Getting money where your business’ mouth is
Over the last few years the economy hasn’t been quite what it used to be. Consumer Reports said recently that spending was down even though people were feeling more optimistic about how the market was doing.
Using a credit card for your small business
More small businesses are considering using credit cards as part of their daily operations. With rates on the rise and lending ceilings shrinking at banks, businesses should know a few things about business banking before jumping on for the plastic.
The one kind of insurance you should have but probably don’t
According to Marvin H. Feldman of the LIFE Foundation, you may be taking a terrible risk every day with your finances and it could be because you don’t know to look for it yet.
Personality and spending habits need open communication
Many couples agree communication can be a big stumbling block in a relationship, and nowhere moreso than when it comes to money.
Overseas Election Results Stunt Stocks
Equity markets closed sharply lower on Friday and on the week after the April payrolls report showed the U.S. economy created just 115,000 new jobs, the fewest in six months. The S&P 500 lost 2.4% last week, its largest weekly retreat since mid-December. The Dow...
Making money count for the 20-somethings
College graduation is a landmark, a time for family and friends to rejoice a major achievement and wish you well as you truly set out into the world for the first time.
Fighting the debt fight
Recent credit card usage is up among small businesses, according to CreditCards.com, with numbers soaring above those from 10 years ago.
Jumpstart your business cash flow
Your small business is just starting out and you need a way to get some extra cash flow. A new law makes finding money online much easier, and not just with online banking.
Are you a casual financial planner?
Americans are casual planners when it comes to their personal finance, according to a recent study from Northwestern Mutual.
It’s time to ramp up your financial fitness
One of the hardest parts of adjusting to life after college is realizing you’re now a “real adult.”
The core of cash flow management
From a financial perspective, April is a big month.
No Left Turns!
On Your Way to the Right Mortgage You want to find the perfect house, but first you should look for the right mortgage. If you feel lost before you even begin your search, let us help guide you. Check Your Credit Report Right Away Many mortgage lenders require...
Tips for quick and easy cash flow management
According to Les Masonson, financial services expert and author of Cash, Cash, Cash: The Three Principles of Business Survival and Success, the path to effective, successful cash flow management is a simple one.
Four common money mistakes
When it comes to staying out of the red and keeping control of your finances, there are several common errors people make time and again.
Keeping your cash flow consistent and your company afloat
Effective cash flow management – the term for adequately facilitating the stream of money coming in and going out of your company – is crucial to keeping your small business afloat.
Strategies for business cash flow management
As the Business Finance Store recently noted, effective cash flow management is an important part of operations for small businesses across industries.
Deducting Points
You just bought a house and paid one “point” on your home loan. A point, which is the interest lenders charge up front, is 1% of the mortgage loan amount. If you itemize your income-tax deductions, points are deductible. First Time Around Points paid for a mortgage on...
So, you’re facing a shortfall
You crunched revenue and expenditure numbers, put together a realistic financial plan, and yet, you’re facing a shortfall.
Improving receivables and managing payables
Cash flow management is all about striking a balance between expenditures and revenue, then basing your company’s financial plan off these projections.
How organization can help streamline cash flow management
It’s virtually impossible to facilitate an effective cash flow management effort without a comprehensive financial plan in place.
Tips for better managing your cash flow
Cash flow management involves balancing small business expenditures with revenue collection to ensure your company has the funds it needs to pay bills, cover unexpected expenses and generally stay afloat.
Study identifies successful entrepreneurial practices
A recent report from the Guardian Life Small Business Research Institute examined the practices of small business owners (SBOs) who saw revenue increases in 2011.
Small Businesses, Big Tax Mistakes
In the face of business pressures, keeping up with IRS rules and regulations can be difficult. But the consequences of noncompliance can put a small enterprise out of business just as easily as poor economic conditions can. While you can’t control the economy, you can...
How useful can a financial adviser be for your SBO demographic?
According to a recent report, many small business owners (SBOs) are eager to get financial tips from a qualified adviser, although some demographics may benefit more from enlisting an adviser than others.
Today’s Market Action
U.S. stocks opened mildly higher, extending gains into a sixth day on follow-on strength from yesterday’s surprise Fed stress test results which allowed a dividend-increase melee among banks. The actions reiterate the Fed’s view that strains in global financial...
Don’t make these common small business tax filing mistakes
With approximately a month to go, it’s time to get in gear if you haven’t yet filed taxes for your small business.
What haven’t you factored into your financial plan?
Even the best-laid plans have the potential to go awry, and the financial plan you have for your company is no exception.
Study: Small business borrowing is looking up
Small business borrowing in the United States rose again in January, according to the Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index.
Securing funding for expansion as small business employment plateaus
According to the latest iteration of the Intuit Small Business Employment Index, employment at small enterprises with fewer than 20 employees rose by 0.2 percent between January 24 and February 23.
Crowdfunding vs. community bank loans
Despite tentative positive trends suggesting traditional small business financing will be easier to come by this year, many experts predict that 2012 will see the continued rise of alternative sources of funding.
Improving your chances of securing a small business loan
If you’re looking to secure commercial loans for your small business, there are several courses of action you can take to improve your chances.
College and Retirement
Two Goals, One Pot of Money There’s no doubt that college costs are high — and getting higher. So, if you expect your child to go to college, it probably makes sense to start saving as early as possible. There’s also no doubt that if you plan to retire someday, you’re...
U.S. 4Q GDP Expands to 3% Growth
Broad market gains yesterday sent the Dow Jones Industrial Average to close above the 13,000 mark for the first time since May 2008 and the S&P 500 ended the day at its best level in nearly four years. Investors overlooked falling home prices and a 4% drop in...
Community banks, credit unions prove to be small business go-tos
Community financial institutions (FIs) and credit unions (CUs) are triumphing over big banks at a time when the country’s small businesses are making tentative steps toward economic recovery.
Engage with your community bank via Twitter
Banks can use Twitter to provide financial tips, encourage community involvement and promote their own financial services.
Putting together a personal financial statement
According to Inc. magazine, entrepreneurs tend to create a personal financial statement for one of two reasons.
Bernanke speaks about the current state of community banking
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke recently said smaller institutions are beginning to pull ahead of big banks, focusing more on financial investment advice as more money for loans becomes available.
Consumers trust financial institutions’ mobile banking offerings, study finds
A recent study by research consultancy Market Strategies International found that although many consumers continue to have concerns about the safety of mobile payment technology, they feel relatively secure about mobile banking options from financial services companies.
Business owners, come up with a financial plan for your retirement
The problem with saving for retirement is that there’s no way to know exactly how much you need to put away.
The importance of keeping personal and business accounts separate
It can be tempting for entrepreneurs to merge their personal and business accounts, but this decision could spell disaster if your company goes under.
Creating Your Financial Plan
Creating a financial plan may seem like a task for only the very wealthy. But anyone with goals for the future, such as buying a house or saving for a child’s education, will benefit from having a plan to help reach those objectives. Successful financial planning...
Setting up an annual financial plan for your business
Putting together a financial plan for your company will help ensure you’re prepared to fund operations and generate income.
In the Valentine’s spirit, plan your financial future as a couple
At this time of year, love is in the air. Many couples are focused on pushing out all the stops to make their Valentine’s Day offerings the best that they can be, and personal finance can often fall by the wayside.
Wise Moves for Young Families
Once you have children, a new sense of responsibility takes over. With a small person depending on you, you want to do what’s best for your young family. Here are a few wise moves to consider. Begin with a Budget To get your budget started, find out where your money...
Clean Up the Clutter
If piles of financial documents have taken over your home, it’s time to clean up the clutter. Here are a few ways to clean your financial house. Get Organized Sort through the piles and arrange documents into groups. For example, put all your tax records into one...
Making a Plan and Checking It Twice
Want to give yourself a really valuable and lasting present? How about a financial plan? Promise yourself that once the holidays are over, you’ll take time to thoroughly review your finances — and come up with a strategy for reaching all your goals. Begin with a...
ARE YOU READY?
A Checklist for the New Year The start of every new year brings the promise of new beginnings. It’s a time to think about setting new goals and resolving to do new things. If one of your resolutions for 2012 is to find new and better ways to manage your finances and...
Presents for the Future
Would you like to give your children or grandchildren different kinds of gifts this holiday season? Financial gifts never go out of style. Some ideas: Stock or mutual fund shares. Your gift may spur a lifetime interest in investing. The “kiddie tax” rules (that...
Avoid Credit Hangover
First United Bank & Trust is kicking off the 2011 holiday shopping season with tips to manage holiday spending and avoid a post-holiday credit hangover. “Consumers spreading holiday cheer should keep in mind that January bills are only a month away,” says William...
Curbing Credit Card Debt
You’re certainly not alone if you’re carrying more credit card debt from month to month than you’d like to be. Breaking the cycle is rarely easy, but the benefits of wiping burdensome debt off your personal balance sheet can be huge. Here’s how to get started. Take a...