Find Some Way to Like It
Mark Phillips
Teaching an old dog new tricks is said to be something of a fool’s errand. But, as a farm kid,…
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Community Matters – Mario Flores
Bank Iowa
Bank Iowa team members donate more than 12,000 hours to community service each year. Here’s loan officer, Mario Flores, and… Read More >GET UPDATES to make your money smarter! Subscribe Me
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Time for TMI on Your PMI & More
Andy Newman
Seventy-five percent of people don’t put 20 percent down when buying a home, or at least that’s been my experience…
Knocked Off Kilter? Lean on Your Network
Mark Phillips
Before this year, I could count on one hand the amount of times I’d been truly surprised. Like, completely knocked…
It’s Easier than You Think to Get People Excited about Giving
Mark Phillips
I don’t think I’m shocking anyone to say employee participation in a corporate giving campaign often feels more obligatory than…
Building Your Dream
Brad Parker
“Great moments are born from great opportunities.” That quote from the movie Miracle has always stuck with me. And, as…
Three Keys to Building a Model Community
Nevada Richards
Last month, Renee Riedel, Executive Director at Clarinda Economic Development Corp, sat across from me in my office, relieved to…
Three Surprisingly Simple Tips for Mastering Financial Agility
Mark Phillips
Reaping what you sow is far from a sure thing, as Iowa farmers know all too well. The 700-mile path…
2020 Amps Up Appreciation for Local Partnerships
Mark Phillips
Mother Nature sure has a way of piling on, doesn’t she? From farm fields to downtown corridors, echoes of “Could…
Is Now a Good Time to Buy a Home?
Brian Ettleman
What do having your wisdom teeth removed, preparing to welcome a baby and being a first-time home buyer all have…
Meeting the Challenge of a Founder’s Legacy
Mark Phillips
In recent weeks, our bank has been celebrating the life and achievements of our co-founder Harry Barr who passed away…
Is Your Life on Hold?
Cindy Bednarczyk
“Thank you, can you please hold?” Don’t you just love that? You simply have a task to complete and you…
Return to Routine
Mark Phillips
Staying home during the pandemic opened up a lot more free time for many working people. Even those lucky enough…
Values Pave a Path through Chaos
Mark Phillips
What if I told you every decision you made over the last few months was wrong? Would it strike a…
The Hidden Costs of COVID-19 Soon to Hit Your Budget
Mark Phillips
Last week, three different friends had to replace or repair appliances in their homes. One surmised her oven finally gave…
How to Stay Close to Your Customers While Maintaining Social Distance
Mark Phillips
The past few weeks, we’ve learned how to do without in many areas of life, including our instinctual need for…
Today’s Employees Wants Purpose Beyond Profit
Mark Phillips
What’s your purpose? If you’re anything like me, you’ve pondered that question many times throughout your life. It can be…
5 Strategies for Keeping the Dream Alive
Mark Phillips
Let’s talk about those fabulous personal and business goals you set a few weeks ago in honor of the new…
How Fiscally Responsible Are You (on the Company’s Dime)?
Mark Phillips
Inspired to become even better stewards of our money, my wife and I took on the One-Day-No-Spend challenge. If you’re…
Help Your Bank Help You
Bank Iowa
We invest heavily and proactively in both physical and cybersecurity measures that safeguard our clients’ financial information. We take the…
Good Lookin’ Out: The Value of Taking a Break from Sales
Mark Phillips
When was the last time you recommended something to a client? If you’re in sales, I’m guessing you’ve already done…
Evolving Workplace Policy for the Gig Economy
Mark Phillips
The gig economy is growing three times faster than the total U.S. working population. If that growth keeps up, roughly…
Know your mortgage options
Todd Smith
When it comes to buying a home, you may think that your only option is a 30-year, fixed rate mortgage…
Closing the deal: Don’t let these 4 surprises happen to you at closing
Bank Iowa
You’ve found your dream home, and you’ve been approved for your loan. But before you get the keys, you have…
9 factors that are more important than your mortgage rate
Todd Smith
Locking in a low interest rate for your home mortgage is great, but it’s not the most important thing to…
Great Bosses Slow Down, Build Communities
Mark Phillips
If part of your job is managing people, you probably feel compelled to keep getting better at it. One of…
Making the Mid-Year Review More Reward than Work
Mark Phillips
Because our best laid plans often go awry, the mid-year business review is not only a good idea, it’s an…
What is Two-Factor Authentication and Should I Use it?
Bank Iowa
Just as you lock doors and windows to protect valuables, safeguarding your digital data is an important deterrent to criminals.…
5 Reasons Healthy Team Members Lead to Healthier Companies
Mark Phillips
Employers are devoting an increasing amount of attention to the health of their employees, and for good reason. Here are…
Strength in Numbers… and Letters and Characters: How to Create a Strong Password
Bank Iowa
After an unprecedented number of data breaches the past few years, one thing remains clear: People need stronger passwords. At…
BANK SECRECY ACT: HOW BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP RULES AFFECT YOU
Bank Iowa
Due diligence processes where we need them most. As you may have heard, the Bank Secrecy Act has been amended…
TEACHING CHILDREN TO SAVE MONEY
Bank Iowa
It's like training wheels but with cash. It's never too early to start saving for the future, and there are…
SAVING FOR MAJOR PURCHASES
Bank Iowa
Because sometimes being spontaneous is a terrible idea. Saving for a major purchase is a traditional way of setting a…
GET SMART ABOUT YOUR CREDIT
Bank Iowa
It's like your relationship history with all of your bills. A solid credit history can be one of your most…
HOW TO CREATE A BUDGET
Bank Iowa
It's like a reality check for your money. Take charge of your finances by creating a budget and sticking to…
ONE OF LIFE’S BIGGEST MILESTONES: BUYING A HOME
Bank Iowa
It's like an investment you can live inside. Achieving home ownership is a dream for many, but it isn't for…
The Economic News that Actually Matters to Your Business
Mark Phillips
With so much information from so many different sources flooding into our daily lives, it can be difficult to separate…
5 Ways to Be the World’s Greatest Non-Profit Board Member
Mark Phillips
Not many things feel as good as being asked to join a non-profit board. The idea that a group of…
3 Ways to Invest in Iowa’s Qualified Opportunity Zones
Mark Phillips
When I first learned of the prospects of opportunity zones in Iowa, my imagination went wild. Opportunity zones are low-income…
Give Me One Good Reason to Switch Banks
Mark Phillips
There isn’t a soul on earth, nor in business, who relishes the idea of moving financial institutions. But perhaps it’s…
The 8 Most Essential People to Help Sell Your Business
Mark Phillips
Setting a course for the future of your business is a team sport. While many of the decisions you’ll have…
Get Your Ears in Gear: Three Ways to Listen to Customers
Mark Phillips
Ever Googled yourself and discovered all the people who share your name? I share mine with a Canadian CBS News…
Overcoming 3 Common Fears of Giving
Mark Phillips
The most generous time of the year is just around the corner. With holiday spirits high, corporations and individuals will…
5 Ways to Make Rising Rates Work for You
Mark Phillips
A hike in prices is rarely met with optimism; unless you’re the one profiting from them. As the cost of…
How Much Tech Can Your Money Take?
Mark Phillips
There isn’t a single aspect of our lives that hasn’t been impacted by technology. Largely positive, these changes have made…
Changing Attitudes About Money Will Shape the Future of Cash
Mark Phillips
When I was growing up, a child of the 80s, people who paid with plastic seemed to be in a…
What My Kids Learned about Money from The Tooth Fairy and Some Really Big Pumpkins
Mark Phillips
Last weekend over breakfast, the second of my four sons called out the Tooth Fairy for what he perceived to…
