Financial Fundamentals Blog

The holidays are right around the corner, and for some, that means added stress about finances. With less than 90 days until Christmas, there’s still time to start planning so you can worry less and focus on what really matters.

If you find yourself worrying about finances, it’s important to know you’re not alone. Money is a common source of worry in many people’s lives. In fact, more than a third of U.S. adults feel anxiety over their finances.

Looking for small ways to make a big impact on your budget? Maybe it’s time to rethink your checking account and the benefits that could come with a new one.

Opening a new checking account is usually easy. However, choosing the right financial institution and product for you is another story.

It’s never too early to start thinking about your retirement options and how to save as much as you can for retirement. You have several choices for retirement savings, including a 401(k) and an individual retirement account (IRA).

We all have retirement dreams—catching up on the to-be-read list, traveling with family, or doing projects around the house. No matter what your retirement dreams are, one thing is certain: You need to make sure you’re saving enough now so you don’t have to worry about money later. But the big question is: Are you doing enough saving for retirement?

We’ve arrived at that magical time of year where parents scour sale ads and coupon apps for hot deals while children try to squeeze every last minute out of summer break. Yes, it’s back-to-school shopping season.

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.
 

Summer is officially here, which means families across the United States are preparing to go on vacation. While vacations are great way to spend quality time with loved ones and to unwind, the credit card bills that accumulate afterwards can sour memories of the trip.

Take the time to plan a vacation that will leave you with good memories instead of debt. Here are some tips to keep in mind while planning.
 

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.

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...