How to Maximize Your IRA Contributions

Retirement planning can be a confusing subject. With so many differing opinions and investment opportunities, people often second-guess their savings strategies. However, one instrument that remains commonplace today is an IRA or Individual Retirement Account.  Even if you have an employer-sponsored 401(k), incorporating a tax-advantaged traditional or Roth IRA into your retirement plan is beneficial. By making timely contributions that will compound over the years, your IRA will help build a solid foundation for your golden years. In this article, we’ll review tactics to ensure you’re maximizing your IRA investments.  For additional information and resources, click here.  Start Early   Because…

January 26, 2024Future Planning, Wallet Wins No Comments
How to Maximize Your IRA Contributions

Retirement planning can be a confusing subject. With so many differing opinions and investment opportunities, people often second-guess their savings strategies. However, one instrument that remains commonplace today is an IRA or Individual Retirement Account.  Even if you have an employer-sponsored 401(k), incorporating a tax-advantaged traditional or Roth IRA into your retirement plan is beneficial. By making timely contributions that will compound over the years, your IRA will help build a solid foundation for your golden years. In this article, we’ll review tactics to ensure you’re maximizing your IRA investments.  For additional information and resources, click here.  Start Early   Because…

Answering Your First-Time Homebuyer Questions

Buying a home is likely the most significant financial transaction you will make in your lifetime. While preparing to purchase a house is exciting, it’s understandable to feel a bit overwhelmed (especially as a first-time buyer).   Take a deep breath and relax. We’re here to help ease your mind as we address some of the most commonly asked questions for first-time homebuyers.   How Much of a Down Payment Do I Need?   The down payment for a home is a lump sum paid upfront to the lender and is a percentage of the home’s total purchase price. The amount required for…

January 26, 2024Borrowing Basics, Future Planning No Comments
Answering Your First-Time Homebuyer Questions

Buying a home is likely the most significant financial transaction you will make in your lifetime. While preparing to purchase a house is exciting, it’s understandable to feel a bit overwhelmed (especially as a first-time buyer).   Take a deep breath and relax. We’re here to help ease your mind as we address some of the most commonly asked questions for first-time homebuyers.   How Much of a Down Payment Do I Need?   The down payment for a home is a lump sum paid upfront to the lender and is a percentage of the home’s total purchase price. The amount required for…

Why Now Is the Perfect Time to Save with Share Certificates

Rising loan rates and inflation have taken a financial toll on households nationwide. Fortunately, it’s not all bad news. You may have noticed that savings rates have also been climbing steadily in recent months. This scenario creates the perfect opportunity to earn greater returns through share certificates.  Share certificate accounts, commonly called certificates of deposit, are found in portfolios among investors of all ages because of their earning potential and limited risk. As yields continue their upward trend, now might be the perfect time to put share certificate accounts to work for you.  Benefits of Share Certificates   Share certificates have…

January 26, 2024Borrowing Basics No Comments
Why Now Is the Perfect Time to Save with Share Certificates

Rising loan rates and inflation have taken a financial toll on households nationwide. Fortunately, it’s not all bad news. You may have noticed that savings rates have also been climbing steadily in recent months. This scenario creates the perfect opportunity to earn greater returns through share certificates.  Share certificate accounts, commonly called certificates of deposit, are found in portfolios among investors of all ages because of their earning potential and limited risk. As yields continue their upward trend, now might be the perfect time to put share certificate accounts to work for you.  Benefits of Share Certificates   Share certificates have…

The Community Benefits of PEFCU’s Focus on Health

Hello, again! Alyssa here, and it’s lovely to see you back to wrap up our chat about PEFCU’s community pillars!  So far, we have gone over PEFCU’s focus on both Education and the Environment, leaving Health as our third and final pillar!  Why Health Matters to PEFCU  In today’s fast-paced world, health and wellness have become increasingly important. Organizations like Publix Employees Federal Credit Union have focused on health-related organizations and making healthy habits a priority, which promotes a healthier workforce and contributes to the overall well-being of the community.   PEFCU’s Contribution to the Community  PEFCU has volunteered time, sponsored…

January 19, 2024Community Engagement No Comments
The Community Benefits of PEFCU’s Focus on Health

Hello, again! Alyssa here, and it’s lovely to see you back to wrap up our chat about PEFCU’s community pillars!  So far, we have gone over PEFCU’s focus on both Education and the Environment, leaving Health as our third and final pillar!  Why Health Matters to PEFCU  In today’s fast-paced world, health and wellness have become increasingly important. Organizations like Publix Employees Federal Credit Union have focused on health-related organizations and making healthy habits a priority, which promotes a healthier workforce and contributes to the overall well-being of the community.   PEFCU’s Contribution to the Community  PEFCU has volunteered time, sponsored…

The Community Benefits of PEFCU’s Environmental Focus

Hey, PEFCU fam! Alyssa here, and I am thrilled to be heading into the 2024 community outreach program here at the Publix Employees Federal Credit Union!  Did you know that PEFCU focuses on three main community pillars? These pillars are Environment, Health, and Education. This allows us the opportunity to focus on initiatives that matter the most to us.  I am going to briefly dive into why the environment is important to us and what we have done to implement eco-friendly practices in our local communities!   PEFCU’s Environmental Initiatives  PEFCU’s emphasis on the environment promotes a culture of conservational…

January 19, 2024Community Engagement No Comments
The Community Benefits of PEFCU’s Environmental Focus

Hey, PEFCU fam! Alyssa here, and I am thrilled to be heading into the 2024 community outreach program here at the Publix Employees Federal Credit Union!  Did you know that PEFCU focuses on three main community pillars? These pillars are Environment, Health, and Education. This allows us the opportunity to focus on initiatives that matter the most to us.  I am going to briefly dive into why the environment is important to us and what we have done to implement eco-friendly practices in our local communities!   PEFCU’s Environmental Initiatives  PEFCU’s emphasis on the environment promotes a culture of conservational…

The Community Benefits of PEFCU’s Focus on Education

Hey, PEFCU fam! Alyssa here again, and I am excited to be heading into the 2024 community outreach program here at Publix Employees Federal Credit Union!   PEFCU focuses on three main community pillars: Environment, Health, and Education. Let’s dive into why the education system is important to us and what we have done to contribute to local schools and other educational programs in our community!  Why Education Matters to PEFCU  PEFCU supports all types of educational organizations and programs, from elementary schools to adult education, and even professional development in the workplace. By focusing on the benefits of education, PEFCU…

January 19, 2024Community Engagement No Comments
The Community Benefits of PEFCU’s Focus on Education

Hey, PEFCU fam! Alyssa here again, and I am excited to be heading into the 2024 community outreach program here at Publix Employees Federal Credit Union!   PEFCU focuses on three main community pillars: Environment, Health, and Education. Let’s dive into why the education system is important to us and what we have done to contribute to local schools and other educational programs in our community!  Why Education Matters to PEFCU  PEFCU supports all types of educational organizations and programs, from elementary schools to adult education, and even professional development in the workplace. By focusing on the benefits of education, PEFCU…

Securing Your Dream Home: An Essential Checklist

Purchasing a home is a significant financial investment that takes time and dedication. While house hunting can be exciting, you need to complete several steps before ensuring you’re ready financially to become a homeowner.   The following guide will walk you through a series of actions you should take to confirm you’re prepared for the long-term commitment of homeownership. Each step will help ensure you have all your financial ducks in a row, leaving no loose ends in your pursuit of becoming a homeowner.  Check Your Credit Score  Financing a home is a long-term commitment, with mortgage terms often extending up…

December 22, 2023Future Planning No Comments
Securing Your Dream Home: An Essential Checklist

Purchasing a home is a significant financial investment that takes time and dedication. While house hunting can be exciting, you need to complete several steps before ensuring you’re ready financially to become a homeowner.   The following guide will walk you through a series of actions you should take to confirm you’re prepared for the long-term commitment of homeownership. Each step will help ensure you have all your financial ducks in a row, leaving no loose ends in your pursuit of becoming a homeowner.  Check Your Credit Score  Financing a home is a long-term commitment, with mortgage terms often extending up…

What’s the Optimal Down Payment on a New Car?

In today’s world, purchasing a new car seems straightforward. Many rely on their trade-in vehicle to cover upfront costs, such as a down payment. However, the amount you put down on a new car plays a much more significant role than most realize.   Between taxes and the slew of add-on products peddled by dealerships, the amount you finance for a new vehicle could be substantially higher than the car is worth. Preventing this situation is not only critical for your finances, but it also protects your investment.   This article sheds light on the importance of your down payment and provides…

December 22, 2023Wallet Wins No Comments
What’s the Optimal Down Payment on a New Car?

In today’s world, purchasing a new car seems straightforward. Many rely on their trade-in vehicle to cover upfront costs, such as a down payment. However, the amount you put down on a new car plays a much more significant role than most realize.   Between taxes and the slew of add-on products peddled by dealerships, the amount you finance for a new vehicle could be substantially higher than the car is worth. Preventing this situation is not only critical for your finances, but it also protects your investment.   This article sheds light on the importance of your down payment and provides…

Don’t Fall for These Text Scams

Millions of people fall victim to identity theft every year. The best way to protect yourself is to understand how popular scams work. However, once you become comfortable identifying them, fraudsters change it up and try new methods.  A new trend emerging involves fraudsters piggybacking off legitimate text alerts from financial institutions. These messages are deceiving because they often copy the same language credit unions and banks use to alert individuals of suspicious activity on their accounts.   Identifying these fraudulent texts can be challenging at first, but there are tell-tale signs of a scam.  How Text Scams Work  Text scams…

December 22, 2023Security Center 1 Comment
Don’t Fall for These Text Scams

Millions of people fall victim to identity theft every year. The best way to protect yourself is to understand how popular scams work. However, once you become comfortable identifying them, fraudsters change it up and try new methods.  A new trend emerging involves fraudsters piggybacking off legitimate text alerts from financial institutions. These messages are deceiving because they often copy the same language credit unions and banks use to alert individuals of suspicious activity on their accounts.   Identifying these fraudulent texts can be challenging at first, but there are tell-tale signs of a scam.  How Text Scams Work  Text scams…

Traditional or Roth IRA: Which Is Right for Me?

Time is your best friend when it comes to saving for retirement. Ideally, you’ll start putting money into retirement accounts in your early 20s, but it’s never too late to start. The reason is two-fold: 1) it allows ample time for your money to grow and compound over the years, and 2) it’ll provide the greatest tax benefits – a component of retirement planning people tend to overlook.  Many tax-advantaged retirement accounts limit how much you can contribute per year. To maximize your tax savings, you’ll want to start early. One such account that everyone should consider is an IRA. …

December 22, 2023Wallet Wins No Comments
Traditional or Roth IRA: Which Is Right for Me?

Time is your best friend when it comes to saving for retirement. Ideally, you’ll start putting money into retirement accounts in your early 20s, but it’s never too late to start. The reason is two-fold: 1) it allows ample time for your money to grow and compound over the years, and 2) it’ll provide the greatest tax benefits – a component of retirement planning people tend to overlook.  Many tax-advantaged retirement accounts limit how much you can contribute per year. To maximize your tax savings, you’ll want to start early. One such account that everyone should consider is an IRA. …