Retirement Planning for Millennials
While the Millennial generation gets a bad rap for quite a few things, a perceived lack of interest in retirement planning seems to hover near the top of the list. According to Investopedia.com, “Millennials have been plagued by poor economic conditions that have made it difficult to get and keep a job, especially one that matches their skills and expertise. Many Millennials also face crushing student-loan debt that makes it difficult not only to save for retirement, but also to buy a house or think about starting a family.” With such daunting challenges, it’s no wonder some Millennials
▸ continue readingSuper Easy Ways to Automate Your Savings
In a recent study, the Federal Reserve Board discovered that 46 percent of Americans wouldn’t be able to come up with $400 when faced with an emergency or unexpected expense. Are you part of that group? Across the globe, banks and other financial institutions are seeking new, easier and more creative ways to help account holders save more of their hard-earned paychecks. Let’s take a look at a few options. Connect Everything. According to Ramit Sethi, author of the bestselling book “I Will Teach You To Be Rich,” you can cut down on the time and effort it
▸ continue reading43 Years of Service and Still Going Strong!
The picture of Northern California was much different in the late sixties from what it is today. Sunnyvale, Walnut Creek and Milpitas were still rather small rural towns with orchards dominating the landscape and none of the technology parks and glamorous office buildings so prominent now. Similarly, the Polish community in the area was much smaller and thinly spread over a huge territory except for a few pockets in San Francisco, Oakland, Monterey and Sacramento, and with the Polish Hall in San Francisco being the main center of activity. The Polish American Congress of California was the leading organization,
▸ continue readingSummer Energy Saving Tips
Summer is here, and your energy bill is already skyrocketing. What can you do? Whether you live in a house, condo, or apartment, summer presents a challenge to everyone’s finances. If you’re on a tight budget, here are a few cost-saving tips to reign in your runaway summer energy bills. Quick Home Energy Audit. You don’t have to shell out the extra cash to hire an energy auditor–you can do your own home energy audit! First, check your home for places where air tends to leak (in or out). Doorways and windows are usually the biggest culprits.
▸ continue readingSupplies to Save Your Summer Road Trip
It’s that time of year again–when the sun is out, the skies are clear and it’s time to hit the road! If you’re gearing up for your next adventure, here’s a list of four essential items to ease your worries before you hit the road. Old Fashioned Paper Maps. In an age when smartphones lurk in almost every pocket, it may seem redundant to bring a paper map on a road trip. It isn’t – it’s good planning. Many of our national parks have large sections where it’s impossible to find a cell phone signal. If you’ve ever
▸ continue readingSecurity Chip Technology Helps to Reduce Fraud
Chip-enabled debit and credit cards are becoming the standard for businesses and consumers. You may have noticed over the recent months that your credit unions or banks have begun to issue new debit or credit cards with a small metallic chip known as an EMV chip. The goal of this technology is to aid in the efforts of decreasing consumer fraud by adding an additional layer of security. According to a report published by Javelin, about 31.8 million U.S. consumers had their credit card information stolen in 2014. This is a growing problem that EMV chip technology seeks to
▸ continue readingThe Myth of the Fixed Rate 30-Year Mortgage
The Myth of the Fixed Rate 30-Year Mortgage: Let me get to the point without forcing you to read a long introduction; “Most People Keep Their Homes for Six Years”. So why is it that most people look for a fixed rate 30-year mortgage? While many of us would like to believe that the home we just purchased will be our home forever, in most cases that is not the reality. According to a recent Federal Reserve Bank study, the average age of the first time buyer is 33 years old. So on average, most people will purchase 4 homes
▸ continue readingWIN A FANDANGO GIFT CARD
Polam is giving away a $25 fandango gift card! The first person to answer the following question correctly is our winner! “Polam was founded in 1974, which film won Best Picture at the Academy Awards this same year?” To enter, complete the registration form below and include your answer. We will announce the winner tomorrow at 12 pm!
▸ continue readingHome Equity Loan vs Home Equity Line of Credit: Pros and Cons
As times periodically get tighter, your family and bills cannot wait. Temptation may have you considering utilizing your largest asset: the family home. Home repair issues, credit card debt and even college tuition can be resolved by tapping into the equity of your house. With the fed maintaining low interest for a while now, the cost of borrowing money is as good as it gets. One key difference between home equity products and other forms of consumer debt is that all of the interest that you pay may be eligible for tax-deduction.1 A home equity loan will get you
▸ continue readingTop Tips from the Debt Free
1. Learn Your Habits and Don’t be Tempted Knowledge of yourself is important. Understand the difference between bad debt like luxury automobiles and good debt like home mortgage. When planning for repayment of large debt numbers, examine your own spending patterns. A little bit of self-reflection can help you spot your own weaknesses. Identify non-essential spending trends and limit them so that these extras become real treats. Every dollar saved will empower you to tackle large debt. 2. Fight High-Interest There are three common schools of thought when it comes to attacking debt. Some would argue to pay down the
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