Learning Center
Who Gets the House? How to Protect Yourself Financially in a Divorce.
Going through a divorce is a life-altering change that often leads to emotional stress as you and your spouse grieve the end of a marriage. Furthermore, financial anxiety can transpire when you and your spouse have to make significant decisions about the division...
How the Fed and Higher Interest Rates Can Affect Your 2022 Financial Plans
The cost to borrow money is getting very expensive. In an effort to reduce inflation, on July 27th, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) raised the federal funds rate for the fourth time this year. Just like the previous interest rate hike on June 15th, this...
4 Ways to Increase Home Equity Faster
Building equity through homeownership is the primary way most people build wealth to achieve financial stability and security. Each monthly mortgage payment that pays down the principal of your home loan adds equity. The more equity you have in your home provides a...
6 Tips to Improve the Effectiveness of Your Online Home Search
Hooray! You have finally determined how much house you can afford, have obtained your mortgage pre-qualification letter, and are ready to shop for your new home. If you have decided to begin your home search online, you made a wise decision. According to a 2022...
How to Buy a Home on Any Salary
Are you looking to buy a home but uncertain that your current income will not be enough to afford one? The nationwide shortage of affordable housing and higher interest rates have some people concerned that they may need to hold off buying their first home....
Buying a New Construction Home
Do you dream of building your dream home or just want to be the first person to live in your home? Maybe you're finding it challenging to locate an affordable contemporary home that checks off all your boxes? If you've answered "Yes" to any of these scenarios, you...
Factors That Influence Your Credit Score
Your credit score is determined by several factors, including payment history, the amount of credit you are using, length of your credit history, new credit accounts, and the types of credit you have open. Understanding the factors that affect your credit score...
How Consumer-Permissioned Data Protects Your Personal Identifying Information
When you conduct financial transactions online, you often risk exposing your personal identifying information (PII) to criminals who can use that information for identity theft, fraud, and scams. Types of sensitive personal identifying information that criminals...
The Benefits of Saving as a Family
Whether your family is just you and your partner, a family with children, or a multigenerational household, all families have short-term and long-term financial goals. A highly effective way to ensure financial stability within your household is by learning how to...
10 Questions Unmarried Couples Should Ask Before Buying a Home Together
Whether you are an unmarried couple committed to living together or engaged to be married, it might be tempting to buy a home together before interest rates increase. But is it wise?State law governs how property is to be divided or distributed if a marriage...
6 Financial New Year’s Resolutions to Achieve in 2022
The new year has finally begun! Now is the perfect time to plan which financial goals you would like to achieve this year. Here are some of the most popular financial resolutions, along with tips on how you can achieve each goal to give your finances a fresh...
Steps to Take Now to Get a Head Start on Your Taxes
Every year beginning January 1 and ending on April 15, we are required to file our income tax return. While taxes are a simple process for many workers, it’s better to give yourself plenty of time to prepare for tax filing your tax return. Use this checklist as a...