Education Articles

Buckets of Money

If you want to manage your money like a pro, look no further than the Three Bucket Method. It sounds strange, but it’s an easy way to learn about money management, spending wisely, and helping others—and it works at any age.

Keep Your Investments on Track While Weathering the Inflation Storm

There are many forces working against us right now. Inflation, gas prices, and stock market woes have made investing a big challenge. But it’s wise to stick to a long-term plan while being frugal in the moment to weather the storm.

How to Spot (and Stop) Mortgage Junk Mail

When you finalize the purchase of a home, your information becomes public record—and on comes the junk mail. The good news is there are ways to spot (and stop) mortgage junk mail.

AutoSMART: Car Buying Made Easy

Find a vehicle and get preapproved for a SELCO loan in just a few clicks Buying a vehicle can be an arduous process. One survey even showed that car buying was “ more stressful than getting married ” for many respondents. And while buyer satisfaction has improved over the years, it can still be quite the undertaking. But it doesn’t have to be. A...

What to Buy and What to Skip in May

Warm up your wallets. Or maybe your smartphone, for super easy digital banking . The month of May brings summer into full view and is capped off with Memorial Day—a weekend retailers like to put their good deals into orbit. Despite inflation, high gas prices, and supply chain issues, there are smart buys for consumers this month. The best time t...

Making Sense of Rising Insurance Rates

There are ways to level off, or even lower, your auto and homeowners premiums The recent meteoric rise in inflation has found its way to the insurance industry. Thanks to an unusual convergence of market trends, it’s much more expensive to build, repair, or replace a vehicle or home in 2022 than ever before—forcing most insurance carriers to...

7 Tips to Protect Yourself When Buying a Used Car Privately

When you buy a car, you expect certain things. Purchasing a car from an auto dealer means you will be at least somewhat protected if something happens with the car and can feel some peace of mind that the car’s title is clean. These buyer protections are due to certain regulations that protect consumers.  Unfortunately, not everyone plays by the...

Homeowners Can Put Equity to Work with a HELOC

As any savvy homeowner will tell you, protecting the investment in your home is a crucial part of ownership. After all, a home is likely the largest investment many of us will make. While upgrades, renovations, and additions often help maintain or even boost a home’s value, these undertakings can be costly.  Thankfully, homeowners have an...

5 Things to Know About Commercial Loans

Thinking about a commercial loan? Here are five things you should know: 1. Commercial loans aren't one-size-fits-all And there are different types of loans depending on your goals. As a business owner or investor, you may have a variety of needs to take your business to the next level, so one type of loan may not cover the entire spectrum.  Ther...

Before You Sign Your Auto Loan

Congrats on deciding to buy or trade up! This could be the start of some exciting changes—more mobility, mobility in more style, perhaps the convenience and comforts of technology from the current century. But one change that’s likely is the additional financial responsibility.   “Just like modern cars, financing can be very complex,” says Jerry...