If you’re finding it difficult to manage multiple payments and feeling overwhelmed, consolidating your debts into a single loan with one monthly payment might be the solution. Debt consolidation is a strategy to streamline your finances and alleviate the burden on your bank account. What Is Debt...

While planning your short-term goals, it is always a good idea to take stock of how these shorter-term plans align with your long-term financial goals. Read more here on how to keep things on track with your short-term financial goals. Like most people, you probably have some short-term financial...

What type of investor are you? Do you prefer to play it safe? Are you looking to take more risks? Do you dive into market research, or do you trust your gut? Let’s find out... What if we told you your investment strategy likely parallels your personality? Your day-to-day decision-making is a great...

Nurturing your investments has never been more important than what it is today. After the turbulence of the past few years, ensuring some stability and finding an adequate growth path is essential. One aspect that can play havoc with your investments is inflation. Read more here on how to navigate...

We all know that when inflation falls, so do interest rates, and then when inflation trends upward, interest rates rise to fight back. But the relationship between inflation and interest rates runs deeper than simple supply and demand and investors would do well to understand the parallels and...

Setup an Emergency Savings Account Online The coronavirus has impacted all of us and we are working closely with our customers to adjust during these uncertain times. One best practice customers may want to consider is setting up an emergency savings account. This emergency savings account can be...

Does a Home’s Value Go Up With a Bathroom Renovation? Deciding what home improvement projects to invest in can be tricky. You don’t want to pour money into a renovation or remodel that won’t pay off when you go to sell. If you’re eager to increase your home’s value, consider starting in a small, but...

Deposit Your Next Check With Your Phone Making a deposit with your phone is an easy process and will save you a trip to the bank. But, if you have never done this before it may be a bit intimidating. At Illinois Bank & Trust, a division of HTLF Bank, we want to make this process as easy as possible for you - it's as simple as...

Money Saving Tips to Fund Your Higher Education If you’re considering going back to college to boost your credentials, you’re probably on the lookout for money-saving strategies. Here are dollar-stretching tips to keep you at the top of your class. Fill Out FAFSA If you’re looking to continue your...

Avoid Using Your Savings For the Unneeded Things Sometimes there’s not enough room in the budget for extras. Perhaps you have your eye on a new pair of shoes, are eager to upgrade your living room with a new couch or you have to be the first in your friend group to possess the latest gadget. If you...

Make the Home Improvements You Want With The Equity In Your Home You found your dream home and settled down, so now what? Ready to tackle some of those honey-do wish list improvement projects? Why not use the equity you have built in your home to check some of those items off your list and...

Practices that reduce your spending and save you money The foundation of successfully managing your finances is budgeting, and a pillar of budgeting is learning to distinguish your needs from your wants. If you can’t differentiate those, you could wind up overspending on luxuries that you can’t...