How to Plan for Early Retirement

by April Masterson @ First National Bank of Newtown

Thu Mar 01 10:43:23 PST 2018

If you want to retire early, your investment strategy may need to be a little different from a person who plans to keep working well into his or her 60s and beyond. That’s because with many retirement savings plans, including 401(k)s and IRAs, you could be charged a tax penalty if you withdraw money before age 59½. You also generally won’t be eligible to start receiving partial Social Security benefits until age 62, or full benefits a few years later. If you plan to leave work earlier than that, you may need to tweak your investment efforts. Here’s a look

The post How to Plan for Early Retirement appeared first on First National Bank of Newtown.

10 Tips to Get a Home Ready for Sale

by April Masterson @ First National Bank of Newtown

Thu Jan 25 12:37:48 PST 2018

Preparing to sell your home can be difficult. You have to create enough ambiance so that buyers can envision themselves living there but make sure it’s not so cluttered that all they see is you. Make some changes inside and out to get top dollar for your abode. Do a drive by. If a person sees trash on the lawn or overgrown weeds, they won’t be enticed to come inside. Boost your home’s curb appeal by planting a few colorful flowers at the entrance and mow the lawn. Declutter. Most people are familiar with the deceptive clean-up strategy of stuffing

The post 10 Tips to Get a Home Ready for Sale appeared first on First National Bank of Newtown.

6 Ways to Save More Money in the New Year

by April Masterson @ First National Bank of Newtown

Thu Dec 07 10:21:56 PST 2017

Even if saving has never been your thing and money is tight, the coming of a new year is an opportunity to change old financial habits. Here are some ways to become a more efficient saver. 1. Budget Budgeting helps you organize your finances so you have money left over to save each month. It may seem laborious, but budgeting doesn’t have to be hard. Mobile apps cut a lot of the work and can help you track spending throughout the month. 2. Pay yourself first Firmly commit to making a savings deposit monthly, even if you can only afford

The post 6 Ways to Save More Money in the New Year appeared first on First National Bank of Newtown.

3 Reasons You Need An Automatic Savings Plan

by April Masterson @ First National Bank of Newtown

Thu Oct 05 11:09:55 PDT 2017

“Save money” is a timeless bit of personal finance advice, but actually doing it can be another story. If you need a way to boost your savings and stay consistent with your goals, setting up an automatic funds transfer can help. There are two ways you might do this. You can set up a transfer from your checking to a savings or investment account at your financial institution. Another method can be having a portion of your paycheck directed into a retirement or other account by your employer, if possible. Here’s a closer look into why saving this way might

The post 3 Reasons You Need An Automatic Savings Plan appeared first on First National Bank of Newtown.

How Debit Card Fraud Happens — and How to Avoid It

by Jody Grenville @ First National Bank of Pasco

Wed Mar 07 10:46:18 PST 2018

For many people, debit cards are the perfect plastic. They offer most of the conveniences of credit cards with no risk of accumulating debt. But like credit cards, debit cards are vulnerable to rip-off artists. And debit card fraud is particularly scary because thieves can withdraw money directly from your checking account. Here’s how debit […]

Four Forms You’ll Fill Out at Your First Job

by Jody Grenville @ First National Bank of Pasco

Wed Mar 07 10:45:36 PST 2018

Nothing’s easy about finding your first job: not the internet scouring, not the resume tweaking, not the interviews. When you finally are hired, you should experience some relief — but the sheer number of things you have to learn in the first few weeks can make you feel just as harried as the search process […]

5 Questions to Ask Before Buying A Home

by April Masterson @ First National Bank of Newtown

Thu Mar 22 11:21:14 PDT 2018

As winter melts into spring, you’ll likely start to see “For-Sale” signs popping up in your neighborhood. Buying a home can be an exciting milestone in your life, and it’s important to educate yourself on the financial implications of homeownership before you make an offer. Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or a current owner looking to sell or refinance, there are a few key questions that should help guide your decision: 5 Questions to Ask Before Buying A Home 1. What are the pros and cons of owning vs. renting? Owning a home is a long-term commitment. Recent studies show

The post 5 Questions to Ask Before Buying A Home appeared first on First National Bank of Newtown.

Is Fall the Best Time to Buy a House?

by Jody Grenville @ First National Bank of Pasco

Fri Oct 27 11:02:15 PDT 2017

Sometimes it’s smarter to buy certain items according to the season, like sweaters near the end of winter and swimsuits in late summer. But what’s the best season for buying a house? The answer: the fall. As temperatures cool and trees shed their leaves, enough factors break in the buyer’s favor to make it the […]

Hello world!

by webdev @ First National Bank of Absecon

Tue May 17 10:56:35 PDT 2016

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing!

The post Hello world! appeared first on First National Bank of Absecon.

The Benefits of a Mortgage Preapproval — and How to Get One

by April Masterson @ First National Bank of Newtown

Thu Jan 11 10:43:15 PST 2018

Unless you were recently selected as the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft or released a hit album, you probably won’t pay for your new house in cash. Like millions of Americans, you’ll take out a mortgage. Before you begin your housing search, try to get a mortgage preapproval, which is usually good for up to 90 days. After reviewing and verifying some of your financial information, lenders will tell you how much money they’d be willing to let you borrow. Getting preapproved can speed up the sale process and demonstrates to sellers that you’re serious about buying. Here’s

The post The Benefits of a Mortgage Preapproval — and How to Get One appeared first on First National Bank of Newtown.

What Not to Do on Your Facebook Small Business Page

by April Masterson @ First National Bank of Newtown

Thu Nov 02 11:22:53 PDT 2017

More entrepreneurs are tapping into the world’s largest social media network: There are more than 70 million businesses now on Facebook, up from about 18 million in 2013, according to Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg during a recent investor call. Facebook gives businesses a platform to showcase new products and services, promote specials and provide customer service. But with these benefits comes the potential for mistakes that can damage your brand. Here are five common small-business mistakes to avoid on your Facebook business page. 1.) Don’t post too often Most industries should aim to post no more than once or twice a day to

The post What Not to Do on Your Facebook Small Business Page appeared first on First National Bank of Newtown.

8 Ways to Protect Your Data Online

by Jody Grenville @ First National Bank of Pasco

Mon Mar 06 10:53:48 PST 2017

The American Bankers Association is highlighting eight tips to help online users protect their data and guard against online threats. “Cyber thieves are using social media profiles to gather personal information and use it to commit fraud,” said Doug Johnson, ABA’s senior vice president of payments and cybersecurity policy.  “It’s extremely important that consumers limit […]

Figuring Out How Much to Allocate to Your 401(k)

by April Masterson @ First National Bank of Newtown

Thu Nov 16 10:33:10 PST 2017

When your employer offers a 401(k) plan, you have a great opportunity to save for retirement. You’ll want to contribute at least enough to get the full employer match, if your employer offers one. Beyond that, here are some ways to know how much to allocate to your plan. Decide how much you’ll need It helps to first decide how much money you think you’ll need to live on after retirement. You’ll also want to consider other sources of income you may receive, like Social Security benefits. (If you have a partner, it’s good to plan together, but you probably

The post Figuring Out How Much to Allocate to Your 401(k) appeared first on First National Bank of Newtown.

How to Protect Your Loved One from Financial Abuse

by Jody Grenville @ First National Bank of Pasco

Fri Aug 25 12:56:06 PDT 2017

Financial exploitation is one of the most common forms of abuse committed against older Americans. According to a Metlife study, an estimated $2.9 billion is lost annually to scams explicitly targeting seniors.  The American Bankers Association Foundation is urging older Americans and their caregivers to join the fight against financial abuse and take active steps […]

7 Banking Tips for Young Millennials

by Jody Grenville @ First National Bank of Pasco

Wed Mar 07 10:46:54 PST 2018

Once you start receiving your first paychecks after graduation, knowing how to spend or save your money wisely can be tough. While you may be able to do your banking with just a few taps on your phone, managing money well is much more complicated. Here are a few tips to help you get started. […]

Saving for Retirement While Paying Down Debt

by April Masterson @ First National Bank of Newtown

Thu Feb 15 12:07:38 PST 2018

When faced with two big financial priorities, such as paying off old debt and saving for retirement, it can be easier to focus on just one. For people repaying student loans for themselves or their children, for example, 38% weren’t able to put money away for retirement, according to a 2015 survey from the National Foundation for Credit Counseling and NerdWallet. But there are ways you can contribute to retirement savings even while paying off student or other debt. Neglecting either one can be a losing proposition. If you focus just on repaying debts, you can lose out on potential

The post Saving for Retirement While Paying Down Debt appeared first on First National Bank of Newtown.

Organize Your Finances for the New Year

by April Masterson @ First National Bank of Newtown

Thu Dec 21 11:32:56 PST 2017

A new year brings a chance to start fresh with just about anything. If your midnight toast includes a resolution to improve your financial health, here’s how to make it happen. Get on a budget To get ahead, it’s important to know where you stand and to create a plan with realistic goals such as a comfortable retirement, education and home ownership. Budgeting may sound old-school, but it’s still one of the best ways to accomplish this. Start by totaling your income and subtracting your monthly expenses for a quick financial snapshot. Then set goals, reduce unnecessary spending and, if

The post Organize Your Finances for the New Year appeared first on First National Bank of Newtown.

Hello world!

by webdev @ First National Bank of Absecon

Fri Jun 03 06:52:08 PDT 2016

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing!

The post Hello world! appeared first on First National Bank of Absecon.