As you may know, I just graduated from the 42nd class of Leadership Grand Strand. Leadership Grand Strand is a 10-month program sponsored by the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce to develop a corps of informed, committed, and qualified individuals who provide dynamic leadership for the Grand Strand area. As part of the requirements for graduation, my classmates and I had to volunteer at least 75 hours with various local charities, including Habitat for Humanity and New Directions Men’s Shelter in Myrtle Beach.

Although I already knew that I had a heart for service through previous volunteer opportunities with the credit union, Leadership Grand Strand tremendously strengthened my desire to give back to the community. However, with so many different volunteer opportunities, finding ways to help that will actually make an impact can be tricky.

If you are already an avid volunteer or are looking for ways to start giving back to your community, check out the BALANCE blog post below:

Few business leaders possess the cash on hand to purchase a commercial property outright or make wholesale renovations needed for success. That’s why lenders provide commercial real estate loan opportunities for qualified borrowers. Many of the options are in place to help entrepreneurs, investors, and companies, improve our economy and garner a lucrative return on their hard work and financial investment. If you are considering applying for a commercial real estate loan, the following information could help fast-track your loan approval.

The primary reason to buy commercial property revolves around increasing personal wealth and achieving professional goals. The same holds true when considering purchasing a residential property or investing in the stock market. But buying commercial property involves a potentially greater return on investment than flipping or renting residential buildings. And the lower risk is generally far more palatable than a sometimes unpredictable stock market.

A certain percentage of developers and investors shy away from applying for commercial construction loans because gaining approval seems out of reach. While it’s true that lenders tend to be rigorous in their review of commercial construction loans, that’s largely because projects do not always succeed. But the fact these loan products are thoroughly audited proves beneficial to potential borrowers. Finding soft points in a construction plan early prevents setbacks later.

If you harbor a desire to engage in commercial real estate investing, wide-reaching and lucrative opportunities are available. But the question is not necessarily whether you want to improve your wealth. It’s how to invest without taking a major risk.

April is Credit Union Youth Month, and Carolina Trust is celebrating in full swing like we do every year. This year's official youth month theme is "Save Small. Dream Big. at your credit union™, and one day you may have enough to fulfill a financial dream!" This theme makes saving for the future fun and encourages younger members to create financial dreams and work hard to see them through.

Youth Month is a great annual opportunity to engage with our young members and teach them about important financial topics. Taking financial concepts and putting them into terms that kids can understand can be tricky, so I'm here to help!

In this BALANCE blog post, you'll learn different tips and tricks to raising kids that are financially responsible.

April is Credit Union Youth Month, and Carolina Trust is celebrating in full swing like we do every year. This year's official youth month theme is "Save Small. Dream Big. at your credit union™, and one day you may have enough to fulfill a financial dream!" This theme makes saving for the future fun and encourages younger members to create financial dreams and work hard to see them through.

Youth Month is a great annual opportunity to engage with our young members and teach them about important financial topics. Taking financial concepts and putting them into terms that kids can understand can be tricky, so I'm here to help!

In this BALANCE blog post, you'll learn different tips and tricks to raising kids that are financially savvy.

April is Credit Union Youth Month, and Carolina Trust is celebrating in full swing like we do every year. This year's official youth month theme is "Save Small. Dream Big. at your credit union™, and one day you may have enough to fulfill a financial dream!" This theme makes saving for the future fun and encourages younger members to create financial dreams and work hard to see them through.

Youth Month is a great annual opportunity to engage with our young members and teach them about important financial topics. Taking topics like credit, investing, and budgeting and putting them into terms that kids can understand can be tricky, so I'm here to help!

In this blog post, I will show you how you can teach the kids in your life about budgeting by having them assist with grocery shopping.

I loved going to the grocery store with my parents as a kid. I would always try to sneak treats into the buggy and collect as many coupons from the aisle coupon machines as possible. Although going to the grocery store was a fun trip for me, I'm sure all of my shenanigans made it quite stressful for my parents. If you're in the same boat when it comes to grocery shopping with kids, try letting them assist with shopping. Having them help gives them something to do, and it's also an excellent opportunity to teach them about budgeting.

April is Credit Union Youth Month, and Carolina Trust is celebrating in full swing like we do every year. This year's official youth month theme is "Save Small. Dream Big. at your credit union™, and one day you may have enough to fulfill a financial dream!" This theme makes saving for the future fun and encourages younger members to create financial dreams and work hard to see them through.

Youth Month is a great annual opportunity to engage with our young members and teach them about important financial topics. Taking topics like credit, investing, and budgeting and putting them into terms that kids can understand can be tricky, so I'm here to help!

In this blog post, I will show you how you can teach the kids in your life about investing.

April is Credit Union Youth Month, and Carolina Trust is celebrating in full swing like we do every year. This year's official youth month theme is "Save Small. Dream Big. at your credit union™, and one day you may have enough to fulfill a financial dream!" This theme makes saving for the future fun and encourages younger members to create financial dreams and work hard to see them through.

Youth Month is a great annual opportunity to engage with our young members and teach them about important financial topics. Taking topics like credit, investing, and budgeting and putting them into terms that kids can understand can be tricky, so I'm here to help!

In this blog post, I will try to explain the concept of credit by comparing it to a library book. If you're not already a cardholder at our public library, now is an excellent time to become one. Not only will your child get to do a bit more reading, but you can use the experience to explain the concept of credit.