Money Talk

Estate planning is often seen as complex and expensive. In this episode, I'm going to cover some basic commonly asked questions about estate planning and share more about PFCU's estate planning solution! 

Buying a home is a huge decision with a lot of things to consider from location and price to fees and loan types. This episode is here to give you an overview of what to expect when going through the process. 

Everyone makes mistakes, even with their finances. In this episode, I share 6 common financial mistakes to avoid. 

Buying a car is a big decision. You want to find a car that fits your liftstyle and your budget. So, should you lease, buy new or buy used? I'll explain the costs and the benefits of each option. 

It doen't matter how much food costs, we still have to buy it and it's easy to overspend on our grocery bill or eating out. In this episode, I share 8 strategies to cut back on your food bill that you can try immediately. 

What is inflation? What does it mean? How can you adjust to higher prices? I'll cover all of these questions in this week's episode! 

Tax season is here and so are the scammers. In this episode, I share valuable insight from the IRS to protect your information. Know how the IRS will contact you, warning signs to look for and common tax scams. 

 Sometimes saving money can feel like a chore but these 5 mind games can change your way of thinking about saving. Let's make saving easy and even fun so you can reach your goals. This information is provided by SavvyMoney. 

In this episode Morgan will share 4 easy and effective tips for when you have alot on your plate and need to manage your time effectively. 

Being a college student can not only be stressful but expensive. In this episode we have provided some tips to cut down the costs of college. 

Online dating has become more popular than ever with dating apps and social media but what if the person on the other side of the screen isn't who they say they are? Scammers are crafty and online dating scams can affect anyone! In this episode I'm going to share how these scammers do it and what you can do to protect yourself. 

Your credit score is an important piece of your financial health. In this episode, I'm going to cover the basics of a credit score from what it is to how you can get yours.  

Caller ID spoofing is when a caller falsifies the information that appears on your caller ID display. Criminals use this scamming method in hopes of tricking someone into giving up personal information. Here are 8 tips to protect your information from these scams. 

The holidays, although a time of happiness and togetherness for many, can also be a huge stressor. Here are 5 easy tips to cut out stress and find more of what brings you joy. 

It can seem like we have our whole lives stored on our phone in one way or another and we want to make sure that you're protecting your information in the best ways possible. The information in this podcast is supplied by the Knowbe4 Security Team.  

Halloween is right around the corner, keep your evening worry-free with these trick or treat safety tips. 

In this episode I share some concrete steps you can take to develop better money habits and reach your savings goals no matter what your financial situation looks like. 

Whether you have a short list of Christmas shopping to get done or it feels like a mile long, I'm going to share some tips so that you can be smart while you shop and not feel that dreaded holiday hangover in January.

Everyone handles money and finances differently, we have our own habits, tendencies and opinions. I want to share some tips to lessen the potential friction between roommates and ensure that the financial relationship remains healthy, thus keeping your personal relationship just as healthy. 

Not every money win has to be big. We need to celebrate the small wins, the changes we make that might not seem worthy of celebrating at first glance but have a bigger impact than you think. 

Being financially healthy as a college student looks a lot different than it does for an adult. Being a college student means you're attending class, studying and possibly going to a part-time job. This also means you're likely taking on student loan debt. So, what can college students do at this stage to be financially healthy?

Children face a lot of external and internal influences that impact their beliefs and habits around money. Each has a different level of influence, but they're all important to recognize. I'm going to talk about each influence and the impact they have. 

Keep an eye out for vacation rental fraud as you book your next vacation. Criminals are using these booking websites to trick you and steal your money. I'm going to share how these scams work, signs to look out for and what you can do to keep your information and your money out of the hands of scammers. 

Teachable moments are unplanned, everyday situations that offer the perfect opportunity to teach children valuable life lessons. In this episode, I'm going to talk about teachable moments for children around money and give some examples on how you can easily work them into your day.

In this episode, I'm going to share 5 things to consider in order to complete your mid-year financial check-up. It's important to check in on your finances to ensure you're staying on track with your financial goals, preparing for the future and making needed updates. 

Now that summer is here, you might have teenagers in the house debating how they will spend their time away from school. In this episode, I'm going to share some benefits of a summer job and some avenues on how they can get one.

If you're thinking about buying a house or you're actively house hunting, you're going to want to know the hidden costs of homeownership. We're looking at costs beyond the mortgage payment and what you want to know before finalizing your purchase. 

In this episode, I give some insight into our Cannabis Related Banking Program. If you are a cannabis business or employee, take a listen and reach out to our team of experts!

In this episode, I'm going to go over the pros and cons of getting a tax refund. 

Summer definitely has it's perks but these warmer months also bring out the criminals. We should be aware of how scammers are trying to get our hard earned money. With summer right around the corner, now is the perfect time to dive in to some common summer scams and what you can do to not fall victim. 

This is part 2 of my interview with Jennifer Salgat, Director of Lake Odessa Community Library. In honor of National Reading Month, she not only shares tips on how to get your kids excited about reading but she gives great perspective on how your joy of reading doesn't have to be from sitting down and reading a book. 

In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Jennifer Salgat, Director of Lake Odessa Community Library. She shares all there is to know about the library from events and services to co-op rules and funding. Make sure to check out your local library!

Having bad credit can hold you back from reaching your financial goals while likely costing you more at the same time. If you have poor credit, I'm going to give you some simple steps to help you get your credit to where you want it to be. 

In this episode, I sit down with the Executive and Board Administrative Assitant, Liz LeVeque. Liz shares everything there is to know about PFCU's Board of Directors and specfically, the Associate Board Member position. If you're interested in becoming an Associate Board Member, just visit our website here!

For this episode, I sit down with the Executive Director and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters Michigan Capital Region, Megyn Forest. Megyn shares the mission of this wonderful organization and the many ways that you can get involved. Hear firsthand the impact that Big Brothers Big Sisters has on their youth and how they truly embody their slogan: it takes little to be big.

Living with a tight budget can be challenging, especially when your paycheck barely covers the essentials. In this episode, I'm going to share some tips that will help you stretch your paycheck further and make every dollar count.

The holidays are over but chances are, you're still feeling the effects. From gift giving and meal planning to traveling and parties, it can be a stressful time of year. In this episode, I share some tips so you can get your finances back on track and even start prepping for the upcoming holiday season. 

2024 is right around the corner which means it's a good time to take a look at your finances. Let's get ready for the new year by talking about money habits that are good for your financial health. These 6 habits will help you avoid financial mistakes, reach your goals and achieve financial stability.

In this episode, we're going to do a very quick and easy step-by-step guide on building or rebuilding an emergency fund. These steps and strategies will not only help you recover in uncertain times but also strengthen your financial cushion. 

Fraudsters are at work year-round to find their victims and the holidays provide extra opportunity to try and infiltrate your personal information. Check out these tips to avoid getting scammed this holiday season.

In this episode, I sat down with PFCU's Marketing Intern, Marlie. Internships are a valuable component in education and career exploration and Marlie gives us an inside look into her experience. She shares what she's learned, what surprised her and why she would recommend this program to someone else. 

For this episode I sat down with Welcome Home Veterans' Founder and President, Kimberly Singer. Kimberly shares the story of what led her to start Welcome Home Veterans, a nonprofit organization in Bancroft, MI that provides housing to veterans. It's amazing to hear the plans they have as they move forward with opening their doors and the passionate team they've built. Keep an eye out for fundraising efforts and learn more on their website: https://whvusa.org/. 

In this episode, I sit down with Christy Durham and Janie Bergeron with Green Gables Haven, a domestic violence program serving Barry County. They share all that Green Gables Haven does from their shelter program to legal advocacy and partnering with local organizations to provide resources. Programs like Green Gables Haven are vital to local communities and we are excited to bring this information to Money Talk. You can visit their website greengableshaven.org to learn more!

For this episode, I sat down with Ellen Wolcott, PFCU's Cannabis Business Relationship Analyst. Ellen is going to share all there is to know about PFCU's cannabis program. If you are a cannabis business or employee, please reach out to the experts on PFCU's team. 

For this episode I sat down with the members of the all-female team of Jernigan Racing. Bobbi Jo and her two daughters, Kenedi and Riley, have taken the racing world by storm since starting in 2020. We get a look into their story, their successes as well as their challenges and what keeps them motivated. Follow them on social media and check out their website at jerniganracing.com. 

Welcome to the third episode of our fraud series! Artificial Intelligence has made the world of fraud and scams even more daunting. Listen as we cover the basics of AI scams. What you need to look out for, how to avoid becoming a victim, and what to do if you become a victim.

This is the final episode in our mini-series getting to know PFCU's SVP team. I sat down with Robyn Heron, the Senior Vice President of Marketing. If you want to get to know Robyn a little better, take a listen!

Welcome to the second episode of our fraud series! Explore the world of fraud and scams, with expert insights to protect yourself and your loved ones. In this episode, we are joined by Caroline from our fraud department. Listen as Caroline shares her tips and tricks on how to avoid being a victim of fraud and what to do if you suspect you are a victim.

Welcome to the next episode in our mini-series where we get to know PFCU's SVP team. In this episode, I sit down with special guest, Sim Virk, the Senior Vice President of Compliance and Audit at PFCU. Take a listen to learn a little more about him. 

In this episode, we get an inside look into scams and fraud from a police perspective. Special guest, Brandon Shellberg, a Police Officer for Dewitt Township, shares what scams he sees most often as well as red flags to watch for and what you can do if you suspect you're a victim of a scam or fraud. 

Continuing with our special mini-series, getting to know PFCU's SVP team, I sit down with Sean Krebs, the SVP of Information Techonology. Take a listen to get to know Sean!