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Advantage FCU has brought you clear, in-depth lessons from Banzai that help you dive into the financial topics you care about most.

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Insurance Retirement Buying a House Taxes Life Changes Borrowing and Credit Smart Living Starting a Business Budgeting

Insurance

Planning for Your Health

Know your choices before you pick an insurance policy.

If anyone depends on you for financial security, life insurance is something you can't afford to ignore. And even if you're not at that stage in life yet, it's still smart to know what's at stake so you can make the right decision when the time does come.

Health Insurance

Your health can be unpredictable, and no one knows when health problems could befall them. Learning how to navigate health insurance will help you protect yourself in the future.

Health Savings Accounts

If you have a high-deductible plan, you can allocate tax-free income toward your health with a health savings account.

Renter's Insurance

If you're renting, it's always a good idea to protect your possessions from disaster.

Insuring Your Home

If you’re buying a home, you’ll want to protect your investment. Insuring your home is the only way to really protect yourself from the unpredictable events in life.

Auto insurance is like ordering fast food—you have a lot of options.

Retirement

Transitioning to Retirement

When you’re mapping out the best route to collecting retirement income, there’ll be several forks in the road. But you can arm yourself with knowledge to make informed decisions.

Disability Insurance

Even if you feel your job is secure and you're in perfect health now, it's smart to plan for the unexpected; acquired disabilities may be more common than you think.

Social Security Basics

If retirement and Social Security seem one and the same to you, there’s good reason. More than 90% of US households with someone over 65 are part of the system. And the monthly benefits check is the primary source of income for almost 67% of those households.

Individual Retirement Accounts

Individual retirement accounts (IRAs) can look intimidating and cryptic when you begin planning for retirement, but there are some foundational lessons to learn so you plan wisely.

Portfolio Building

Variety isn’t just the spice of an investor’s life. It’s an essential ingredient.

Divorce and Retirement Savings

In addition to the emotional strain and hardship of divorce, the end of a marriage also often results in major financial changes.

Critical Retirement Choices

You’ll have the answers you need down the road if you ask the right questions now.

Meet Your 401(k)

If you’re lucky enough to be introduced to a 401(k), you’ll make a friend for life.

Buying a House

Buying a home may be one of the biggest financial decisions you'll ever make.

Dealing with a Lender

Finding a mortgage lender isn't as hard or scary as it seems.

The Cost of a Mortgage

The cost of a mortgage depends on the amount you borrow, the APR, and how long you take to repay.

Selling Your Home

Selling your home and buying a new one when you retire can be a taxing experience.

Taxes

Completing a Return

Your tax return tests you much like a standardized test, but it doesn't have to be as complicated as it seems.

Look ahead to the tax consequences of your financial decisions, so you can legitimately meet your minimum tax obligations.

Checking Out Charities

You've heard people say that it's better to give than to receive. But what does that really mean?

When tax season comes around, you need to be thorough to make sure you pay what you owe and save where you can.

Tax Brackets and Statuses

Learn more about how your filing status and tax bracket impact your income tax rate.

Life Changes

Staying alert is the best defense against fraud.

Unemployment can throw a curve ball at your financial plans, but you can mitigate the damage.

To-Dos for Leaving a Job

Whatever your reasons for leaving a job, there are things you need to consider as you transition out of your current position.

Having a will to allocate your estate after you die is essential, so make sure it's done formally and legally.

Preparing for a Baby

Having a baby? Here’s how to plan financially for such a big change.

Dealing with Illness

Illness can befall anyone, but if you have a plan in place for those circumstances, you can rest easier.

Filling Out the FAFSA

If you're considering going to college, you have nothing to lose by applying for federal student aid.

When Times Get Tough

Whether you want to get ahead and prepare or find help in the midst of an emergency, there are ways to shore up your financial situation.

There are a wide range of employer-provided benefits beyond just a salary that you should consider when looking for a new job.

The Cost of Divorce

It’s important to know what you might face during a breakup.

Government Assistance

Understanding more about government assistance ensures that you’ll know where to turn if you ever need financial aid for the basic stuff you need.

Financial To-Dos for Newlyweds

Getting married? You may want to check out some of these financial to-dos.

Moving is a big undertaking, but planning a budget can help make it go as smoothly as possible.

What to do With Your Stimulus Check

Stimulus checks are being sent to many Americans across the country in response to Covid-19. What’s the best thing that you can do with yours?

Property and Divorce

Divorce law varies throughout the United States, but there are some principles you can follow to protect your financial security.

What is a Recession?

What actually is a recession? What should I expect if one is on the horizon?

Borrowing and Credit

Repaying Student Loans

Student loans account for a lot of personal debt and often seem too daunting to handle. Learn how to start repaying.

This article is about using credit. Like credit cards, loans and stuff like that.

What a Car Loan Costs

Gearing up to get a car loan is the key to getting wheels.

Most people have to borrow money at some point, and many struggle to pay it back. But debt is a burden that doesn't have to break the bank.

The CARES Act: Student Loans

The CARES act has temporarily suspended federally owned student loan payments. Learn more about what that means for you.

Reasons to Refinance

Refinancing can help you get out of debt quicker or pay less in interest if everything lines up.

When looking for a new car, you have three main options: buy used, buy new, or lease. There are pros and cons to each method.

When You Can't Afford Your Minimum Payments

If you’ve found yourself unable to make minimum payments, you have options to help improve your situation.

A brief overview of what you need to know about interest.

Every single time you use credit, the details of the amount you spend and how you repay is added to your credit report and influences your credit score.

Credit cards are useful tools but have their trade-offs. Learn more about how to handle them cautiously.

Smart Living

Teaching Children About Money

Perhaps just as important as teaching kids about the birds and the bees is teaching them the value of money.

How to Boost Your Local Economy

There are actions everyone can take to help pull the economy out of a downward slide.

Quality vs Cost

There are a few key factors that can help you make the decision between where you should splurge and where you should save.

Money Market Accounts

Meet the hybrid account that may be the right saving solution for you.

Finding Funds in an Emergency

Wondering what to do in an emergency if you don’t have an emergency fund? Consider these options.

GreenPath: A Road to Financial Wellness

GreenPath is a nonprofit organization that helps those who are struggling with their finances.

Certificate of Deposit

If you need to save aggressively, a high-interest certificate of deposit (CD) may be right for you.

Reducing Your Food Bill

Food can eat up a big part of your budget but cutting how much you spend on food is completely doable.

Is the Money in My Account Safe?

Short answer: Yes! With the NCUA and FDIC, you can rest assured that your money is protected.

Whenever you’re online, you're sharing information, whether you mean to or not. It's up to you to protect your data, your privacy, and your identity.

Early Withdrawals From Retirement Savings

Early withdrawals from your retirement savings should only be done after careful consideration in order to avoid negative consequences.

Robust safety features and powerful, convenient services make mobile banking options an ideal on-the-go solution.

Emergency Funds

An emergency fund is a financial safety net that everybody should have for life's unforeseen challenges.

Find a Place to Rent

Picking the right house or apartment in a tight rental market can be like finding a needle in a haystack.

Avoiding Inappropriate Investments

There's outright fraud and there are inappropriate investments. Stay away from both.

Calculating compound interest can be tricky and intimidating. Here is a shortcut to estimate growth rates.

Rules for Renting

Renting a home can be a walk on Easy Street or a tug of war with your landlord.

Home Money Smarts

Wherever and however you live, use these practical tips to make your everyday living easier.

The CARES Act: Retirement Accounts

The CARES Act can impact your retirement account in several important, and positive, ways..

Starting a Business

Professional Help with Your Business

Your business can benefit from the help of experts.

Documentation for SBA Loans

In order to apply for an SBA loan, you'll need to provide the correct documentation.

Funds to Build Your Business

Growing a business requires a steady flow of money.

Keeping Your Employees

Creating a strong team is key to your company’s growth.

Health Benefits

Offering health insurance can benefit you and your employees.

Attracting Employees

To draw new employees, it’s important to have a well-rounded incentive package.

Budgeting

The Cost of College Life

Going to college incurs a lot of expenses you might not have thought about.

Income and Expenses

People spend money. But many people don't know how to track how much they're spending or how to prioritize it.

Savings Accounts

Learning about different kinds of money accounts can help pave the way to financial security.

Checking accounts take center stage in your day-to-day finances, and you can open one of several styles.

Tracking Your Joint Expenses

When you share your life with a partner, you're sharing your finances too. It can be awkward, but it's possible to make good decisions together.

Talking to Your Partner About Money

Talking with your partner about finances can be scary—but it doesn’t have to be.

A simple, practical rule of thumb for individuals who want a budget that is easy to implement.

Cards are a convenient way to pay, and it pays to know the details of how debit cards work.

Figuring out how you will organize your finances, and to what degree you will have combined accounts, sets the groundwork for the main tool of money management—a budget.