Blog
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.
Group-Term Life Insurance as an Employee Benefit
Employers know that the employees of a business will effectively determine whether the venture will be a success or not. Committed employees who are satisfied with their jobs, and the rewards their jobs bring, are a significant asset of any successful business. That...
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.
Looking for Funds in All the Wrong Places
Your business might be feeling the pinch this year as prices on goods keep going up but consumer spending doesn’t keep up. Before you put in all your savings, talk to My Bank about your financing options.
Is now a good time to hire?
Your small business has come a long way but maybe you’re noticing more often that you just don’t seem to have enough time to get everything done anymore.
Make the most of your summer vacation
Schools will be letting out for summer vacation in a few short weeks and there will be plenty of time for fun in the sun. Be sure you’re ready with all the right toys and tools to make lasting memories.
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.
Study offers insight into common cash flow pitfalls
Research sponsored by small business coaching firm Advicoach found that as many as half of entrepreneurs running their own firms use personal credit cards to compensate for poor cash flow caused by a lack of funding or revenue.
Taking the next step: Tips for small business employee recruitment
So, your small business financial plan is solid.
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.
How long can your small business operate in the red?
Even small business owners who think they have a thorough financial plan in place that will help their companies remain solvent can fall victim to unfortunate circumstances.
Become a standout entrepreneur
Small business owners are notorious for being the first through the door in the morning and the last to leave at night.
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.
Organizing your small business’ to-do’s and not-right-now’s
Small business owners are historically busy people.
As Easter Approaches, Don’t Put All Your Financial Eggs in One Basket
Easter Sunday typically falls in April, which also happens to be Financial Literacy Month.
How to be a strategic entrepreneur
For small business owners like you, it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day tasks associated with running your own company.
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.
In order of priority: Auto loans, credit cards, mortgages
A predominance of consumers regard making car loan payments as more important than paying off credit cards and mortgages, according to a recent TransUnion study.
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.
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.
Cultivating the next generation of entrepreneurs
As a community-oriented business owner (COBO), running your own enterprise is about more than just making money – although that’s nice too, of course.
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.
Unpacking the recent Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity
According to the most recent Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity, the rate of small business creation fell last year.
Boosting productivity and achieving momentum
When it comes to getting things done, people tend to get caught up in what they’re doing, rather than taking a step back to look at what they’ve already accomplished and where they plan to go next.
Prioritizing your priorities: Small business 101
For small business owners like you, every aspect of running your company can seem like a priority.
Discussing your financial plan with your spouse
As a community-oriented small business owner, you have to juggle the responsibilities of financial management both at work and at home.
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.
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.