MoneyWisdom Blog

If you have children, assets, or children and assets, estate planning is a must. Avoiding estate planning is risky because it leaves the fate of your finances — and more importantly, the welfare of your minor children — up to others not of your choosing if you pass away (i.e. the courts). Even if your child-rearing days are behind you, it is so much easier on your loved ones if your last wishes are spelled out in a legal document.

It's tax time again, but there's something very different this year: someone's name has changed in your family. It could be because of a marriage, divorce, or your child's adoption. With a name change, it's important to take the following steps to ensure your tax return is accepted and processed without issue by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Teaching children the value of money starts early. It start with every allowance, money gift, and wage that they receive. The following tips can make the difference between a child who grows up to be financially secure – and one who isn’t.

Looking for that golden ticket to financial freedom? Multi-level marketing (MLM) companies want you to believe that a) there is such a thing and b) they are it.

From February 25 through March 2, Hanscom FCU will be offering free programs to help our military members save money, reduce debt, and build wealth. Military Saves week is coordinated by Military Saves, an initiative of America Saves...so if you're not in the military, you can also participate through America Saves Week, which runs concurrently. 

How can you make a budget when you are never sure how money will be coming in? It's a dilemma that many entrepreneurs, artists, and commission-only salespeople face. If doing the work you love to do is important to you, here are four things you can do to manage an unsteady source of income:

If you’re shopping for a home for the first time, you’ve probably heard of an Adjustable Rate Mortgage, or ARM. It’s a type of home loan with an interest rate that changes over time.

You really want to buy a home — after all, it is still a part of the American Dream — but the finances of it can seem overwhelming. That’s why it’s so important to do some thorough prep work before you start looking for a mortgage.

In the past, realtors and people selling homes were looking out for buyers who were pre-approved. Pre-approved was a broad term that could mean anything from a potential buyer who applied for a loan to a buyer whose underwriting was done and they had been approved for a specific amount of money. Pre-Qualified and Pre-Approved were essentially interchangeable.

April 15th is fast approaching, and like millions of Americans, you may be using a software program like TurboTax or H&R Block to prepare your tax return. You may also be using accounting software like Quicken for Home and Business or QuickBooks to keep your accounts in order and still entering your checking and savings transactions manually throughout the year. Here's a step-by-step guide that'll show you how to download your Hanscom Federal Credit Union transactions, which you can then export quickly and easily into your software programs. All you need is a computer with Internet access and your Online Access HD credentials. Ready?