly funds is $1,131
Based on national averages, rent can be around $700 a month or more each for two people sharing a two-bedroom apartment
Electricity monthly expense can be around $73 a month, according to NPR and depending on your state
Water can be around $20 a month or more depending on your state
Health Insurance can be around $44 a month/$539 a year or more depending on your state; you can use the Affordable Healthcare Act Calculator to determine yours
Using these estimates, you can see that you are up to over $900 a month for rent, utilities and health insurance alone, leaving around $225 a month for the rest of your essentials.
Budgeting Tips
You can help to stretch your income by applying some sound budgeting tips.
Cut Down your Housing Costs
If you are paying more rent than you can really afford at the moment, you might want to consider downsizing to a less expensive place or part of town. Conduct research and find apartments that are more affordable. Saving a couple hundred dollars each month can make a meaningful impact on your budget, allowing you to use your money for other expenses or necessities.
Reduce Commitments
Do you have debts you are repaying at the moment? Give your debtors a call and explain your situation to them. They may be able to reduce and consolidate your debt into one lower monthly payment. Check into different forms of child care. For instance, you can ask family or friends to watch them while you are at work instead of putting them into a daycare.
Reduce your Possessions
Do you really need an expensive ice-making refrigerator or new car? These things can really take a huge chunk out of your budget. In addition, the more unnecessary appliances you have like a dishwasher, microwave or even a dryer (hang your clothes) will eat up your electricity bill.
Taking Advantage of Available Programs
Use Food Stamps
Look to see if you’re eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to get food stamps. This is a US government run program that gives you money (stamps or electronic debit card) to purchase food. You can save yourself hundreds of dollars each month in food alone. Eligibility is based on the benefits your state provides and the income you make.
Apply for Medicaid Coverage
Your budget can be significantly burdened by healthcare costs and if you live in the US and are a minimum wage job worker with a low income, you might be eligible for Medicaid. It can lower your healthcare cost and even cover it completely in many cases.
Lifting yourself up
Create a Budget for Yourself and Stick to it
Determine what your basic monthly expenses are and don’t spend more than what you don’t have. Basic expenses include:
Rent and Utilities
Transportation
Food
Healthcare
Miscellaneous Expenses
Most importantly, you should continuously be looking for opportunities to advance through promotions with your present employer, or by finding a new one. Going the extra mile on assigned tasks or roles can get you noticed and give you an advantage when higher paying opportunities arise. You should also look to spend whatever spare time you have on enhancing your skills via local education or training that can help you take that next step up the career ladder. Living on a minimum wage budget is a challenge for almost everyone. Forget the credit cards and save whatever money you have left after your bills are paid. Make the commitment to succeed. You can get by on a minimum wage job if you make a plan for yourself and take steps in the right direction to grow from there.
Getting By on a Minimum Wage Job
View Resource
Getting By on a Minimum Wage Job
Low-interest rates make refinancing attractive to many homeowners. It can help you lower monthly payments, and you can use the extra money for many things. However, if you are approaching your retirement, you may have a few additional considerations to keep in mind.
Why Refinance?
Refinancing helps homeowners at all life stages and income levels the opportunity to pay less for their homes each month. This is especially true for homeowners who purchased their homes at times when the going interest rates were considerably higher. In fact, shaving as little as one percent off of the current interest rate can net substantial savings over the remainder of the loan. There are also a few other reasons you might want to consider refinancing your home. The rate on your Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) is about to increase – or you suspect that it might. If you can convert your ARM to a fixed-rate loan with a lower interest rate, you have a potentially winning situation on your hand – provided that you are at least ten years away from retirement. Another reason to consider refinancing your home is if your lower interest rate is low enough that you can make roughly the same monthly payment and shave years off the life of your mortgage. Combine that with additional efforts to make one or two extra payments each year and you can potentially shave even more years from your loan, reducing the amount of interest you pay over the loan term even further.
Disadvantages of Refinancing
With the potential benefits that refinancing has to offer, many people wonder why it would not be an automatic yes. There are a few situations, though, when refinancing may not be the best choice for your situation. If you are planning to move after retirement or in the next five or so years, refinancing might prove unprofitable in the long run. For individuals who are having trouble making ends meet, or reaching financial goals prior to retirement, refinancing a home as retirement approaches could prove to be a financial burden rather than a boon. The absence of a mortgage during retirement is one of the best gifts you can give yourself. Consider carefully before extending the burden of making monthly payments into your retirement years. The final disadvantage to consider is the loss of equity in the home. Having equity in your home gives you options when emergencies in life arise. These emergencies can come in the form of health issues, family financial issues, or the expense that comes from needing a new roof or furnace. An extended mortgage could have you cash strapped and unable to come up with the funds for these types of emergencies.
Good Rules of Thumb
The best rule of thumb when deciding whether or not to refinance is to do the math. If you can recover your closing expenses and turn payments savings into investments during the time you have remaining before retirement, then refinancing may very well be worth your while. On the other, if you could invest the amount of money you will spend on closing costs and other expenses related to refinancing your home and make a bigger impact on your future by doing so, then your money is best spent elsewhere. Finally, there is one question to ask yourself. Do you want to have a mortgage going into retirement? For some, that is the only thing you need to know about refinancing as your retirement approaches.
Should You Refinance Close to Retirement?
View Resource
Should You Refinance Close to Retirement?
Housing is typically the largest line item in most people’s budget. This is especially true for individuals who are living on their own for the first time. Therefore, before signing a rental lease, it is important that you perform some basic calculations and apply a little forward thinking so that you know you know what you can afford, how that aligns with your priorities and goals, and the lifestyle you want to live.
Basic Guidelines
Personal finance experts, for years, have promoted the ’30 percent rule’ when giving advice about deciding on a budget for living accommodations. This often-advised “rule” means that you take about 30 percent of your monthly income and budget it for rent. This figure typically includes things like utilities, Internet access, and similar expenses. Anything above 30 percent, according to these financial experts, means that you have an increased risk of having a future budgetary problem and of not being able to afford the lifestyle you want to live. According to CBS MoneyWatch, you should not exceed three to four percent of your gross income for utilities, leaving around 26 to 27 percent to pay for rent. It is important to factor in renters insurance as well if you have personal property that would represent a significant financial impact in the event of a loss.
Making Tradeoffs
When devising your budget for rent and other living expenses, you will find that you might have to make tradeoffs. For example, you might allow yourself some breathing room in your budget by underspending on your housing. Prioritize your spending on what is most important to you, whether that is your transportation and healthcare needs or allowing for more indulgent expenses, such as entertainment and vacation. As another budgetary tradeoff, you might consider getting a roommate or living in an area that offers greater budget-friendly rent opportunities. Keep in mind that living in an area inundated with upscale restaurants, pricey bars, and classy coffee shops are a conscious financial decision that will impact your budget substantially. You have to determine if they are really important to you. Where you live and what you spend on rent will ultimately determine how much money you have leftover to spend on supporting your desired lifestyle.
Finding Ways to Economize
Once you determine your priorities and know your budget, it is time to find ways to get the most value for your income. This involves ways to bring in more money or reduce the outflow of money.
Reduce your Spending
The first thing you can do is figure out a way to reduce your spending. This includes considering the choices mentioned above, like getting that roommate or finding a neighborhood that is more affordable. You might be able to have your rent reduced by offering your landlord managerial or maintenance services. Many landlords like this idea as it can save them money.
Increase your Income
Any extra income you can bring in will help your budget. You could consider picking up odd jobs like tutoring, or you can pick up freelance work in your chosen field to add to your overall income.
The Takeaway
When asking the question what you should spend on rent, the answer is that ‘it depends.’ There are common rules of thumb that suggest a certain percentage of income as a guide for your housing budget, and they are good to consider as a benchmark and guideline. However, just remember, you are in charge of your budget. If you want to spend more than that 30 percent of income on your rent, you might need to make cuts in other places like your entertainment or travel expenses. If you are a homebody, this might make sense for you. However, if you are a traveling nomad, it might not. The key is to understand your personal goals and priorities and craft a budget that is unique to your lifestyle.
How Much Should You Spend on Rent?
View Resource
How Much Should You Spend on Rent?
College is full of lessons to be learned and one important lesson you should learn but most likely won’t in the classroom is how to manage your money wisely. You will not receive a grade on how well you manage your first credit card. Unfortunately, many people learn credit card responsibility only after they have gotten themselves into a pile of debt.
Pros of Having Credit Cards
As with many things in life, there are positive and negative aspects to having credit cards. Being responsible with credit cards involves understanding both sides.
Builds Credit
Credit cards are the best way to start establishing a credit history. To build your credit score, you need credit; therefore, getting a credit card while still in college is a simple way of doing this. The fact is that a major contributor to your FICO score is your credit history length. Obtaining a credit card while still in college helps you begin building your credit history so that when it comes time for you to require credit to obtain your first mortgage, you will not have a problem obtaining a loan.
Alternative to Carrying Cash
These days, not many people carry cash and college students, in particular, are not likely to deal with paper currency. If you do need cash, however, and don’t have an ATM near you on campus, reaching for your credit card can help you if you are in a bind.
Avoids Identity Theft
Identity theft and fraud have increased dramatically with the rise in technology. You leave yourself more vulnerable to identity theft by making online purchases with a debit card instead of a credit card. If a thief does gain access to your debit card, it is too easy for them to drain your bank account. With a credit card, they are only racking up fraudulent charges that you can dispute and have removed.
Cons of Having Credit Cards
While there are many advantages to having one or more credit cards, you should also be aware of their significant drawbacks.
Forget to Track Spending
You can get yourself into serious financial trouble if you fail to track your credit card purchases. Typically, this results in a huge bill at the end of the month that you are unable to pay in full within your billing cycle. If you continue this pattern, it can lead to a hefty debt that you will have a hard time paying off.
Forget the Bill
No doubt you are very busy in college going to class, juggling homework, and keeping a part-time job. With so much going on, it does not take much to forget little details like paying your credit card bill. However, when you fail to pay your bill on time, it can damage your credit score tremendously. That might not hurt you too much while you are still a student, but it can put you in a negative position as you begin your new post-graduation adult life. This will make it more difficult to get a car or home loan and to get a great rate on that loan.
Open Too Many Cards
Too often, college students sign up for every credit card offer that falls in their lap. When you have too many cards, it can make it overwhelming to track your spending, pay your bills on time and stay out of debt.
Using Credit Cards Wisely
To keep yourself out of credit card debt and keep your credit score in check, you need to stay on top of your bills and pay them in full and on time every month. You don’t use a credit card any differently than you would your debit card, except for how you pay it at the end of each month. With a debit card, your money automatically gets pulled from your bank account at the time of your purchase, but with credit cards, it’s up to you to pay the balance, which can add up quickly. The bottom line is this. You can establish credit responsibility and you should. This will set you up with a strong credit history so you can continue down your path as an adult with sound financial habits.
Should College Students Have Credit Cards?
View Resource
Should College Students Have Credit Cards?
It can be a proud accomplishment when you pay off your credit card debt. However, if you are not careful, it can also be very simple for you to get right back into debt.
Congratulations!
If you have paid off your credit card debt, congratulations are in order. However, just because you are debt free now doesn’t mean you can stay that way. You have to set goals and guard yourself against sliding backward. Go ahead and celebrate your new debt-free life and then follow the tips below to maintain a zero balance.
Maintaining a Zero Balance
There are several actions you can take to maintain a zero credit card balance.
Using your Card Responsibly
You can continue using your card as long as you can stay responsible with it. Pay your balance in full every month so you can keep a healthy credit score. Maintaining a good credit score will help you down the road in securing credit with low rates, obtaining insurance, landing jobs that require credit checks, and getting approved for utilities without having to put down deposits.
Finding Your Triggers
Once your credit cards are paid off, figure out the reason you were in debt in the first place. How did you handle your finances and how did others influence your spending habits? For instance, did friends persuade you to spend on shopping sprees or expensive dinners? When you get bored or are under stress, do you run to the mall? These are triggers that influence your spending behavior. Knowing and avoiding these triggers can help you stay out of debt.
Keeping a Budget
When you no longer have to account for every penny, it can be too tempting to do away with your budget. However, this is a quick way to get back into the same reckless spending cycle. Having a budget will keep you in line with what you can and cannot spend.
Preparing for Emergencies
You can pay careful attention to your spending, yet still fall off the credit wagon if you’re not prepared to deal with financial emergencies. Unplanned items such as car repairs, medical emergencies or an unexpected loss of income can bust the best of budgets and derail the progress you’ve made in maintaining a debt free life. Having an emergency savings account in place can help you absorb some of the sting that unplanned expenses have on your finances. Experts recommend that you save three to six months of your monthly income to deal with such situations. That way, when your car sputters and spurts, or you lose hours at work, you’ll have the savings in place to deal with the emergency, instead of pulling out your credit cards to handle the situation, raising your account balance back to perilous heights.
Things to Tackle Next
Once you’ve got an emergency savings account in place, you should begin to pay off any other debts you have. You can start with the high-interest rate accounts. Pay off your student or car loan. Invest in your future, whether that involves starting a new business or looking for investment opportunities such as real estate. It is also crucial to begin saving for your retirement. This includes investing at least up to your employer’s match for their 401 K plan and maxing out your IRA contributions. Keep an eye on your credit. You should be looking at your credit card statement every month even if you are on autopay. There is always the risk of mistakes that can affect your credit score. Go through the three national credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) to review your credit and credit score once a year. If you find any mistakes on your credit report, you can dispute them and have them removed from your credit report once they cannot be verified as legitimate charges. You have a clean slate now. It is up to you to stay responsible when using your credit card. Don’t make any unnecessary purchases and always pay your bills in full each month and on time. Just keep in mind how great it feels to be debt-free and go ahead and enjoy your money responsibly.
After You’ve Paid Off Your Credit Cards
View Resource
After You’ve Paid Off Your Credit Cards
Life insurance is one of those things you never want to think about when you are young, vibrant, and full of life. There are certain times in life, though, when it becomes necessary to consider carefully what having (or not having) life insurance will mean to the people you love if you were taken away from them suddenly. Now that you have made the decision to buy life insurance, you have a few important decisions to make, including the type of life insurance to purchase.
Term Life Insurance
Much like the name implies, term life insurance provides coverage for a specified period. Some policies are for a term of five or ten years. Others go on for as long as 30 years. The average policy is for a term of 20 years. If you pass away within the 20-year term of that active policy (meaning that you have not allowed the policy to lapse), then your family, or designated recipients, will receive the full value of the policy. There are many benefits to a term life policy worth considering. First, your premiums will never increase during your term. This means you can engage in long-term planning for the years when you are raising your children, paying a mortgage, or have greater financial responsibilities and obligations to consider. The other benefit is that term life policies are cheaper than whole life policies – at least when you are young and in relatively good health. That is also often the time when you are just starting a family, building a career, or when you buy your first home and assume a mortgage. The drawback to a term life policy is that it only has value to you during the time in which you are paying for it. Once your term ends, the policy has no value at all. Additionally, if you decide you need to extend the coverage term, say you have a baby later in life or buy a newer home and have a longer than expected mortgage, it will cost much more for the additional term than you paid for your original term. Those rates are not locked in for life.
Whole Life Insurance
This type of coverage is sometimes called permanent life insurance. It is much different from a term life policy in the fact that it has both investment and insurance components. However, that is not the only difference. These are a few of the ways whole life policies differ from term life insurance. You lock in the rates when you purchase a policy. The younger you are, the better your health, the lower your insurance rates. From the moment you take out your policy, your rates are locked in for the life of your policy. This means that you will receive the same low rates for as long as you continue paying for your policy and do not allow it to lapse. In addition to locking in lower rates for life, a whole life policy builds cash value over the years. This makes your whole life policy both an investment and insurance policy. While the initial premiums are often greater than a term life policy, locking in the rates for life is a game changer when it comes to long-term costs and financial planning.
Choosing Between the Two
Each type of policy offers its set of strengths and weaknesses. A whole life policy, locked in early, ensures that you will always have affordable life insurance coverage. However, term life policies allow you extra life insurance protection that is affordable at times when you need it most. Some people choose to have both. One for permanent whole life coverage and the term policy for a little additional security for their families during certain critical years. If you are unsure about which policy is best for you, consider consulting with an independent insurance agent or financial planner to discuss your options.
Term vs. Whole Life Insurance
View Resource
Term vs. Whole Life Insurance
We all love getting away from it all and going on vacation. With all the excitement of going away, and with the number of excellent deals on flights and hotels, it is easy to forget about buying travel insurance. There are two main types of policies you can buy – single trip and annual insurance. As the names suggest, single trip insurance covers you for one trip, whereas annual insurance covers you for multiple journeys within a set period.
Travel Insurance Basics
There are various types of travel insurance coverage, many of which offer different features. The one you purchase will depend on factors such as where you are going, what you will be doing on vacation, and the length of your trip. The most common options are:
Evacuation.
At times, the world can be an unpredictable place, and there is political and social unrest in many countries. This is why it is important to buy evacuation coverage if you are traveling to such a place. You might also want to consider that natural disasters can happen anywhere, at any time too. Of course, some places will be more prone to natural disasters due to their geography and climate. Evacuation insurance can help alleviate the financial strain of getting out of harm’s way.
Medical.
Traveling abroad, and eating new foods can sometimes be a recipe for disaster. If you are hit by a bad stomach bug while you are away, you will want to have medical insurance in place to keep costs down.
Baggage.
Nothing is worse than losing your baggage before you even reach your vacation destination. Baggage coverage takes some of the strain out of replacing your gear.
Cancellation.
If something comes up and you need to cancel your trip, cancellation insurance will help you recoup your hard-earned money. It also covers cancellations that occur if airline delays make you miss an event, or if the tour provider goes bankrupt.
Death and dismemberment.
This policy option provides your family with a payout, should you die during your vacation.
Benefits
In addition to the benefits listed above, travel insurance can offer you real peace of mind to have coverage should the worst happen during your vacation. Certain groups of travelers can benefit from buying travel insurance, there include:
Big spenders.
These are individuals who cannot stand to lose a significant amount of money should their trip be canceled or similar.
Nervous travelers.
Having insurance in place will provide peace of mind.
Package tour and cruise customers.
Tour operators and cruise lines are not so lenient when it comes to missing missed vacations and voyages.
People with lengthy and/or complex itineraries.
If one part of a tour doesn’t go to plan, the remainder of the trip can be negatively affected, and even missed.
People on trips outside of the United States.
Many overseas medical providers will want you to pay upfront for your care, adequate insurance will take care of this.
People on Medicare who are traveling internationally.
Medicare won’t usually cover events that occur in other countries.
Is it Worth It?
Travel insurance provides you with real peace of mind, so it is ideal for you if you are a worrier, if your trip cost a lot of money, or if you have a legitimate concern about the vacation destination. In considering different policies, there are some “benefits” that you probably won’t need, such as death coverage. In fact, a decent life insurance policy is a better option if you have concerns regarding your mortality. Also, if you have booked a short, inexpensive, and domestic trip, it is unlikely you will need insurance. Many travel insurance policies do not cover some pre-existing medical conditions either, so if you are considering purchasing medical insurance, be sure to investigate the coverage thoroughly. Sometimes, other insurance you have or your credit card may already provide the coverage you need. That is another important aspect to check before you spend money on a new travel insurance policy. Travel insurance is a good idea if you need peace of mind when you are on vacation, especially if you do not have any other back up. If you are planning on trying out some extreme sports, on visiting a developing country, or anything else in between, it might be worth taking out travel insurance. However, the concept of risk is a very personal one that varies from person to person, so whether or not you take out travel insurance can be a very personal choice.
Is Travel Insurance a Good Idea?
View Resource
Is Travel Insurance a Good Idea?
FHA mortgages are a popular option for first-time home buyers to consider. These loans offer attractive terms, including the ability to make smaller down payments and a some flexibility when it comes to credit and income requirements. If you are a first time home buyer it may be a good idea to look into a loan like this for your home purchase, as long as you can meet the qualification requirements.
What is an FHA Loan?
FHA stands for Federal Housing Administration. The FHA insures certain loans with the intention of making it easier for people who would not otherwise qualify for a home loan to do so. Essentially the government guarantees lenders that they will be repaid for the loan even if you fail to do so. This makes lending the large amount of money it takes to purchase a home, more attractive to lenders who would otherwise be unwilling to take the risk on the bulk of the population. Not all homes are eligible for FHA mortgages. In fact, in order for the home to quality the buyer must live in the home. You cannot use FHA loans to buy a home as an investment property and rent it out to others – or to buy a vacation home. FHA loans are available for homes that are detached, semi-detached, row houses, condos, and townhouses. Borrowers who receive FHA loans must also purchase mortgage insurance. You have a few options available for doing this. You can choose any of the following:
Pay the full amount of the mortgage insurance premium in one lump sum payment up front.
Finance the payment into the mortgage (you will pay considerably more for the insurance with this method).
Make monthly payments, outside of your mortgage payment, for the full monthly amount.
Finally, you must have the home appraised by an FHA-approved appraiser and the home must be deemed to meet certain conditions in order to qualify for an FHA loan. These conditions are generally related to the home’s structural soundness and value.
What are the Key Features of FHA Loans?
There are several ways the FHA makes the home buying process easier for the average person, including those listed below.
Smaller Down Payments.
FHA loans allow you to have as little as 3.5 percent for a down payment.
Use Gifts and Borrowed Funds for Down Payment.
Many conventional loans expect the down payment to be a show of financial investment on your part and expect the payment with your own savings and funds. FHA loans allow you to use gifts to fund your down payment and closing costs. Sellers can also contribute by paying as much as six percent of the loan amount toward your closing costs with an FHA loan.
No Prepayment Penalty.
This means if you want to save many thousands of dollars in interest by paying your loan off early, or making additional payments over the loan amount each month, there is no penalty for doing so.
FHA 203k Program.
This is a specialized FHA loan that allows you to borrow money for a mortgage and for making home improvements in one loan. This allows you to make necessary repairs quickly after purchasing your home.
Credit Flexibility.
While conventional lenders require much higher credit scores, FHA loans have a minimum FICO score requirement of 580 in order to qualify for a 3.5 percent down payment. Applicants with lower credit scores may still be eligible, but they will be required to make a down payment of 10 percent. This makes FHA loans much easier to qualify for if you have some credit bumps and bruises along the way – or even if you have no established credit.
These features are attractive to potential home buyers, but are not the only reason people turn to FHA loans.
How do You Qualify for an FHA Mortgage?
While the credit score requirements aren’t as insurmountable with FHA loans as they are with other types of loans, that doesn’t mean that there are no real requirements. In fact, the FHA has some pretty stringent requirements for approval including those listed below.
Stable Income.
Borrowers must be able to show documentation that they’ve had two years of steady employment, in the same field, with no more than one month’s worth of employment gaps during that period.
Debt-to-Income Ratios.
Borrowers must have no more than 50 percent of their income, including mortgage payments, tied up in debt, such as taxes, insurance, credit cards, auto loans, and student loans. If your credit score is less than 580, though, the debt-to-income requirements for the FHA are more stringent.
Once all of the pieces fall into place, an FHA loan can be a great option if you’re considering purchasing a first home – for all these reasons and more.
FHA Mortgage Basics
View Resource
FHA Mortgage Basics
Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of
website accessibility