Rapids Blog

Now that the world is opening up again, your spending habits are probably changing. Gas expenses may have increased by getting out more. You may be feeling the need for a social spending spree of outings, dining, and events that you haven’t been able to indulge in. You may also be earning more again and feeling more secure financially. Rather than “winging it,” now is the time to rebuild your post-pandemic financial health with a new budget!

Read this article

It's no secret that maintaining a good credit score is essential to strong financial health. It is a must if you ever wish to take out a substantial loan or need to apply for rental properties. Most people know the basics of what may hurt or help your credit score. However, you may not know about a few surprising things that can hurt your score. Here are six factors that may negatively impact your credit score.

Read this article

Credit union members in the Northwest are falling victim to a new twist on classic phone scams. Scammers are using easily obtained software to mimic the phone number of credit unions and other financial institutions. They then make phone calls to their victims, posing as credit union employees from the security department, and try to obtain information from the members to set up fake debit and credit cards, and to steal credentials to compromise online banking accounts.

Read this article

We take a look at how to collect and protect important personal documents. Keeping sensitive documents safe can give you peace of mind in case of unexpected events, and ensure you have documents ready when needed. Below we share what documents you should protect, and options for doing so. This also can be a great summer project if you are stuck inside avoiding the heat.

Read this article

As new college graduates, young professionals, and others in their twenties launch their careers, they get bombarded with tempting ways to spend money. For many, handling a more considerable income and “adult” expenses like rent, utilities, and insurance, is a new experience. Now more than ever, money management will be a skill needed to meet future saving and investing goals. Here are tips for twenty-somethings to help control spending and manage their money.

Read this article

This month, we look at creating a will. It’s not always an easy thing to think about, but preparing for your end of life will ultimately ensure your property is distributed as you wish, and to the benefit of those you care about most. In this article, we discuss why a will is important and how to create one. While creating a will may not help your personal financial fitness, it can help your beneficiaries.

Read this article

There are many benefits to focusing on paying down debt. Paying off consumer debt protects your financial stability. Plus, less debt means less money spent on interest charges, extra funds for other necessities, money to put into savings, or to use on discretional spending. Below are a few simple ways to lower your credit card debt in April (and for the rest of the year).

Read this article

This month, we focus on preparing for taxes. The tax deadline (May 17th this year) is almost here, and you should have been receiving tax documents from your employers, financial institutions, and vendors. If you haven’t started yet, this is the perfect time to get organized, get going, and get your taxes filed. After all, if you have a refund coming, the sooner you get your refund in, the sooner you will see that money.

Read this article

No matter what financial freedom means to you, the road to this destination is not easy. It is best to think of the road to financial freedom as a series of small steps instead of a sprint to the finish line. You may dream of winning the lottery and quitting your job the next day, but that is unlikely to happen. If you want to pursue financial freedom on your terms, you need to start with a realistic goal.

Read this article

Some anticipate retirement years as a time for new adventures, travel, and pursuing postponed hobbies. Approximately half of working Americans retire between the ages of 61 and 65. For a growing number of seniors, delaying retirement is becoming more common. If you are considering delaying your retirement, there are a few possible benefits of holding off retirement even for a short time.

Read this article