Financial Fundamentals Blog

Did you know that every time you apply for credit, you could be impacting your credit score? Potential creditors or lenders check your credit history each time you apply for a new credit card or loan. Depending on the scenario and the inquiry, you could see a change in your credit score. Here’s a quick comparison of hard and...

Using digital banking options and automating your financial life can save you time, money, and the general stress of worrying about whether your banking is handled from day to day. Here are a few tips to how you can save yourself some headaches by putting your finances on autopilot.

Winter weather has a way of sneaking up with its snow, ice and chilling winds. However unwelcome it might be, it does serve as a helpful reminder to check in on your home energy usage. Considering that the average American family spends more than $2,000 each year on utilities – with a good portion of that cost wasted energy – an energy audit can help you confirm that you’re getting the most bang for your buck.
 
Here are a few easy ways that you can make a difference in your energy costs.
 

As soon as you start your business and are ready to accept and spend money, you should open a business checking account. It’s an important step to take because you want to make sure your business and personal accounts are separate. This helps you better determine how much your business is spending and receiving. Let’s take a...

If you own a business, you may be wondering if it’s worth it to have a separate business checking account. It may seem easier to just use a personal checking account for your business purposes to avoid fees. However, there are certain risks associated with this approach. Let’s explore the ins and outs of this type of checking...

We all have ideas of what we want our retirement to look like. We have the ideal picture of where we want to be, what we want to do, and what we want to see. But you need to make sure you’re prepared for those things.

You have big dreams for your home. Maybe you want to replace your roof, remodel your kitchen, or expand your entertainment spaces. No matter how large or small your home improvement goals are, you need a way to make your dreams a reality.

As a business owner, it’s important to establish a distinct separation between your personal finances and your business finances.

Fraudsters will stop at nothing to gain personal information, and when they succeed, the end result can be disastrous. One type of fraud that is gaining traction is account takeover fraud, or ATO. Account takeover fraud, also known as account compromise, occurs when a cyber-attacker gains control of a legitimate account.

Individual retirement accounts (IRAs) are a financial vehicle designed to help American workers save for their retirement. While these accounts are just one type of investment and savings solution that can be used to achieve retirement goals, they’re an important fixture for many consumers. IRAs come in a few different shapes...

If you’ve never been a member of a credit union before, you might have questions about how these financial institutions differ from traditional banks and whether or not they offer the same services as for-profit banks.

The holiday season is one of the most popular times of the year to get engaged. In fact, 40 percent of proposals happen between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. If you’re one of those lucky couples, you’re probably asking yourself, “how do we pay for all of this?” Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered with a few tips on how to create a wedding budget that won’t break the bank.