Blog
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.
Correcting small business tax misconceptions
The Internal Revenue Service’s 2012 tax filing deadline is Tuesday, April 17. Tax Day is typically April 15, but it’s a little later this year.
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.
Optimizing how you manage your small business finances
According to recent research sponsored by AdviCoach, a business coaching and advisory service for small and medium-sized companies, managing finances is a key challenge for many entrepreneurs.
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...
The sunny side of owning your own business
During a turbulent economy, the negative side of owning a small business is often the aspect that’s publicized.
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...
Study reveals worryingly few entrepreneurs have retirement plans
A recent study by The American College revealed that three-quarters of small business owners (SBOs) have no written plan for retirement.
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.
Are you ready to expand your small business?
As the owner of a local small business, you know the hardships involved with getting a company off the ground.
Putting together a personal financial statement
According to Inc. magazine, entrepreneurs tend to create a personal financial statement for one of two reasons.
Half of small business owners don’t have an appropriate retirement plan, study finds
According to a recent study by Fidelity Investments, more than half (53 percent) of the nearly six million small businesses in the nation don’t have an optimal retirement plan.
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.
Making Your Small Business Dream a Reality
A Civic Ventures study released in November of last year found that one-quarter of American citizens between the ages of 44 and 70 were interested in starting their own companies.
So, you’re thinking of starting a small business
If you’re considering founding your own company, the first thing to know is that you’re not alone.
Work with a community bank to maximize your small business’ success
Recent government reports revealed that 40 percent of all small business lending is made by financial institutions $1 billion or less in size, according to the Times of Northwest Indiana.
Cash flow management, financial services and you
Cash flow management can seem intimidating for small business owners.
Help From a Community Bank Could Catalyze Small Business Success
According to a recent CNBC article by Louis Hernandez, Jr., community-based financial institutions are best equipped to help small enterprises begin to recover from the recession.
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 Secret to Building a Strong Small Business Community
Family is a big part of life for community oriented business owners (COBOs).
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...
Breaking down the formula for improving your small business’ cash flow
The formula for improving your cash flow is a simple one.
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.
Don’t Overlook Succession Planning
According to a 2009 study conducted by The Family Firm Institute, fewer than one-third of family-owned small businesses make it to the second generation, approximately 15 percent to the third and just 3 percent to the fourth and beyond.
Keeping up with your company’s cash flow
Money goes in, money goes out. Make sure your business checking account is up to the challenge.
Local economies are good for residents’ health, study finds
According to a study by sociologists at Louisiana State University (LSU) and Baylor University, communities with a greater concentration of locally-owned small businesses have healthier populations compared to areas that rely on large companies for industry.
Chamber of Commerce survey: Outlook bright for local economies
A recently released United States Chamber of Commerce study revealed that although the national economy continues to falter and many small business owners believe the country is on the wrong track, the outlook is better for local economies.
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...
Money Market Funds
How Much Do You Know About Them? Looking for an investment that’s highly liquid and presents very little risk to your principal? A money market mutual fund* may be a good choice. Money market mutual funds typically invest in high-quality, short-term...
Using Home Equity Financing
Using the equity you have in your home to secure a loan may be a tax-wise method of financing or refinancing some of your personal and business expenditures. Here are a few home equity-borrowing techniques that may save you tax dollars. Financing Personal...
School’s in Session:
College Savings Plans Your children or grandchildren may be tiny tots today, but they’ll be off to college before you can say “Where’s the money coming from?” If your long-term investment goals include financing a child’s education, contributing to a tax-advantaged...
Making Room for Personal Financial Management
Are the demands of a successful career cutting heavily into the time you have available for non-work-related tasks like managing your personal finances? If you are unable to give your investments, taxes, and other financial affairs the attention they require, the...
My Bank Mobile is here!
Now you can do your banking when you need it! Access your financial accounts anytime, anywhere, with your mobile device. We use the latest mobile banking technology to protect your account and identity. My Bank Mobile makes it easy to take care of your banking...
Save Your Spare Change
A cup of coffee here, a candy bar there. A magazine, a soda, a DVD or video game rental. Have you ever thought about how much you’re spending on little things? Paying out a few bucks a day may seem like pocket change — until you start adding it up. Bean Counting Let’s...
An Education in Saving for College
Does it seem like you need an advanced degree to figure out the best way to save for your child’s college education? Before you hit the books, we can help you sort through a variety of investment options, each with its own pros and cons. 529 Savings Plans College...
Money Talks . . . So Should Couples
New lovebirds often spend hours talking. They share stories from childhood, funny anecdotes from high school and college, and their future hopes and dreams. But, unless a couple has talked about money, they don’t completely know each other. Many couples avoid talking...