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…
Student Budgeting 101
So, you’ve decided to head to college, university or trade school in your near future. Now what? Back in July, we covered the best ways to prepare your finances for college. You’ve familiarized yourself with student loans, applied for scholarships and even opened your own Student Advantage account all online. You’re set right? Close. Once…
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…
Encompass Donates $100,000 to Wainwright’s CT Scanner Project
A need was identified within the community of Wainwright for a CT scanner for the Wainwright and District Health Center, as upwards of 4,000 people from Wainwright and district were traveling a minimum of an hour or more for this important medical service each year. The CT Scanner Project was initiated by the Rotary Club,…
Mystery Shopper Scam
Even though Albertans and Canadians are becoming more tech savvy every day, high-tech fraudsters are usually one step ahead of the average person, applying new techniques all the time. One not-so-new-scam which seems to make a comeback every so many years is the Mystery Shopper Scam. The Scam Sometimes, it actually comes to you in…
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…
Financial Literacy – Saving and Investing (Part 3)
We’ve looked at Term Deposits and RSPs and some of the features of each that you should consider when choosing how to handle your savings and investments. Today, we’ll zero in on Tax Free Savings Accounts and how financial planners can assist you in choosing the investments that are best for you. Tax Free Savings…
Denmax offers congrats to McIntosh
Long-time Encompass business account manager Helen McIntosh recently retired, so one of her business members, Trevor King, President of Denmax Energy offered congratulations. Wainwright area construction company, Denmax Energy Services has become a very successful company within the oil industry in East Central Alberta and beyond to the Western Sedimentary Basin. Denmax is a…
Financial Literacy – Saving and Investing (Part 2)
Welcome back! Last week we discussed Term Deposits and how to choose which one is best for you and your needs while still allowing you to earn some interest. This week, we’ll look at the ins and outs of Retirement Savings Plans. Retirement Savings Plan (RSP) A retirement savings plan is money you put away…
