Wearing 5 layers of clothes? Muddy footprints by the door? Spending your morning shoveling the sidewalk? Winter is here, but that doesn’t mean you have to be! Here are just a few of the best affordable winter vacations this season. Florida Keys This chain of islands connected to the mainland gives you all the benefits…
Category: Products & Services
A local success story, Jay and Sam Robinson
For Jay and Sam Robinson, the local Credit Union helped them realize their dream. Over twenty-five years ago, Jay and Sam wanted to start their own business, but major financial institutions were not interested in funding them. The local Wainwright Credit Union, now Encompass Credit Union, took a chance on the entrepreneurs, and lent them…
Holiday and Christmas loans, are they a good idea?
Obviously no one should try and take on debt that they cannot afford, and no one should put themselves into a hole they cannot dig themselves out of, based on their income or lifestyle. But there are times where a short-term personal loan, or a revolving line of credit is a perfect choice for upcoming…
Why Does My Mutual Fund Have ETFs in it?
The line between Mutual Funds and Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) has been blurred the past couple of years. You will now see mutual funds incorporating ETFs in order to gain exposure to a certain sector, country, or style without having to setup a new research department and hire a portfolio manager to make the decisions….
‘You’re not just a number’
Bryan Boyenko came to Wainwright over 13 years ago, buying and eventually building is own new Value Drug Mart pharmacy in the town of Wainwright. And since then, he’s found that the personal and exceptional service at Encompass Credit Union has been something that has kept his loyalty. Originally, his head office had to be…
How Do I Choose the Right Credit Card?
In today’s society, credit cards are part of everyday life. Try and book a trip, a hotel, or even shopping online without one and you quickly realize that it’s a necessity. Now, if you live off the land and don’t travel, stay in hotels, or shop online, I guess you don’t need one. If you’re…
Planning for the Unexpected
In life, it’s a bit of a given that we’re going to face some rough patches. I guess that’s why they say: “Into each life a little rain must fall”. Whether it’s an unexpectedly long patch of unemployment, an injury or long term disability that keeps you from working, or even just an extraordinary number…
How to Prepare Financially with a Baby on the Way
Now that you’ve had your initial burst of excitement, the nerves over your financials are starting to set in. Don’t stress, grab a seat, and let’s get down to business! Preparing for a baby is more than just setting up a nursery and packing a diaper bag. It requires a lot of financial preparation including…
Lovin’ my Lock’N’Block
Traditionally, one of the ways fraudsters have accessed people’s accounts is by accessing their cards. When you hear about someone’s debit card being skimmed at a gas station or store, people often wonder whether it’s too risky to continue to use a debit card. Of course, it only takes a moment before I realize that…
The Best Ways to Prepare Your Finances for College
If you’re nearing the end of your high school career and heading onto bigger things, we want you to know that we’ve got you covered! Preparing for post-secondary can seem overwhelming, so we want to help you make a financial game plan for college. Familiarize Yourself with Student Loans First, talk to your parents about…