Learning Center

Personal Finance   /  Investing

The low interest rate environment we’ve enjoyed since the Federal Reserve’s last rate increase in 2018 will begin to shift in 2022. On March 16, the Fed increased rates by 25 basis points (0.25 percent), bringing it to .50 percent. While the Fed is forecasting seven rate hikes this year, some pundits still believe we will only see four or five, depending on future inflation readings. What does this mean for you and your investments?

Fraud and Security   /  Fraud and Security Alerts

Through both state-sponsored and independent actors, Russia is one of the world’s biggest sources of cyberattacks. Cybersecurity experts are on heightened alert for attacks on government entities, infrastructure targets and private citizens and businesses. What does that mean for you? Do you need to hit the panic button and disconnect entirely? No. Heightened alert is good. Panic is not. Here is what you can do right now.

Personal Finance   /  Managing Your Money

Whether you earned wealth or inherited it, chances are you want to spend some, save some, give some and leave some for your loved ones. If you’re still working, you likely have plans to retire someday, with many goals and life events in between. How can you put your wealth to work for you throughout your life and beyond? First and foremost, find a trusted, experienced and certified professional to help you put an active plan in place and revisit it annually to adjust for market conditions, evolving goals and unexpected curveballs.

Personal Finance   /  Managing Your Money

As credit card rewards get more popular, the volume of credit card transactions is rising sharply, along with opportunities for fraud. According to the Nilson Report, 131 billion credit card transactions were processed in the U.S. in 2021. Luckily, rewards aren’t the only appeal. Unlike debit cards, most credit cards offer cardholder protection against fraud loss. But to take advantage of that protection, either the cardholder or their bank has to catch the errant transaction. Banks and cardholders both have strong incentives to ward off fraud. Here's how to keep your cards safe.

Personal Finance   /  Managing Your Money

It doesn’t matter where your money comes from: hourly wages, salary, commission, pension, Social Security or trust fund. If you don’t have a plan for your money, you won’t get the maximum benefit. And you’ll spend too much time and energy worrying about it. A good financial plan puts structure and intention into your financial life. It helps you pace your spending, saving and borrowing through the tight years as well as the prosperous ones to avoid the chaos of a feast-or-famine existence.

Fraud and Security   /  Safe Online Practices for Consumers

You may have learned to spot a scam that’s phishing for your personal identifying information, like your social security number or birthdate, but some scams are just out to take your money right then and there. Even worse, when tricksters con you into completing a voluntary transaction, even under false pretenses, it’s extremely hard to retrieve your money. It’s important to be familiar with the common types of scams designed to separate you from your money.

Personal Finance   /  Retirement

Think you’re too young to consider Medicare? No matter your age, if you are covered by a qualified high deductible health plan (HDHP) with a health savings account (HSA), Medicare should be on your timeline. It’s a milestone you need to include in your long-term HSA planning. Here’s why: Once you enroll in Medicare, you can spend your HSA funds, but you can no longer contribute to your HSA. Our Compliance Officer Ferne Emery offers some guideposts for along the way.