Author Archives: Chief Marketing Officer Jessica

Budget Tips for Planning for Life’s Unexpected Curve Balls

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couple-worry-moneyLife doesn’t always go as planned, and many of life’s major events, like getting married, having a baby and buying a home can crowd your savings capability and even throw you into a financial tailspin.

When it comes to making ends meet, retirement is often left out of the savings equation. Eighty-four percent of people say saving for retirement has been undercut by a life event, according to this year’s HSBC Future of Retirement survey of more than 15,000 people. But people react differently when in crunch mode, the survey says, and in some cases, extreme measures are required to cover budget needs. Three tactics improve cash flow in a financial crunch: increase income, decrease expenses or a combination of both.

Time to Downsize?

In reality, you have more control on your spending side, particularly with flexible expenses like travel, entertainment, gifts and food. But if your financial woes seem irreversible, you may have to take a hammer to large expenses like housing.

In fact, 21% of women surveyed say they would downsize, compared to only 14% of men. And 31% of men say they would dip into their retirement savings to cover unexpected expenses.

Though experts concede downsizing may be extremely emotional, it’s more preferable than taking a chunk out of retirement savings. Actually, 29% of respondents say the financial strain of home ownership puts a real crimp in retirement savings.

If you have any questions about the home buying process, feel free to ask us! We know it can be an intimidating process at times, and we’re here for you. To learn more about a 10, 15, 20, or 30 year First Financial Mortgage – click here.*

Rethink Your Lifestyle.

Today’s lifestyle norms may have something to do with one-dimensional thinking. Items once seen as luxuries are now seen as necessities, says Ravi Dhar, director of the Yale Center for Customer Insights.

Plus, what people do with their money has more to do with psychological and emotional issues than it does with crunching the numbers, claims Marcee Yager, a retired certified financial planner. “It’s never just about the money.”

Because non-financial issues often dictate financial decisions and create a domino effect, consumers need to look at both quantitative (intellectual) and qualitative (emotional) issues when making life choices, says Yager. “Without shared thinking, people’s heads start spinning.”

The idea that emotional understanding must be factored into financial decisions has gained very little traction, claims Yager. “Big investment banks don’t tend to make things soft and fuzzy.”

Dhar even questions the effectiveness of some system resources like the many online investment tools available to consumers. Calculators project four, six, or eight million dollar targets for a retirement 30 years into the future. He says the timeframe seems intangible and the goals unattainable.

For consumers looking to navigate their way out or steer clear of the financial weeds, experts offer the following:

Take small steps to wealth. The only way to build up reserves is to do it gradually. Budget a realistic portion of your paycheck to start an emergency fund or return to the basics. “The best thing people raising families can do is go back to the old traditional practice of putting money in an envelope or a cookie jar,” adds Yager.

Be flexible. Think about what’s possible to mitigate a tight financial situation. Baby boomers tend to be fearful of change, particularly of moving to unknown places, says Yager. In fact, new locales both in and outside of U.S. borders can create wonderful opportunities that improve your quality of life.

Keep a minimum three-month reserve for savings. Learn to cut corners, live on less and shop in cheaper places.

Write it down. Take a financial fitness quiz then put your pencil to paper. You need to see the numbers then monitor your day-to-day situation.

First Financial also hosts free credit management and debt reduction seminars throughout the year, so be sure to check our online event calendar or you can subscribe to receive upcoming seminar alerts on your mobile phone by signing up here.**

Turn to professionals. Reviewing your savings situation and retirement potential with a professional financial advisor can help to ensure that all your future requirements are identified.

If you would like to set up a no-cost consultation with the Investment & Retirement Center located at First Financial Federal Credit Union to discuss your brokerage, investments, and/or savings goals, contact us at 732.312.1500 or stop in to see us!***

Click here to view the article source, from FoxBusiness.com.

*A First Financial membership is required to obtain a mortgage and is open to anyone who lives, works, worships, or attends school in Monmouth or Ocean Counties. A First Financial Mortgage is subject to credit approval. See Credit Union for details. *

*Note: You must check the Text Message Signup box when registering in order to receive text messages. Standard text messaging and data rates may apply. If you do not receive an automated confirmation message after enrolling, please text “Yes” to (201) 808-1038

***Securities and advisory services are offered through LPL Financial (LPL), a registered investment advisor and broker/dealer (member FINRA/SIPC). Insurance products are offered through LPL or its licensed affiliates. First Financial Federal Credit Union (FFFCU) and First Financial Investment & Retirement Center are not registered as a broker/dealer or investment advisor. Registered representatives of LPL offer products and services using First Financial Investment & Retirement Center, and may also be employees of FFFCU. These products and services are being offered through LPL or its affiliates, which are separate entities from and not affiliates of FFFCU or First Financial Investment & Retirement Center.

Securities and insurance offered through LPL or its affiliates are:

 

4 Tips to Help 20-Somethings Manage Their Debt

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Debt can be a heavy burden on anyone, no matter what their age, but increasingly, young adults are starting out deeper in the hole. A recent report from credit-score provider FICO shows that student loan debt has climbed dramatically for those ages 18 to 29, with average debt rising by almost $5,000 over the course of five years.

The good news, though, is that young adults are taking steps to get their overall debt under control, reducing their balances on credit cards and their debt levels for mortgages, auto loans, and other types of debt. With 16% of 18 to 29-year-olds having no credit cards, young adults are getting the message that managing debt early on is essential to overall financial health.

With the goal of managing debt levels firmly in mind, let’s take a look at four things you should do to manage your debt prudently and successfully.

1. Get a Handle On What You Owe.

In managing debt, the first challenge is figuring out all of what you owe. By pulling a free copy of your credit report you’ll get a list of loans and credit card accounts that major credit bureaus think you have outstanding, along with contact information to track down any unexpected creditors that might appear on the list.

Once you know what you owe, you also have to know the terms of each loan. By making a list of amounts due, monthly or minimum payment obligations, rates, and other fees, you can prioritize your debt and get the most onerous loans paid down first. Usually, that’ll involve getting your credit card debt zeroed out, along with any high rate debt like private student loans before turning to lower rate debt like mortgages and government subsidized student loans. With your list in hand, you’ll know where to concentrate any extra cash that you can put toward paying down debt ahead of schedule.

2. Look for Ways to Establish a Strong Credit History.

Having too much debt is always a mistake, but going too far in the other direction can also hurt you financially. If you don’t use debt at all, then you run the risk of never building up a credit history, and that can make it much more difficult for you to get loans when you finally do want to borrow money. The better course is to use credit sparingly and wisely, perhaps with a credit card that you pay off every month and use only often enough to establish a payment record and solid credit score.

First Financial hosts free budgeting, credit management, and debt reduction seminars throughout the year, so be sure to check our online event calendar or subscribe to receive upcoming seminar alerts on your mobile phone by signing up here.*

3. Build Up Some Emergency Savings.

Diverting money away from paying down long term loans in order to create a rainy day emergency fund might sound counterintuitive in trying to manage your overall debt. But especially if your outstanding debt is of the relatively good variety — such as a low rate mortgage or government subsidized student loan debt — having an emergency fund is very useful in avoiding the need to put a surprise expense on a credit card. Once you have your credit cards paid down, keeping them paid off every month is the best way to handle debt, and an emergency fund will make it a lot easier to handle even substantial unanticipated costs without backsliding on your progress on the credit card front.

4. Get On a Budget.

Regardless of whether you have debt or how much you have, establishing a smart budget is the best way to keep your finances under control. By balancing your income against your expenses, you’ll know whether you have the flexibility to handle changes in spending patterns or whether you need to keep a firm grip on your spending. Moreover, budgeting will often reveal wasteful spending that will show you the best places to cut back on expenses, freeing up more money to put toward paying down debt and minimizing interest charges along the way.

Click here to view the article source, from The Daily Finance.

Note: You must check the Text Message Signup box when registering in order to receive text messages. Standard text messaging and data rates may apply. If you do not receive an automated confirmation message after enrolling, please text “Yes” to (201) 808-1038

7 “Not So Smart” Credit Tips

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There’s a lot of advice floating around out there about how to manage your credit cards and other debts to maximize your credit score. The trouble is, not all this wisdom is created equal, and some tips intended to help your credit can actually have the opposite effect. Here are seven “not so smart” tips that you should steer away from.

1. Asking for a lower credit limit.

If you can’t control your spending, asking for a lower credit limit may indeed keep you out of trouble by simply capping how much you can borrow. But there’s also a risk to this approach. As MyFICO.com explains, 30% of your credit score is based on how much you owe. The formula looks at how much you owe as a percentage of how much available credit you have, otherwise known as your credit utilization ratio. So if you’re unable to pay off your debt, lowering your credit limit will increase your ratio — and damage your score. The impulse to impose external limits on your spending is understandable, and in some cases wise, but you’re better off focusing your energy on restraint.

2. Paying off an installment account early.

Paying off debt early might seem like a good way to improve your credit, but paying off an installment loan (like a car loan), too early can actually ding your score because it raises your utilization ratio. For instance, if you have a $10,000 car loan with a $5,000 balance that you pay off in one fell swoop, your debt load will drop by $5,000, but your available credit will drop by $10,000 once the account is closed.

This isn’t to say you shouldn’t pay off a debt early if you find yourself with a windfall on your hands. An earlier payoff can save you a bundle, but if you’re trying to raise your credit score – paying off a credit card sooner rather than an installment loan is the way to go.

3. Opening a bunch of cards at once.

Since your utilization ratio is so important, a lot of people think that getting as much available credit as possible — immediately — will do the trick. But it doesn’t work like this, unfortunately. “You can’t magically improve your utilization ratio by applying for a slew of cards in rapid succession because numerous inquiries and multiple brand new cards both can lower your score,” says Barry Paperno, credit expert at Credit.com. If you want more credit to improve your score, space out the process and be realistic about your situation; don’t take the hit to your score by applying for a card you know you probably won’t qualify for. (Financial institutions that aggregate credit card offers generally spell out what kind of credit score you need to obtain a particular card).

4. Settling a debt for less than you owe.

Negotiating with a lender and then settling the debt for less than you owe can be a smart move. But it can also hurt your credit if you do it the wrong way. You must get the lender or collections company to agree in writing to report the debt as “paid in full;” otherwise, it will be noted “settled for less than the balance.”

5. Using prepaid debit cards to rebuild your credit.

John Ulzheimer, president of consumer education at SmartCredit.com, says a lot of borrowers have the misconception that prepaid debit cards and credit cards are equally good credit building tools. They’re not. Prepaid cards “don’t do anything to help build or rebuild your credit and are not a viable long-term plastic solution,” he says. Although some prepaid card issuers say they help build credit, none currently report to the three major credit bureaus.

Businessman's hand holding blue credit cards 03. Isolated on whi6. Never using your credit cards.

Some people approach credit like a poker game, with the mentality that you can’t lose money if you don’t play your cards. Although it’s always advisable to pay off your bill in full every month, not using credit cards at all can actually backfire when it comes to your credit score. If an issuer looks at your account and sees that there hasn’t been any activity for a while (how long varies, but more than a year is a good rule of thumb), they might close it. Losing that credit line hurts your utilization ratio, which can hurt your credit score. Try to  charge a small amount regularly — maybe a recurring bill like a gym membership or airline tickets for your annual summer vacation — and paying it off every month.

7. Checking your credit daily. 

Checking your credit score every day won’t hurt your score (when you request your score, it’s called a “soft pull,” which is different from the “hard pull” lenders conduct that does affect your score). But trying to parse why you gained or lost two points here or there will just give you heartburn and won’t give you any greater insight into how your score is calculated. Lenders generally report to credit bureaus every 30 days, so checking your score every day takes the focus off what really matters: how your longer-term financial habits affect your credit file.

Article Source: http://business.time.com/2013/05/06/7-smart-credit-tips-that-arent/#ixzz2SzgoxXjx 

6 Smart Moves to Boost Your Credit Score

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If you think your credit score doesn’t matter too much to you because you’re not planning Profiton getting a mortgage or applying for a credit card anytime soon, think again. Credit scores affect more aspects of our lives than you may realize and that’s why it’s important to keep your score as high as possible.

Paying your bills on time and staying well below your credit limits are the best ways to build and maintain good credit. Together they account for more than half of your overall credit score.

A healthy payment history is the biggest contributor to your credit score, accounting for 35 percent of the total. Miss even a single deadline, and you could see your credit score drop as much as 100 points or more. To avoid those dreaded “overdue” notices and the credit blemishes they bring, set up automatic payments for any regular bills so that your lenders get the check on time, every single time.

Another 30 percent of your credit score is based on the amount of debt you carry, as measured against the amount of available credit you have — otherwise known as your credit utilization ratio. It’s a good idea to keep your outstanding balances to less than 25 percent of the money available to you to spend. If you are not able to pay down your balances ASAP, you can go at the problem from a different angle by calling your lenders and asking them to raise your credit limit.

1. Fix clerical errors.
Check your credit reports and correct errors. Of course, you want to make sure that everything is being accurately reported, from your current address to your closed accounts. (For more guidance on how to dispute an error on your credit report, look to this guide from the Federal Trade Commission). But you also want to check the details about what is being reported about your current accounts. For example, it can make a big difference to your score if your credit limit for a card is understated. Imagine that you owe $5,000 and your limit is $15,000. That means you owe 33 percent of your limit. If your credit limit is incorrectly listed as $8,000, though, it will look like you’ve borrowed 63 percent of your limit.
2. Get credit where it’s due.
When you fix errors or take actions that should boost your score, make sure that all three of the main credit-reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) know about it. By law, you can get a free copy of your credit report from each of them once a year — do so, in order to spot errors and find other score-boosting opportunities.
3. Ask nicely for a favor.
One thing few people think of is simply asking for what you want. In order to help you pay down your debt more quickly, you might ask your lender to lower your interest rate. If the lender refuses, see if you can find a lower-rate card and transfer your balance.
If you’ve got one or two glaring late payments on your credit record, you might ask your lender if they could be erased, in what’s called a “goodwill deletion.” And if you’re dealing with a collections agency over some debt, see whether they’ll delete it from your record if you pay it off. That can be well worth it.
4. Don’t delete your history.
If you’re planning on closing some of your accounts, think twice. It’s often a sensible thing to do to simplify your financial life, but closing an account can actually ding your credit score. One reason is that it actually reduces your available credit. Oddly enough, a host of seemingly sensible moves can hurt you — such as using just one card for most of your charges. Even if you prefer using a newer card, keep older accounts open and use them occasionally to keep them active. Over time, that will give you a longer history and help improve that part of the credit score calculation.
5. Don’t rush to build your record.
Opening multiple accounts in a short period of time may boost your available credit, but it sends the wrong message to potential creditors, as it makes you look desperate to get credit from any available source.
6. Prevent bad marks from being added to your report.

Here’s a valuable tip for anyone selling a home for less than they owe on it: What you’re looking at is called a short sale, and if you end up owing many thousands of dollars to your mortgage lender, you might want to get it in writing before the sale closes that the debt won’t go on your record. Ending up with a big balance owed can be a black mark on your record, reportedly as costly as a foreclosure.If a high credit score is important to you — and for most of us it should be — always consider how your financial actions will affect your score. For more information on credit scores, be sure to look at this guide from myFICO.com, which is the consumer division of the company that is responsible for the popular FICO credit score.