Financial/Investing

Editor’s note: In the past month, ABD has reported on the impact of two large bank failures. We shared advice from Mark Koppelmann, a certified financial planner with FinancialConnex who suggested not to panic but to keep abreast of financial news through an advisor. It seems everything is indeed “back to normal.” Today, we share commentary and perspective from one of the many community banks in the CSRA, BankSouth, with a presence in Augusta through the mortgage side of their business and banks in several Georgia cities including Athens, Atlanta

Yesterday, while touring Savannah’s JA Discovery Center, I met Travion, a married pastry chef with one child. Even though he’s only 12 and in seventh grade, Travion already earns $44,000 a year, which might not sound like much to some, but I can assure you, it’s the dream salary of many a journalist. Of course, it wasn’t real. Instead, it was a scenario assigned to him in JA Finance Park, a program offered by the center for seventh and eighth-grade students. While this may sound like a field trip, the

An Augusta area financial expert says just 7% of your companies’ vendors and lenders report to the credit bureaus. “No one reports automatically, and you must register your business at the three business credit bureaus to even get a score; it doesn’t just magically appear,” said Regional Managing Partner, Alan Mosher of the J. Galt Finance Suite. He is taking reservations for a free webinar scheduled for next Thursday, February 2. In the seminar, businesses will learn a 7-step process for building credit, starting with the very basics of how

SRP Federal Credit Union members started the new year off with some extra cash. In December, the SRP FCU Board of Directors approved a Loyalty Dividend, totaling more than $1.5 million, to be paid out across their membership. The additional dividend was designed to reward SRP members and to recognize the financial strength of the Credit Union. SRP FCU is a member-owned nonprofit financial institution with a volunteer Board of Directors. SRP members can receive higher interest rates on savings, lower rates on loans, and lower fees. “Creating value for

Local financial advisors, Jason Crane and Gerry Owen, owners and operators of Crane & Owen Financial Solutions in Aiken, have relocated their practice from Edward Jones to Ameriprise Financial. Together, they manage nearly $150 million in combined client assets. Crane and Owen began exploring options for moving their business two years ago and selected Ameriprise for several reasons, including its brand recognition, reputation, and technological resources. “Ameriprise is first and foremost an advisor-friendly firm, meaning we have the company’s full support behind us as we go above and beyond for

Tony Mariano wants his employees to know how to fix toilets and water leaks, but he also wants them to plan for the future. “They know plumbing, but they don’t understand finance,” he said. Mariano, service manager for FlowPro Plumbing, said the company wants to start offering a retirement plan. He was one of many home services professionals who attended this month’s CSRA Home Connections meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 14. This month’s speakers were Joshua Linton and Michael Koltz, Vice Presidents and wealth planners for Queensborough Investments. They discussed the

Credit reporting can be a benefit for a small business – it can help a lending institution evaluate your business’ credit worthiness. SRP Federal Credit Union is hosting a lunch to help business owners understand what it all means. SRP’s Community Development and Business Banking teams will present the first session of the SRP Small Business Power Lunch series at 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. on Aug. 10 at the WOW Club at SRP Park in North Augusta. Lunch will be provided. Reservations are needed by Sunday, July 31. For more information

Eric Jenkins will become the new Chief Executive Officer of SRP Federal Credit Union on Sept. 1. He will succeed interim President, Woody Shuler. Jenkins, a graduate of the University of South Carolina, had served as CEO at Education Credit Union in Amarillo, Texas. “The Board is pleased and excited that Mr. Jenkins will be joining the SRP team as CEO,” said SRP Board Chair, Sandra DeVoe Bland. “His energy, leadership, and vision, fit well with SRP. The Board feels that Mr. Jenkins is the perfect leader to continue and