Banknotes

By: Kari Davis, PHR, SHRM-CP, Senior Vice President – Human Resources

Without question, statistics show that greater diversity within an organization drives better performance and more innovation.

It makes sense. With diversity comes different life experiences and perspectives that provide insight into consumer-purchasing decisions. For instance, more women now make decisions about health care, home purchases, and many other financial decisions that affect the family.

By: Alex Pudlo, CFP, ChFC, Trust Officer

The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement (SECURE) ACT – a topic that Jeff Collins introduced in this space when it was only proposed legislation – was recently passed by Congress (with broad bipartisan support, no less), marking a significant victory for anyone actively planning for their non-working years. Put simply, the Act is the kind of retirement reform that may come along only once in a generation.

By: Mark Drachenberg, Senior Portfolio Manager and Trust Officer

It's only a slight exaggeration to say that 2019 was a year that rose out of the ashes of the fourth quarter of 2018. People’s memories seem to be getting shorter, so it can be easy to forget how bad that quarter was. Technically, the economy entered a bear market in December, though many may not have realized it at the time. The reason being, most people measure such things at the close of trading each day, and while the market did hit a point where it was down 20% from its peak, it didn’t close that way. If it had, economists would be either talking about a new bull market or looking for a catalyst to set the stage for one. Given the speed of the market’s recovery, benefited by several record-setting highs, it is safe to assume that the longest-running bull market in history continues unabated, likely with more to come. The past year returned exceptional results in virtually every category, including fixed income.

By: Tara Grays, Business Banking Officer

If you’re like most people, you likely had a bit of a chaotic end to the year, balancing ongoing business demands with increased personal obligations around the holidays. For as joyful a time as it most often is, it can be equally stressful. With the din of the holidays beginning to quiet and life resuming a semblance of normalcy, let’s take a look at what the New Year can mean for you and your business.

The following piece – "Getting Bombarded By Scam Calls? You're Not Alone." by Jim Kreidler of the Federal Trade Commission – is an excellent resource for anyone who has received a suspicious telephone call from someone asking for Social Security information. The short video is full of actionable advice about how to spot Social Security scams and prevent oneself from becoming a victim.

By: Dan Savage – Senior Vice President and Senior Trust Officer

Regardless of the nature of your business, relationships play a vital role in every facet of its operation. Relationship quality has an especially profound impact on sales and client retention. So let’s take a closer look at why strong relationships and the behaviors that strengthen them are so important to your success.

By: Alyssa Chance, Vice President & Trust Officer

Will 2020 be the year? If so, congratulations are in order! You are about to embark on an exciting and rewarding chapter of your life – one you've been working toward, intentionally or not, for decades. Whether your plan is to retire cold-turkey or transition more slowly, there are a few things to keep in mind that will help make the process easier, less stressful, and, ultimately, more enjoyable.

By: Kylie Hagen, Treasury Management Specialist

The dawn of a new decade is upon us – what better time than now to review your business banking relationship? Examining your accounts annually is a critically important exercise to undertake. Here are some key questions to ask yourself, to ensure that all of your business banking accounts are as current as possible and that all efficiencies are being met.

By: Dan Savage – Senior Vice President and Senior Trust Officer

Pensions are among the rarest of rarities and will never return. The future of Social Security is stressed, and the ultimate destination of our healthcare system is uncertain to say the least.

What’s a person to do? The answer is simple: Begin planning for retirement in earnest and implement your plan – the sooner the better. Here are three checklists, compiled by decade, that will help guide your planning and keep you heading in the right direction.

By: Alex Pudlo, Trust Officer

As any business owner can attest, there are myriad financial considerations that must be taken into account in deciding how to run the business. They can choose (to some extent) how much to pay themselves in terms of a salary, a bonus, and, if there is money left over, a distribution or dividend from the enterprise’s profits. A qualified tax advisor is very helpful in making those year-to-year decisions.