Whether it is an auto loan, a mortgage, a student loan, credit cards, or loans from family or friends, having some sort of financial debt is a reality for most people. However, with some advance planning and resourceful thinking, it doesn’t need to be a point of excessive stress. In fact, some types of loans are helpful to your overall financial well-being – if they’re paid on time and are used sensibly.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, while the average American spends 20 years in retirement, fewer than half have calculated how much they need to save for the golden years. Retirement is expensive. Experts estimate that you will need at least 70 percent of your pre-retirement income (for lower earners, it could be up to 90 percent) to maintain your standard of living when you stop working.

The holiday season is here, and now is the perfect time to get started on your gift planning and shopping. But before you shop in-person or get online with your credit card in hand, it’s essential to set a plan and create a realistic budget. It’s easy to overspend with all of the excitement, but spending too much now could mean months of bills and high credit card charges in the new year.

Buying a home is a major commitment. It’s a bit like, well, getting married: you’ve got to be ready and you have to find the “right one.” Like a marriage, homeownership is a dynamic experience that requires a tremendous amount of care and attention.

Identity theft is a crime with many faces: from the thief who skims your card info at the ATM, to the hacker who assumes your persona and opens accounts in your name. Unfortunately, rectifying identity theft damage can be like untangling a wet knot. You can do it — but it will require patience and perseverance.

Thinking about exploring New Mexico? Few places on earth offer the rich history and cultural diversity found in our home state. As your locally owned and operated credit union, we partner with many fellow local businesses through a variety of programs. We invite you to visit and support these businesses within COVID-19 public safety guidelines – or online!

On June 8, 2020, the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), which has official responsibility for determining U.S. business cycles, announced that February 2020 marked the end of an expansion that began in 2009 and the beginning of a recession.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many of us into financial situations that we could never have predicted. Country-wide shelter-in-place orders have left many without work, and businesses without customers. Now more than ever, it’s important to think about the way we spend or save every dollar we make.

If you've been watching the market lately, perhaps the first question on your mind is, "Should I make a big change in my investments?" In reality, a volatile market isn't the best time to do a complete makeover of your portfolio, especially if you have long-term financial goals you're trying to address.