This Saturday, the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers will have their first home game of the 2024 football season. As an alumnus of the university and a huge college football fan, I've been waiting for this moment since our last season ended.

The start of the new school year can be exciting for kids. They get a new teacher, start seeing their friends again daily, and get all new clothes and supplies. However, beginning a new school year is also a big change and may require a bit of an adjustment period.

With the start of a new school year right around the corner, it's time to start filling the cart with back-to-school items. If the rows and rows of school supplies at Walmart and Target haven't already sucked you in, then Tax-Free Weekend is the perfect time to grab some of the key items on your list.

There is no better time of year to live at the beach than the summer. I love spending time outside by the ocean or the river and soaking up the UV rays, with sunscreen, of course. 

Buying a home is a huge milestone and perhaps the largest purchase most of us will ever make. It's important for those who are interested in homeownership to understand the benefits of buying a home versus renting and what a smart investment this decision is for your future. It's also important to understand that homeownership is a lifestyle choice and one that will impact your financial status.

Buying a home is one of the biggest decisions many of us make in our lives. But how do you know if you should continue renting vs. buying a home?

There are pros and cons to each of these housing options, so it's important to do some research about both to help you decide if renting or buying a home is the right decision for you. 

I recently sat down with Meredith Olmstead, CEO and Co-Founder of FI Grow Solutions, a marketing and sales team that works with financial institutions, for an episode of their podcast, Hit Record. In the episode, Meredith and I talked about the benefit to credit unions in having a Brand Ambassador, what the role looks like, and some of the challenges. Check out the episode below: 

Purchasing a home in South Carolina has proven to be an intelligent investment. Since 2018, South Carolina's real estate market has experienced substantial growth. Over the last five years, from the fourth quarter of 2018 to the fourth quarter of 2023, the state's total home appreciation was recorded at 84%, with an average annual growth rate of 16.8%. If your equity improved in recent years, and you have a need for an affordable financing option, a cash out refinance mortgage could deliver wide-reaching benefits.

From 2020 to 2022, interest rates dropped to an all-time low with rates ranging from 3-to-5 percent, making it the perfect time for South Carolina homeowners to take advantage of Home Equity Loans and Home Equity Lines of Credit (HELCOs). 

In today’s rising rate environment, some homeowners wonder if a Home Equity Loan or HELOC is worth it. The short answer is yes.