USALLIANCE Blog

If you hear the term Certificate account and are unsure of what that means, don’t worry, you are not alone! Certificate accounts are investment tools utilized by those who want to maximize earnings on their extra funds. Rather than letting your money sit in a low-interest savings account, put your money to work for you in a customizable certificate account and watch your earnings soar!

Your passwords are the lock and key to your life. And when it feels like there’s another big security breach every week, you want to be sure those passwords are strong and safe.

Follow the 6 steps below for super-strong passwords that will keep scammers guessing.

Cyber Monday: the Monday following Thanksgiving, notorious for irresistible online sales. Due to COVID-19, in-person shopping has declined while online shopping has been on the rise. This will result in millions of people logging online in search of the best deals on Monday. However, online retailers aren't the only ones who want your hard-earned money. Scammers and Spammers are out there too! They utilize a variety of tactics to trick consumers like you into giving themselves a nice payday. How can this be avoided? By being educated and aware while making online purchases. Here are 10 common Black Friday scams you'll want to avoid this holiday season:

At the peak of the holiday shopping season, right between Black Friday and Cyber Monday is Small Business Saturday. This day is designated to encourage people to support small businesses by shopping with them. According to the Small Business Association (SBA), the 28 million small businesses in America account for 54% of all sales in the country. Small businesses create jobs, build a demand for locally made products, and keep communities thriving. The lasting impact of the Coronavirus pandemic is continuously causing a crisis for the small businesses of America. So, ditch the Starbucks cup and grab a coffee at your local coffee shop and support #SmallBusinessSaturday!

Keep your finances intact while still enjoying the holiday gift giving tradition with these five tips:

There are many elements to a successful investment strategy, but they usually boil down to one basic concept—asset allocation. When you spread your retirement savings out among a variety of investment vehicles, you greatly increase your money’s earning power, at a level of risk that sits within your comfort zone.

Homeowners insurance is designed to protect you and your family members from liability and cover your home, plus possessions, in the event of disaster or theft.

Do you need to have a separate rainy-day fund and emergency fund? In an effort to simplify their money, people sometimes consolidate their accounts. This is OK in many instances, but it’s important to remember that rainy day funds and emergency funds serve different purposes. Additionally, it’s important to have not just one, but both funds available to tap into as needed.

Your home will likely mean many things over the course of your time living in it — dinners with friends, milestones with your children and/or partner, and a place of refuge when you need a break from the outside world.

Q:Should I take advantage of the dropping interest rates by refinancing my mortgage?

A: Refinancing a mortgage is essentially paying off the remaining balance on an existing home loan and then taking out a new mortgage on the same home, often at a lower interest rate. It may sound like a no-brainer, but there are many factors to consider.

Is it a good time to refinance?