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Wallet Wisdom Podcast | Ep 62: How to Launch Your Small Business: 5 Essential Steps for Success
Learn 5 essential steps for launching a small business successfully. From realistic projections to leveraging resources, ensure your entrepreneurial journey is well-planned.
Fraud Is Evolving: What You Need to Know to Stay Safe | Wallet Wisdom Podcast Episode 59
Learn 5 crucial strategies to protect yourself from financial fraud. Understand the evolving threats and how to stay safe in today’s digital world.
How to Start Financial Conversations with Kids: 5 Essential Tips for Parents
Learn how to effectively engage your children in financial discussions and build a strong financial future together.
Wallet Wisdom: Getting to the heart of your financial health
Financial wellness isn’t just about money. While the numbers in your bank account may be the most obvious bill of financial health, they don’t tell the full story. Your everyday confidence, impulse control, self-care strategies, and even physical activity all play a part in your holistic financial wellbeing. In our latest Wallet Wisdom podcast episode, Producer Brett spoke with LMCU Financial Wellness Coordinator (and former Teller) Tiarra and LMIA Administrative Assistant (and LMCU Wellness Champion) Stevie to better understand just how all these moving parts work together as building blocks for healthy money habits.
Save Smarter, Not Harder: How to Use a High-Yield Checking Account and a CD Together
You always hear, “don’t put all your eggs in one basket,” and the same applies to your nest egg. Spreading your money between different types of accounts allows you take advantage of the unique earnings and access that each offers, which then makes it easier to save for future purchases and plan your big financial dreams.
Tap your equity. Keep your mortgage. With a Home Equity Line of Credit.
If you've been eyeing that kitchen remodel, bathroom refresh, or backyard project for a while now, you're not alone. Americans spent over $500 billion on home renovation in 2025.* The question isn't whether to do it. It's how to pay for it.
How to Make Your Tax Refund Work Harder for You: Insights from Wallet Wisdom Episode 58
Tax season has a way of sneaking up on all of us. For some, a refund feels like a welcome surprise — a little bonus from the universe. But as this week’s Wallet Wisdom episode reminds us, treating your tax return like “fun money” can mean missing out on some powerful financial opportunities.
Kick Off 2026 With Clarity: How to Set Financial Goals That Actually Stick
The start of a new year has a way of making us pause and reflect — especially when it comes to our finances. After holiday spending, rising costs of living, and the realities of everyday expenses, many of us find ourselves asking the same question:
Wallet Wisdom Podcast | Ep 55: Real money. Real bills. Real lessons. How LMCU prepares teens for real life.
Nobody hands you a manual when you graduate high school. One day you're worried about homework. The next, you've got rent, a car payment, insurance, groceries, and a credit card offer showing up in your mailbox.
Wallet Wisdom Podcast: How Credit Unions Compare to Banks
Featuring Guest Patty Corkery, President & CEO of Michigan Credit Union League Most people think banks and credit unions are basically the same but they’re not. One is built to serve shareholders. The other is built to serve you.
How to manage your debt and improve your DTI ratio
What is DTI ratio? Before you can improve your DTI ratio, it helps to know what a DTI ratio is. DTI stands for debt-to-income. It’s a comparison of your monthly debt payments versus your monthly income. Your calculated DTI ratio is used to help lenders get an idea of how well you manage monthly expenses, which helps them determine if you’ll be able to repay a loan.
Financial Wellness: How to Build Confidence and Control Over Your Money
Presented by Lake Michigan Credit Union’s Wallet Wisdom Podcast With Host Brett Christiansen and Guest Savannah, Girmscheid, LMCU Financial Wellness Manager
How The Latest Fed Rates Impact Your Budget & Borrowing Power
In the latest episode of Wallet Wisdom, host Brett sits down with LMCU’s VP of Accounting, Tommy Minchew, and SVP of Finance, Mike Steele, to demystify one of the most talked-about financial topics with this latest decision to maintain interest rates by the Federal Reserve and how it impacts your wallet*. Whether you’re a saver, borrower, or somewhere in between, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you navigate today’s economic landscape.
When it comes to debt consolidation, you’ve got options
Debt can pile up fast. But don’t let bills and credit card payments overwhelm you: we’ve got tips, and you’ve got options.
Credit vs. debit: Which is safer to use?
If you use your debit card for most of your purchases, you may want to consider using a credit card instead. Fraud is on the rise and becoming more sophisticated. According to the Federal Trade Commission, Americans lost $5.8 billion to fraud in 2021, up 70% from 2020. Protecting your money is more important than ever, and, in most cases, credit cards provide more fraud protection benefits compared to debit cards.
How to Budget with a Credit Card from LMCU
It may seem counterintuitive, but a credit card can actually help you be more financially responsible — the key is to make sure you use it in a responsible way.
Paying for college responsibly
Use the 1-2-3 approach to help your student pay for college When you’re planning for college, the first question is often which school to choose. But equally as important is the question of how you’ll pay for it. That’s why we’ve partnered with Sallie Mae® to bring you their 1‑2‑3 approach to paying for college. These three steps can help you make more informed, responsible financial decisions for a big investment in your future.
Pay off debt sooner with balance transfers
It’s easy to get wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of holiday spending. So much so, that sometimes you spend more than you planned. However, here at LMCU, we’re hopeful a balance transfer might help! Hear what our lending expert, Joe Batt, has to say on transferring credit card balances after the holidays.
Shopping small for the holidays
If you’re an avid user of online shopping and store-to-door delivery subscriptions, figuring out where to make changes could be a challenge. Never fear, LMCU is here!
Holiday Bites on a Budget
Does a successful meal have to be an expensive one? Not necessarily. At LMCU, we love budget talks and are happy to share a few ways to create an elevated meal without breaking the bank.
Make sure you’re on the nice list with your holiday spending this year.
Use these tips this holiday season to shop for your loved ones.
October is for Halloween, pumpkin spice, and Cybersecurity Awareness Month!
Cybersecurity Awareness Month was created in October 2004 by the National Cyber Security Alliance and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Its purpose began as an effort for Americans to stay safer online.
How to choose the right financial partner for your business
As a business owner, you know the importance of choosing the right financial partner to make sure your operations run smoothly, your growth is optimized and you’re adequately covered from risk.
What you should know about financing a fixer-upper.
What you should know about financing a fixer-upper. According to CoreLogic®, home prices nationwide saw a year-over-year increase of 17.2% in June 2021 and a month-over-month increase of 2.3%, when comparing May 2021 to June 2021. As home prices have risen and available home inventory remains low, many existing and potential new homeowners are prioritizing geographic location with a willingness to renovate to achieve their dream home. Some homeowners may be staying put and looking to renovate their existing home, while others are considering new home purchases that may require renovation.If this is you, consider these tips before you begin the process of renovating your current home or purchasing a new home that you plan to renovate:
Teach Your Kids About Savings
Financial conversations are usually stressful and avoided. Your comfortability of the subject can depend on the household you grew up in. Regardless of exposure, it’s important to integrate financial responsibility into the education of the next generation.
Financing an RV: 101
Interested in hitting the open road and experiencing the adventures of RV life? That sounds like fun! But first, you probably need to get the financing necessary to make it a reality, right?
Perks of Homeownership
Deciding between renting or becoming a homeowner? There are many things that you may want to consider if now is the time for you to finally…finally…own your own.
Now’s your chance to own your own backyard and say goodbye to renting
Now’s your chance to own your own backyard and say goodbye to renting. With interest rates still at historical lows, now might be the time to make owning your first home a reality. With a few simple steps, you could be well on your way to owning your own walls, backyard, home gym, and more. Lower interest rates mean you have more buying power when it comes to finding that just-right home and, if you’re pre-qualified for a mortgage, you can get there even sooner.
Big Financial Decisions
Big financial decisions. Are wedding bells in your future? Here are the top four things you should discuss with your future spouse to get your finances ready to walk down the aisle.
What You Need to Know Before Applying for a Mortgage Loan
Spring is here and the housing market is booming! Purchasing a new home is on many people’s minds, maybe even yours. Before you jump feet-first into the home buying process, you may want to first learn about what is involved when applying and qualifying for a mortgage.
Why Your Mortgage Loan Officer Matters
You’ll be spending a lot of time with your loan officer during the home financing process, so you want to be sure you work with someone who is responsive, helpful, and committed to getting you to the closing table. At LMCU, we have a 4.9-star rating from Zillow* for – you guessed it – responsiveness, helpfulness, and follow-through
Navigating Unemployment Tax
Tips for filing in 2021. It’s everyone’s favorite time of year. Tax season! For many, 2020 was a unique year that brought some unpredicted changes. If one of those changes was a period of unemployment, you’re not alone! Here are a few tips on how to navigate what you may owe Uncle Sam this year.
Better Budgeting
LMCU Budget Tool: All Your Finances, All in One Place. When you're juggling checking and savings accounts, loan payments, retirement savings, and more, it can be easy to lose sight of your overall financial health. That's why LMCU offers its members FREE access to the budget tool, an easy-to-use tool where you can view your entire financial portfolio in one place.
Ready for a change of scenery in 2021?
They said to stay home. But they didn't say which home. In 2020, you worked from home. You shopped from home. You staycationed from home. The point is, you might be ready for a change of scenery in 2021. If you’re in the market for a new home, here are four ways to help you save for the down payment.
Three strategies for digging your way out of debt faster
Dig Out of Debt. Debt has a way of piling up faster than the snow in your driveway. (For our Florida members, use your imagination and try not to rub it in.) Here are three strategies for digging your way out of debt.
Spending Your Savings on Purpose
Three Ways to Make the Most Out of Your Savings. You’ve made a budget. You’ve stuck to your budget. And you’ve finally managed to have money left over at the end of every month. Congratulations! Now comes the tricky part: what to do with that extra cash?
Answers to your home equity questions
You've Got Questions. We've Got Answers. Imagine this: You finally make the exciting leap to start house hunting. You meet up with your realtor, see a few houses in the perfect location… and then you quickly realize there’s an inventory shortage; houses are priced far higher than you imagined and people are getting into bidding wars on houses in your dream neighborhood.
Start saving for the holidays, today!
The holiday countdown has begun. Soon Halloween will arrive and, days after, retail stores will immediately change displays and advertising over to winter holidays. The average consumer spends around $1,000 during the holiday season, according to the National Retail Federation. Perhaps COVID-19 has changed your financial situation this year. Now is a great time for families to think about saving up before the winter holidays.
Making (and sticking to) a budget.
Four Steps to get You Started. Making a budget can be intimidating. Sticking to it can feel impossible. But a budget simply tells your money where to go. So if you’ve ever uttered the phrase, “Where does all our money go?”, here are 4 steps — and a few tips — for making and sticking to a budget.
