Let’s face it—tax season can be a real headache. Whether you’re filing on your own or working with a tax preparer, the process is rarely enjoyable. And if you end up owing money to the IRS or your state government? That’s the cherry on top of a financially stressful sundae.

For many people, it’s not just the paperwork that’s overwhelming—it’s the payment. Having to suddenly come up with hundreds or even thousands of dollars can seriously derail your finances if you haven’t planned ahead. But here’s the good news: a little preparation throughout the year can make next tax season feel like no big deal.

The Risks of Meme Coins vs. The Security of Long-Term Investments: Why CDs, Interest-Bearing Accounts, and Other Secure Options Are the Smarter Choice

In recent years, the rise of meme coins and viral investing trends has captured the attention of both novice and seasoned investors alike. Buzzwords like "to the moon" and "diamond hands" flood social media platforms, encouraging individuals to jump on the latest cryptocurrency bandwagon with the hope of striking it rich overnight. While the allure of quick profits is tempting, the reality is that these speculative investments come with significant risks. Conversely, secure financial products like Certificates of Deposit (CDs), Interest-Bearing accounts, and other low-risk investments offer stability, growth, and long-term financial peace of mind.

Why New Graduates Should Join a Credit Union

Being a new graduate, and presumably headed towards joining the workforce, becoming a member of a credit union is a wise move. But why should you join a credit union?

In a world where financial literacy is more important than ever, teaching kids how to manage money can set them up for a lifetime of success. As parents, one of the best gifts we can give our children is the knowledge of how to save, earn interest, and understand the basics of money management. Opening a Youth Account is a fantastic way to start this journey.

In today's digital age, financial fraud is becoming increasingly sophisticated. To keep yourself and your finances secure, it's crucial to stay informed about the latest fraud techniques. Here are some new fraud strategies to be aware of and tips on how to protect yourself.

In today's digital age, phone scams have become increasingly sophisticated, and one of the most common tactics used by scammers is "spoofing." Spoofing involves disguising a phone number to appear as if it is coming from a trusted source. Recognizing and avoiding spoof calls is crucial for protecting your personal information and financial security. Here’s how you can identify and safeguard yourself against these deceptive calls.

Recently there has been an uptick in scams involving McAfee. In this scam, there is an email purported to be from McAfee, which is a well-known leader in online protection. The email involves the following:

In the dynamic landscape of personal finance, one movement stands out for its bold ambition and innovative strategies: Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE). This paradigm shift in financial thinking champions the notion of breaking free from the traditional work-retire-die cycle and instead, achieving financial freedom at an early age. At the core of this movement lies a potent catalyst: Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), and a lesser-known yet valuable tool: Certificates of Deposit (CDs). Let’s explore how IRAs and CDs can synergize to turbocharge your journey to FIRE and pave the way for a life of purpose, passion, and autonomy.

As tax filing deadlines get ever closer, the annual ritual of sorting through receipts and forms to uncover potential deductions can add an extra layer of stress to an already overwhelming season. But fear not, for amidst the sea of paperwork lies a treasure trove of often-overlooked deductions that could significantly reduce your tax bill. While the tried-and-true deductions like mortgage interest and charitable contributions are familiar to many, delving deeper into the tax code reveals a wealth of lesser-known opportunities to save.

Don’t get scammed this summer! Follow these 6 tips to stay safe. 

1. Never pay for a “prize” vacation

If you’re asked to pay a small fee to claim a free vacation prize, you’re looking at a scam. A legitimate company will never ask winners to do that.

2. Use a credit card when traveling

A credit card offers you the most protection in case something goes wrong. You’ll be able to dispute unauthorized charges, and in most cases, reclaim your lost funds. Some cards even offer certain travel perks that help your trip go off without a hitch.

Did you know: Text messaging has come under attack as one of the most vulnerable media for identity theft and more. Here’s what you need to know about an SMS message-based scam called “smishing.”

How it works

Smishing scams use text messages to establish contact with the intended victim to later access their personal information.

July is National Military Consumer Month. It’s a month where the Federal Trade Commission focuses on helping military Service Members, Veterans and their families learn about key consumer protections they need to be successful. For the second year, the FTC is focusing Military Consumer Month on imposter scams. The goal is to help military personnel understand imposter scams and the steps they can take to avoid them. But in reality, everyone can use this advice to avoid getting scammed.

Leaving college often means the start of a new job, new living arrangements to pay for and other new expenses to cover. All of this means your finances will likely need an overhaul. It’s time to create your post-college budget.

If you’ve been working with a budget throughout college, you’ll already have the concept down pat. You’ll want to rework the numbers to incorporate your new expenses, as well as your new salary. If you’ve floated by on a wing and a prayer while in school, you’ll have to start at the very beginning as you build a workable budget to manage your finances.

It's obvious that big banks spend heavily on marketing and advertising to attract new customers. But many of us remember the financial crisis and how massive corporate institutions mishandled hard-working Americans' money. That's why everyday people often consider an alternative to these corporate giants.

With the resumption of student loan payments approaching in October, many individuals face the challenge of managing student debt repayment. Balancing these repayments with other financial goals can be daunting, especially considering factors like inflation, high-interest rates, and the looming repayment deadline. In this article, We Florida Financial explores the ways our partnership with GreenPath, a trusted financial wellness organization, can provide expert assistance in navigating student debt repayment and turning financial challenges into opportunities for growth and stability.

January is prime time to get into shape.

This year, in particular, many Americans are struggling to shed the “quarantine 15,” or the pounds packed on during all those months when life happened over Zoom and nobody saw what you were wearing below the waist. In fact, the snack company that brings us Oreo cookies and Ritz crackers reports that sales have increased by more than 16% since 2019. And hard as it may be to believe, at some point in the future, it will no longer be socially acceptable to attend a business meeting, a friend’s formal dinner party, or your sister’s wedding while wearing sweatpants.

Unfortunately, scammers know this as well as anyone, and they are out in full force, trying to scam consumers with bogus weight-loss products, miracle drugs, and more. Gyms aren’t far behind, with many of them offering misleading contracts that are impossible to get out of once they’re signed.

Don’t get scammed! Lose the pounds you’re looking to shed this winter — not your money.

Here’s what you need to know about weight-loss scams and how to avoid them.

So you've shopped around for an RV loan in Florida and you think you've found the one? As a lender for RVs and boats, we want to get you on the road or in the water as quickly as possible so you can start living out the dream. But we also want to make sure that you have no regrets about your relationship with us.

The increase in crimes targeting the U.S. Postal Service has raised concerns among experts, urging Americans to reconsider sending their checks through the mail. According to the USPS, there has been a surge in attacks on letter carriers and incidents of mail fraud. In the first half of fiscal year 2023, 305 mail carriers were robbed, on track to surpass the previous year's total of 412 robberies. Additionally, criminals are targeting mailboxes, stealing letters directly from homes or from the blue USPS collection boxes.

How to have fun in the sun this summer without taking on extra credit card debt.

Summer has officially kicked off, which means that it’s a good time to set a summer budget.

A summer budget can help you maintain stability over the next few months, so you can avoid credit card debt. With that in mind, the experts at KOFE have some tips that can help you build a budget that will help you stay on track this season.

The pandemic is still causing chaos and pushing average spending higher.

This is the second year where the pandemic has severely disrupted schools. Back-to-school shopping this year is going to be difficult. Because cases of the Delta variant of COVID-19 continue to increase, school districts may quickly change their plans, which means parents will face many challenges with their budgets. This year, families like yours will spend hundreds of dollars on school supplies, Parents still do not know if their children will be in hybrid learning, in-person learning, or virtual learning, and this is causing a problem for our budgets. Do you need to budget as much for clothes or uniforms if the school will continue to be virtual or part-time?