News & Insights BlogMonday on the Money

As cybersecurity technology continues to improve with better firewalls, encryption, and EMV chip cards, it turns out passwords are often the weak link to our data and devices.  And those of us who still have weak passwords aren’t ignorant of what a secure password is; we just want something that’s easy to remember. It’s time […]

Managing your finances is no simple task, so I do everything I can to make it as easy and uncomplicated as possible.  This is why I often write about the benefits of bill pay, automatic deposits, and My Change Keeper.  It’s also why I don’t have accounts at multiple financial institutions. Having accounts at several […]

Interest rates are starting to rise and are likely to head even higher, which means it’s time to build a ladder so you can climb with them.  A ladder? you ask.  I’m talking about a Certificate of Deposit (CD) ladder. If you’re not familiar with the term, I don’t blame you.  It’s been so long […]

I’m not sure why, but when things go bad, buying something new seems like an easy way to pick ourselves up, but in reality, it often leads to spending woes that cause even more grief in the long run.  The next time you decide to indulge in retail therapy, stick to these tips and you’ll […]

If your tax refund has you feeling flush, consider the benefits of using it to improve your finances.  You’ll have less stress, more money, and a sense of having done what’s best for yourself.  Here’s my list of the top eight money-smart things to do with your refund: Pay off high-interest debt Increase your emergency […]

The $5 Bill Savings Plan For those who like to spend cash, the $5 bill savings plan is simple: you’re not allowed to spend $5 bills.  Every time one comes into your possession, you have to place it in savings. My Change Keeper My Change Keeper is a free service that can be added to […]

Health Savings Accounts are used by some tax payers as a way to reduce their tax liability. If you are eligible, you have until April 18th to set up and fund a Health Savings Account for the 2016 tax year.  To be eligible, you must have had a high deductible health plan since December 1, […]

Type in the word “budget” or “coupon” into the app store, and you’ll be bombarded by hundreds of applications that promise to help you save money.  Here’s the four free apps I think are worth the storage space on your phone. CardValet Already heralded for its account security features, CardValet also allows Bank of the […]

Saving money should be simple—all you have to do is spend less than you earn—yet so few of us find it easy to accomplish.  It turns out Bank of the Ozarks has three nifty tools that can help make saving money as easy as it should be. CardValet: Budgeting?  There’s an app for that (and […]

Identity theft is the second most reported consumer complaint to the Federal Trade Commission, and this has led to a booming industry of paid protection services.  Before you decide to pay extra for this security, consider these tips that can help you protect yourself. Your bank account may already give you identity theft protection.* Bank […]

If you have a history of unpaid overdrafts and forced account closures, you may have difficulty finding a bank that will give you a checking account.  But this doesn’t mean you have to be one of the nearly 9 million Americans who struggle without access to a deposit account. Just like how information is sometimes […]

While a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) may not be the best method to fund your vacation to the Bahamas, there are several responsible uses for this source of credit.  My thoughts are to use HELOCs for needs rather than wants. Paying Off High Interest Debt:  You can use a HELOC to pay off credit […]