Five Financial Resolutions to Tackle for 2019 Regardless of what life stage you are in, financial health should be at the top of your resolution list for 2019. According to Fidelity Investments, nearly one-third of Americans plan to make money resolutions for the New Year. Here are 5 money goals to consider: Make a dent in your debt. According to a recent… Read More
Ten Easy Ways to Save Money During the Holidays The holidays are a special time for giving, and this year, consumers plan to spend an average of $819 on holiday gifts. But when the holidays come to an end, the new year all too often ushers in a big stack of bills. Last year, Americans with holiday debt added an average of $1,054 to… Read More
Four Ways to Prevent Identity Theft From Happening to You This Holiday Season Could the holidays make us more vulnerable to identity theft? According to experts, it can. And while fraud is a year-round problem, the holidays offer an especially opportune time for thieves. Think about it: purchasing multiple gifts — whether it’s online or in the store — increases exposure to our financial information, and sometimes that… Read More
Five Ways to Spot and Prevent Financial Theft Against Seniors Financial elder abuse, where senior citizens are manipulated for financial gain, is a growing problem. According to the National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA), one in 20 seniors indicated some form of financial abuse or theft. Fraud and financial elder abuse costs older Americans more than $36.5 billion annually. What’s worse, 90 percent of the “abusers”… Read More
Six Warning Signs All Daters Should Look for This Summer Longer days, warmer nights, relaxed vibes, rooftop patios, pool gatherings, weddings and BBQs. It’s no wonder why the summer months show one of the larger spikes in online dating activity as singles look to share their summertime fun and seasonal events with someone special. As easy as it may be to find someone on Match, Tinder… Read More
How OtterBox Built a Successful Business and Celebrated Culture from the Ground Up Several years ago, FirstBank conducted this interview with founder, Curt Richardson. Since OtterBox is celebrating its 20th anniversary, we thought it was fitting to re-post this article. Congrats OtterBox on 20 years of success. Innovation. Passion. Accountability. Given OtterBox’s commitment to its core values — or “Ottertude,” as they like to call it — it’s… Read More
How to Get Financial Responsibility To Stick With Your Kids With summer just around the corner, don’t let the “school’s out” mentality rule your tweens. Instead, take this time to teach them about something valuable beyond the classroom: financial responsibility. Craig Kaley, the author of Money Athletics: Your Game Plan to a Financially Fit Tween, stresses the importance of financial literacy at a young age,… Read More
Five Ways to Take Control of Your Student Loans Congrats, Grad! That can be the most exciting and terrifying phrase for a college graduate after collecting a diploma. On one hand, the years spent neglecting sleep on a questionable diet, while trying to maintain a balanced lifestyle are over. On the other, it’s time to find a job and begin the adult portion of… Read More
A New Approach to Spring Cleaning: Five Ways to Tidy and Tighten Your Finances Spring cleaning isn’t restricted to just the kitchen, garage or that overflowing junk drawer. It can also have a positive affect on many facets of your life, including your finances. Considering money tops the list of the biggest stress inducers in America today, cleaning your expenses can help you declutter, de-stress and may even help… Read More
How Changing the Way You Think Can Improve Your Financial Luck Several years ago, the only commercial flight out of the Virgin Islands to Puerto Rico was cancelled. As disgruntled passengers sat around cursing their bad luck, one man had an interesting idea: he decided to charter a private plane for $2,000 to Puerto Rico and charged impatient travelers $39 per head. Before people started boarding,… Read More