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Cash Income: Dos and Don'ts of Cash Management My first jobs were in cafes and restaurants.  Depending on the gig and the season, income was inconsistent week to week and month to month, generally less in payroll and more in tips. At times, I was earning 100% cash, with pri…

Managing a Budget During your Retirement Unless you have accumulated substantial wealth where money is not a concern, you face a critical task when you reach retirement to make sure that your assets will support you through your lifetime. When you retire and no longer earn an in…

Powers of Attorney An important document that everyone should consider as part of their estate planning is a power of attorney. This is a legal document that gives another adult person – or even a Trust Department like at Visions – the authority to act on your behalf and make de…

A Will is Not the Only Way Today marks the largest intergenerational wealth transfer in history, with $30 trillion in assets projected to pass from baby boomers to their heirs in the United States alone. Yet 60% of American adults don't have an estate plan. Plan ahead for the po…

Do I Need an Estate Plan? Even if you don't create an estate plan, your state has a contingency – but you may not like it! If you don't create an estate plan, your state will. The law of intestate succession is your state's default estate plan for those who fail to plan ahead.…

Designating a Trust as an IRA Beneficiary An important part of estate planning is designating a beneficiary for your IRA. After all, what's key is making sure your loved ones are in good hands and that your wishes are being fulfilled. Not all families and beneficiaries are the…

College Expenses: How to Survive Tuition I learned the hard way. I didn't quite realize what student loans entailed and learned so many things along the way that I wish I knew beforehand. I'm here to tell you all the things I wish I knew, so that hopefully you don't go through…

Cats and Dogs: The Costs of Owning a Pet So, you're thinking about getting a furry friend… Owning a pet has many benefits, like a decrease in stress and depression, as well as having a best friend. While a cat or dog are great companions, it's important to keep in mind the costs…

Making Sense of Mortgages Closing costs, PMI, ARM, escrow…figuring out what makes up your mortgage can be complicated. With so many factors to consider, how do you make sense of it all? Well, you can start by breaking down some of the most common terms and considerations you'll…

Going Out of Town on a Budget My wife and I love to travel. Well, at least back in the pre-Covid and pre-baby days. Things have definitely changed in the last couple years, but the wanderlust remains. Here are some ways that we've been able to make some fun trips without breakin…

Why I Ditched My Debit Card All about that credit card life I'm going to make a confession: I don't use my debit card. To be honest, I haven't used it in years. And while that's not something our Card Solutions Manager here at Visions will like, the fact is, I'm all about my cre…

How I Paid for Two Years in Australia: Financial Prep for Study Abroad So, you've decided to study abroad? How exciting! With dreams of the adventures that await, it can be tough to sit down and think logistics. If you take the time to map out your finances now, though, you'll…