Simply Smart Insights
Scroll down and stay awhile to explore the answers to your everyday financial, business and homeownership questions.
Hit the Ground Running: 6 Ways to Get Financially Fit in the New Year
Managing your finances can be stressful. There are always moving parts, unknown factors and risks involved. Even though we all know we should be “staying on top of our finances,” sometimes, it can seem easiest to simply avoid creating a money management strategy at...
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3 Tips for Smarter Shopping this Holiday Season
The good news: holiday cheer is most definitely here! The holidays are a special time with friends, family and the community. There is an infectious spirit of generosity and appreciation that remind us what we value each day. The holidays, as we know, are also a time...
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All I Want for Christmas is a Good Credit Score
During this festive time of the year, most of us have holiday shopping, cooking, and traveling to visit friends and family on our minds. We’re focused on scheduling time off, making year-end charitable donations, and prepping our cars and homes for the next snowstorm....
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When Is the Right Time to Refinance My Home?
We’ll be the first to agree that interest rates are the driving force behind home refinancing. However, there are several other factors—such as your own priorities, financial goals and long-term life plans—that also need to go into a big decision like refinancing your...
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Questions All First-Time Homebuyers Should Consider
There are many pros and cons of being a homeowner, and there’s no exact right time or place to purchase your first home. On the one hand, you’re investing in property and putting down roots in a community. On the other hand, you no longer have the flexibility of...
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Your Home: The Secret Steps to Spring Cleaning Success
Spring inspires a surge of renewed energy – we’re eager to get outside, start wearing warm weather clothes, and make plans for growing our gardens. While most of us cherish the refreshing start of a new season, many of us also resist a daunting annual task: spring...
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4 Tips to Protect Your Business from Payments Fraud
Cybersecurity and payments fraud have become a reality of everyday business, no matter the size of your business or industry. According to the 2018 Payments Fraud Survey by the Association for Financial Professionals (AFP), payments fraud has reached an all-time high...
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4 Tips to Successfully Secure Financing and Grow Your Business
Companies of all sizes—especially start-ups and small businesses—frequently want to know what it takes to get approved for funding in order to grow. Business health and long-term success depend on growth—whether this means adding a new office location, hiring on...
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5 Tips for Businesses: How to Maintain a Personal Touch in the Digital Age
It used to be that if I needed a ride somewhere, I had to find a pay phone, dig into my pocket for a quarter and then wait an unknown amount of time for a taxi to pull up. Now, I use an app to summon a car share. While I wait, I get updates about the car’s make and...
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