Reach your goals
Turn your new job into a financial reset
If you’re planning to make a career move this year, this may be the perfect time to re-evaluate your overall financial picture. Since a new job means new income and benefits, it may also change the way you think about money, especially if your career path improves.
During the first two or three months at your new job, take time to update your budget, review benefits and retirement plan options, and align spending and savings with new income.
Calculate your new monthly salary that you will take home. Bonuses, stock grants, and employer superannuation all match, as do insurance-related deductions that can affect take-home pay. You may also want to ask a tax professional whether a salary increase will affect your tax liability.
Review this year’s expenses. Review housing, utilities, insurance, debt payments, and discretionary spending such as dining out, subscriptions, travel, and entertainment. Comparing it to 2025 expenses will help you spot price changes.
Make adjustments. If your income is increasing, try to allocate about half of the increase to savings before moving the rest to your investment account or discretionary spending.
Choose your next financial goal. This might include reducing debt, saving a down payment on a house, building retirement savings, or taking that vacation you’ve had to put off. A raise may look different when it is tied to a major life goal.
Source: Tamkeen.com
Mortgage IQ
The new credit option is a win-win option for lenders and borrowers
You’re probably familiar with FICO, a company that has been providing credit scores since 1989. Now FICO may be facing competition from another credit source: VantageScore. This was created as an alternative to FICO scoring and is the result of a joint venture involving the major credit bureaus Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.
Last year, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) allowed the use of the VantageScore 4.0 credit model to qualify applicants for conforming loans. This decision could help lenders and borrowers save an average of $111 per final mortgage.
While savings are always welcome, VantageScore is also expected to help millions of potential borrowers, as it may expand access to mortgage financing for applicants with limited or non-traditional credit histories.
Source: nationalmortgageprofessional.com
Financial news
How can a spring wedding be a financial honeymoon?
If you’re planning to get married this spring or summer, congratulations! Saying “I do” is one of the most important moments in life.
Marriage also opens the door to some powerful wealth-building opportunities. The key is to know which ones are right for you as a couple.
Joint account – or not? Many couples open a joint savings account, especially when they are saving toward a shared goal such as a down payment on a house or starting a family. However, grouping each account is not suitable for everyone. If both partners are drawing from the same account to cover day-to-day expenses, it can quickly get complicated. There is no one-size-fits-all answer here.
Know what is protected. Whichever accounts you decide to consolidate, it’s helpful to know which accounts carry FDIC insurance. Most standard bank accounts are covered, but non-deposit products – such as stocks, bonds and cryptocurrencies – are not. Something else to keep in mind: FDIC coverage is $250,000 per depositor, per bank, per account category. Couples who have multiple accounts at the same institution can unintentionally exceed this limit.
Credit remains personal. Marriage does not automatically change a partner’s credit score or existing debts, as those debts remain individual. But opening joint credit accounts can affect both outcomes, so it’s a good idea to have a conversation before signing anything together.
Tax time looks different now. Marriage offers new filing options, and it’s worth running the numbers in more ways than one. Comparing scenarios — such as married filing jointly versus separately, or head of household — can reveal some pleasant surprises when tax season rolls around.
The workplace benefits are worth a second look. Many newlyweds add a spouse to their health insurance and update beneficiaries on retirement accounts. It’s a quick but important step that’s easy to overlook amidst all the post-wedding excitement.
As you build your life together, there are plenty of options for shared financial happiness. Contact your APM Loan Consultant For answers to mortgage-related questions, and for referrals to other financial professionals.
Source: Tamkeen.com
Did you know?
American currency through the centuries
You may have paid for your last ride using a mobile app, or by tapping your debit card on a payment terminal. It’s a far cry from what happened when the first colonies on American soil began creating currency, decades before the First Continental Congress in 1774.
Here are some “Did you know?” Facts about previous versions of the dollar today.
Paper currency first appeared in 1690 and was issued by a committee of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. These handwritten notes have values in English shillings rather than dollars.
On June 25, 1775, the Continental Congress authorized the issuance of the first dollar bills. The $2 bills were billed as bills of credit for America’s defense.
Ten years later (1785), the dollar sign was added, having evolved from the Spanish-American number for the peso.
Nearly ninety years later, the National Bank Act of 1863, signed by President Lincoln, created our modern banking system, along with a national currency.
George Washington first appeared on the $1 bill in 1869. He did not appear on the first $1 bills, also known as United States bills or legal tender, issued in 1862. The photos showed Treasury Secretary Salmon P. Chase.
Color-changing ink is a lesser-known way to thwart counterfeiters. Check any $10, $20 or $50 bill by tilting it. You will see that the ink in the numbers in the lower right corner changes from copper to green.
In addition to the color-changing ink, the $100 bills have a built-in thread running vertically to the left of Benjamin Franklin’s portrait with the words 100 and United States of America. These are only visible when the note is exposed to bright light.
Another little-known counterfeit fact: During the Revolutionary War, the British government intentionally flooded the colonies with counterfeit Continental currency to destroy their value.
While there are currently more than 450,000 ATMs operating within the United States, the first ATM debuted in London, England, in June 1967.
Source: uscurrency.gov
Personal finances
More middle-income Americans are starting to invest
The idea that only rich investors are long dead, fueled by the introduction of 401(k) plans and discount brokers. Since 2020, the number of low- and middle-income investors has increased by 167%, even though many consumers feel forced to cover the increasing costs of everyday purchases.
These increases were discovered through research conducted by BlackRock and the Commonwealth Foundation, a national nonprofit focused on financial security. Their findings were drawn from JPMorgan Chase Institute data, which tracked billions of investment transfers by about 10 million users of active checking accounts.
The 2024 data included low- and middle-income investors, split evenly between those with median net incomes of $29,000 and $51,000.
The new research comes on the heels of a January 2025 survey that found that 54% of low- and middle-income Americans were investing in retail capital markets. More than half of them started investing in the past five years.
Strong stock market rises in recent years have encouraged these new investors to create stock portfolios. Financial institutions also encourage their customers to build emergency savings.
Consumers who had not yet opened an investment account cited a lack of funds available to invest, as well as a lack of knowledge of the stock market. These individuals may miss out on compound growth, as returns depend on the initial amount invested and the gains that accumulate.
If you would like to explore your investment opportunities for 2026, Contact your APM Loan Advisor For referral to a licensed broker or financial planner.
Source: cnbc.com
food
Spring frittata with arugula and herbs
This one-pan meal is prepared in an iron skillet in two stages, first on the stovetop and then finished in the oven. Spring frittata with arugula and herbs Perfect for weekend brunch, or for dinner guests any day of the week.
Around the house
How and why to color a room
Color flooding is a design technique in which the entire room is painted one color, including walls, trim, door frames, and often the ceiling. Instead of using a different color to highlight architectural features, you’ll get a smooth, monochromatic look.
It works especially well in bedrooms, dining rooms, and smaller spaces where you want to set a certain mood. Whether you’re looking for something calm and relaxing or bold and exciting, an infusion of color can get you there.
Whether you choose a darker shade, lighter colors, or warm neutrals, the goal is the same. You should end up with a cohesive feel that creates depth without relying on contrast. Without color breaks, a space can appear calmer, more intentional, or dramatic, depending on the color you choose.
Here’s a tip before you pick up a brush: Spend some time exploring the different finishes available in your chosen color – matte, eggshell, satin, or glossy. Visit a hardware or paint store and ask for help, or… Visit our online paint sheen guide. Using the same paint color with different finishes adds visual interest while maintaining a seamless look. It’s one of the best ways to make sure a room full of color looks intentional rather than flat.
Source: thediyplaybook.com
