Simply Smart Insights
Scroll down and stay awhile to explore the answers to your everyday financial, business and homeownership questions.
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...
read more
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....
read more
Tips for picking a password manager that works for you
Lots of accounts, lots of usernames and too many passwords to remember. How are we supposed to keep them all straight? Unless you have the time (and patience) to click the handy “Forgot password” option every time you log into an online account, you’ll likely need a...
read more
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...
read more
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...
read more
Home Equity Lines of Credit: 4 Commonly Asked Questions
Homeowners consider applying for a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) for a variety of reasons. Frequently, they are looking to make home improvements or fund a college education. Sometimes, they are looking to plan a dream vacation or have a safety net of funds on...
read more
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...
read more
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...
read more
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...
read more