Leigh

Budget Friendly Ways to Beat Cabin Fever

By Leigh
January 17, 2012 9:35 AM

With winter’s short days and cold temperatures, it’s easy to think about settling down for a long winter’s nap or hibernating until spring. But before you curl up by the fire and nod off, take a look at these ideas from Susquehanna employees to keep fun and adventure going all year long. Our employees share budget-friendly ways to beat post-holiday blues and nip cabin fever in the bud.

Baby it’s cold outside…so take advantage of the cold temperatures, bundle up and give these suggestions a shot. Continue reading »

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Art

How Do You Pick a Realtor?

By Art
January 13, 2012 10:30 AM

So, you’re ready to buy your dream home, and now you just need someone to help find it for you. In other words, how do you pick a realtor? The first place to check is within your circle of influence. Who do you know that recently has bought or sold a home: a family member, friend, coworker? You could ask your accountant or tax preparer, financial advisor, lawyer, or your employer’s Human Resources department, which works with employees who are relocated. Continue reading »

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Posted in Mortgages and Homeownership | Leave a comment
Steve

Lights, Camera, Save…for a Car

By Steve
January 6, 2012 9:15 AM

Ask a teenager about an important goal to save for, and a lot of them will mention a car. The two winners in our Lights, Camera, Save! video contest both used this example to create great videos, and one is now a finalist in the national contest run by the American Bankers Association Education Foundation. Continue reading »

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Joel

Signs Point to Stronger Economy in 2012

By Joel
December 28, 2011 9:15 AM

What an amazing year. It started out positively as businesses were hiring again, confidence increased and growth seemed poised to change gears. But then gasoline prices broke the critical $4.00 a gallon level and consumers got worried. There was also a divisive debate over the debt ceiling, a downgrade of the U.S. debt, huge market volatility, a devastating tsunami which cut the Japanese supply chain and the European sovereign debt crises. When you come to think about it, the continued growth of the U.S. economy is amazing and shows just how resilient it is. Continue reading »

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guest

Susquehanna Helps Ring in the New Year in Lancaster

By guest
December 26, 2011 10:15 AM

Susquehanna Bank is proud to partner with the City of Lancaster to sponsor 3…2…1! Lancaster, the city’s New Year’s Eve extravaganza! Now in its second year, the event includes fun, family-friendly entertainment for ‘kids’ of all ages.

The celebration begins at 5 p.m. at the Clipper Magazine Stadium and the Lancaster Family YMCA. Festivities include visual comedians, live music, ice skating, face painting, caricaturist, hands-on activities, pinball and video games and much more. Susquehanna employees will lend a hand to make sure things run smoothly. Plus, Buck – Susquehanna’s MegaBuck$ children’s savings account mascot – will be on hand to join the fun. Watch Susquehanna’s Twitter feed for a special message you can relay to Buck for a chance to win a prize! Continue reading »

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Amber

Making It Fresh, Healthy and Affordable this Holiday Season

By Amber
December 14, 2011 9:45 AM

‘Tis the holiday season again. Time for parties, dinners, cookies and pies… and the thought of yet again making that New Year’s resolution to hit the gym. Not to mention the dent in your pocketbook if you are the lucky holiday dinner host! Why not try some fresh and healthy dishes for the holidays this year? But, how do you know what has the best flavor this week? Lucky for you, I have a friend who can help us out! Continue reading »

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guest

United Way: Focusing Resources on Each Community’s Needs

By guest
December 12, 2011 10:00 AM

Many area United Way campaigns are now wrapping up for this year. Together, Susquehanna employees raised an amazing $325,000 in pledges for 2012! With our corporate match, our grand total to United Ways in our market area is $650,000! But how is this money used to support local communities?  Continue reading »

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Lori

FDIC’s Gift to Depositors: Nothing to Fear

By Lori
December 8, 2011 11:45 AM

1933 was an outstanding year. Construction of the Golden Gate Bridge began; the original King Kong movie premiered at Radio City; Newsweek Magazine was published for the first time. President Franklin D. Roosevelt uttered his famous quote “The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself,” and he gave Americans one less thing to fear when he signed the Banking Act of 1933, which established the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Continue reading »

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Don

Inheriting an IRA? It Pays to “Stretch” It

By Don
December 6, 2011 9:30 AM

What happens to an IRA when it is inherited by the account owner’s children?

Myth: The account is gobbled up in a combination of estate taxes and income tax.

Reality: Under present regulations that allow for a $5 million exemption from estate taxes for both husband and wife ($10 million total), very few IRAs will be affected by estate taxes.

If the person who inherits the IRA chooses to take a total distribution immediately and pay all the income tax in one year, that would take a large bite (of course, a Roth IRA would not incur this tax). A solution is to have the beneficiary take advantage of what the regulations allow and stretch the life of the account as long as possible as an IRA. Depending on the individual’s financial need, this may be advantageous for both the Traditional IRA and Roth IRA. Continue reading »

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Posted in Financial Education, Reaching Retirement | Leave a comment
Joel

Economic Recovery Still Challenged by European Concerns and Energy Prices

By Joel
November 29, 2011 10:15 AM

Consumers and businesses keep telling us conditions are bad. But the recent economic data have been surprisingly solid, pointing to an accelerating recovery. Unfortunately, the economy has had nothing but bad luck and the problems facing Europe and rising energy costs are two more hurdles that must be cleared before solid growth returns.

The economy is expanding and the pace of economic activity quickened during the summer. Third quarter GDP growth of 2.5% is hardly gangbusters but the details of the report were better than the headline. Consumers are spending again with big-ticket purchases leading the way. But more importantly, services demand has come back. This lagging component is nearly two-thirds of all spending and a turnaround here would be welcome news. With October retail sales being even better than expected, it looks like the holiday shopping season has gotten off to a strong start as well. Continue reading »

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