Servus Credit Union
5015 Ellerslie Road SW T6X 1X2 Edmonton, AB, Canada

Some easy tips to check in on your your money management. We are available to help Monday - Saturday at 780-638-8464 https://www.discover.com//consolid/get-better-with-money/

We really like the idea of using your TFSA as the vehicle for your "Emergency Savings" due to it's tax efficiency. https://www.theglobeandmail.com//how-much/article28460148/ Here is a great calculator to use to help you figure out how much makes sense for you: ... https://www.moneyunder30.com/emergency-fund-calculator

Pro-Tip of the week comes to you from Parampreet, Supervisor, Member Service. Fraud happens every day, but there are lots of things you can do to protect yourself. Here are a few tips: Don't respond to phone calls asking you to update your computer protection. If you get one of these calls, hang up.... Keep your personal details safe. Be careful of personal information you post on social media. Know who you are dealing with. If you've received an unusual request from someone you know, contact them directly and verify. If you've received a request from someone you don't know and were not expecting it, permanently delete it; do not follow through with it. Do not open the following: Suspicious texts Pop up windows Links or attachments in emails Do not send money through the following: Preloaded gift cards iTunes cards Virtual currency such as bitcoin E-Transfers to unknown individuals Remember, if it looks too good to be true, it probably is. Take the Canadian Anti-Fraud quiz @ http://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca//cb-bc.n/eng/03662.html

With recent changes to small business taxation rules, many of our Members are asking how to preserve the wealth they have worked hard to grow within their business. This is especially important at retirement or during Estate planning. Here is a quick Succession Planning checklist from the Alberta Gov't that will help guide you on some key considerations. https://alis.alberta.ca//SuccessionPlanFrameworkandCheckli

Pro Tip: Tim reminds new home buyers to use this nice weather to do your due diligence in checking out the lot and landscaping on any prospective home(s) you may be considering purchasing https://www.servus.ca//Mortgage/Mortgage-prof/tim-mccallen

Last Friday's tragedy has made us realized that the prairies are a lot smaller than we knew, with many friends and employees having personal connections to the Humboldt Broncos players and staff. We have been moved by the outpouring of kindness from across the country; And professionally, we wanted to let our members know that our partners at Concentra have committed to providing any and all needed estate and trust services to the families of the Humboldt Broncos, free of cha...rge. Some family members may be thinking about ways to honour the legacy of these young men, and if they can benefit at all from their expertise, we would be honoured to help. If you, or someone you know has lost loved ones in this tragedy and needs support, or simply to speak with someone about how to begin the process, Concentra Estate and Trust is available to help in any way. On behalf of our team at Servus Credit Union, we express our deepest condolences during this very difficult time.

Should I renovate the home I am in, or buy new.... I am just not sure? http://www.moneysense.ca//buying-a-new-home-resale-vs-new/ Whether you are buying a new house or fixing up your existing home, we can help you with the right advice so you can enjoy your "Forever Home"!... Call Simone today to book your appointment to talk to one of our Advisors who can help you reach your goal.

We are improving our Profit Sharing program! Who else is rewarding you for your business? It’s not as unbelievable as you may think. Every year we reward you for your loyalty to Servus by giving you a share... of the credit union’s profits. It’s one way we help hard-working Albertans like you feel good about your money and contribute to a stronger Alberta. This year we’re sharing $50.7 million with our members. Do you know what you’ll do with your Profit Share? Here are some ideas to help you get the most out of your money: Save. The more money you have with us, the more profits we can share with you. You can grow your Profit Share by reinvesting it in simple savings products like savings accounts, registered retirement savings plans (RRSPs), tax-free savings accounts (TFSAs) and guaranteed investment certificates (GICs). Plan. It’s never too late to prepare for and build toward the future. Why not use your Profit Share to start or add to a registered education savings plan (RESP) for yourself or the children in your life? Or you could use it to make sure you have enough insurance or to get your estate in good shape to care for your loved ones. Spend. Having some extra cash in your accounts from Profit Share means you can manage your expenses day to day and maybe even buy a new car or take a vacation. Borrow. Sometimes borrowing money can be a way to pursue new opportunities like starting a small business. You earn Profit Share on Servus loans and mortgages that meet your needs and suit your life. Talk to a Servus financial advisor today about how you can use it. Call us at 780-638-8464

Retirement and your home: Over the past decade, residential real estate prices have more than doubled in some areas. For retirees... and pre-retirees, this brings both opportunities and challenges. While your home is an important part of your retirement plan, it can’t take the place of a diversified investment portfolio. Lack of liquidity. One of the biggest drawbacks to real estate is lack of liquidity. In other words, if you want to sell your home, it could take weeks or even months to find a buyer. With mutual funds or stocks, you can often sell the same day. Fluctuating values. Real estate values are not the same across the country or the province and can be affected by a range of local factors. The Calgary market, for example, was red hot when oil prices were high, but when the price of oil dropped, home values declined as well. Unforeseen events like these could have an impact on your home’s value right when you need it most. A diversified plan is the answer. A well-thought-out plan helps give you the flexibility you need to make the decisions that are right for you. Servus can help you make the most of your home equity and maintain an investment portfolio that reflects your need for security, income and growth. Give us a call today to see how we can help you save better: 780-638-8464

Credit Unions or Banks.... what's the big deal? https://servus.ca/news/newsletters/credit-unions-and-banks

Do you own your own business? Running a business takes a lot of hard work. Make it easier with payroll and benefit programs from Servus Credit Union. Our solutions will save you time, money and a lot of stress. And your employees will thank you too. When your employees participate in a group program through Servus they become credit union members. As members, they can access all of our products and services, and get tailored advice based on their needs, not ours. They’ll also... be eligible for benefits like Profit Share and our 100% deposit guarantee. Group Plans Group savings and retirement plans are a great way to show your employees you care. We have programs for Registered Retirement Savings Plans and Tax-Free Savings Accounts that will help your employees meet their money goals and help you build a loyal team. Payroll and HR services Paying your employees on time and correctly is very important. So is building your business. You can do both with a payroll solution from our partner Ceridian. They have self-managed and fully outsourced solutions for businesses of all shapes and sizes. Saving time on payroll means you’ll have more time to make your business goals come true. Call Simone today to discuss our Business Solutions: 780-638-8464

When is the right time to plan you retirement? https://servus.ca///right-time-to-plan-for-your-retirement

Have you seen the Edmonton Social Planning Trends brief? If you know how and are inspired to help create positive change, you must first start with the facts. https://edmontonsocialplanning.ca//344-tracking-the-trends