*Field Required
REACH YOUR GOALS
Turn Your New Job into A Financial Reset
If you're planning to make a career move this year, it can be the ideal time to reassess your overall financial picture. Since a new job means new income and benefits, it may also change how you think about money, especially if your career path improves.
During your first 2-3 months at your new job, set aside some time to update your budget, review your benefits and retirement plan options, and align spending and savings with new income.
Calculate your new monthly take-home pay. Bonuses, stock grants, and employer retirement matches all count, as do insurance-related deductions that can affect take-home pay. You may also want to ask a tax professional if a pay increase will affect your tax liabilities.
Review this year's expenses. Review your housing, utilities, insurance, debt payments, and discretionary spending like dining out, subscriptions, travel, and entertainment. Comparing them to 2025's expenses will help you spot price changes.
Make adjustments. If your income is increasing, try to allocate roughly half of the increase to savings before moving the rest to your investment account or discretionary spending.
Choose your next financial goal. This might include reducing debt, saving a down payment for a home, building retirement savings, or taking that vacation you've had to postpone. A raise can feel different when it's tied to a major life goal.
Source: empower.com
MORTGAGE IQ
New Credit Option Is a Win-Win for Lenders and Borrowers
Chances are, you're familiar with FICO, a company that's provided credit scores since 1989. Now FICO may have competition from another credit source: VantageScore. This was created as an alternative to FICO scoring and is the result of a joint venture involving major credit bureaus Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.
Last year, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) authorized the use of the VantageScore 4.0 credit model for qualifying applicants for conforming loans. This decision may help lenders and borrowers save an average of $111 per finalized mortgage.
While savings are always welcome, VantageScore is also expected to help millions of potential borrowers, as it may expand access to mortgage financing to applicants with limited or non-traditional credit histories.
If you're planning to buy or refinance a home soon, an APM loan advisor can provide you with the latest credit scoring updates and answer any questions you may have.
Source: nationalmortgageprofessional.com
FINANCIAL NEWS
How A Spring Wedding Can Be a Financial Honeymoon
If you're planning to marry this spring or summer, congratulations! Saying "I do" is one of life's most meaningful moments.
Marriage also opens the door to some powerful wealth-building opportunities. The key is knowing which ones are right for you as a couple.
A joint account — or not? Many couples open a joint savings account, especially when they're saving toward a shared goal like a home down payment or starting a family. That said, pooling every account isn't for everyone. If both partners are drawing from the same account for daily expenses, it can get complicated fast. There's no one-size-fits-all answer here.
Know what's protected. Whichever accounts you decide to combine, it's worth knowing which ones carry FDIC insurance. Most standard bank accounts are covered, but non-depository products — think stocks, bonds, and crypto — are not. One more thing to keep in mind: FDIC coverage tops out at $250,000 per depositor, per bank, per account category. Couples with multiple accounts at the same institution could inadvertently exceed that limit.
Credit stays personal. Getting married doesn't automatically change either partner's credit score or existing debt — those stay individual. But opening joint credit accounts can affect both scores, so it's a good conversation to have before signing anything together.
Tax time looks different now. Marriage brings new filing options, and it's worth running the numbers more than one way. Comparing scenarios — like married filing jointly versus separately, or head of household — can reveal some pleasant surprises when tax season rolls around.
Workplace benefits are worth a second look. Many newlyweds add a spouse to their health insurance and update beneficiaries on retirement accounts. It's a quick but important step that's easy to overlook in all the post-wedding excitement.
As you build your life together, there's plenty of options for shared financial happiness. Contact your APM loan advisor for answers to mortgage-related questions, and for referrals to other financial professionals.
Source: empower.com
DID YOU KNOW?
US Currency Through the Centuries
Chances are you paid for your last drive-through with a phone app, or by tapping your debit card on a payment terminal. It's a far cry from when the first colonies on American soil began creating currency, decades before the first Continental Congress gathered in 1774.
Here are some "did you know?" facts about earlier versions of today's greenbacks.
Paper currency debuted in 1690 and was issued by a committee of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. These handwritten notes featured values in English shillings instead of dollars.
On June 25, 1775, the Continental Congress authorized issuance of the first dollar notes. The $2 notes were described as bills of credit for the defense of America.
Ten years later (1785), the dollar sign was added, having evolved from the Spanish-American figure for pesos.
Almost ninety years later, The National Bank Act of 1863, signed by President Lincoln, created our modern banking system, together with a national currency.
George Washington first appeared on the $1 bill in 1869. He didn't appear on the very first $1 bills, also known as United States Notes or Legal Tenders, that were issued in 1862. These featured Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase.
Color-shifting ink is a lesser-known method of foiling counterfeiters. Check out any $10, $20 or $50 note by tilting it. You'll see the ink in the numbers on the lower right corner change from copper to green.
In addition to color-shifting ink, $100 notes have an embedded thread that runs vertically to the left of Benjamin Franklin's portrait with the words 100 and USA. These are only visible when the note is held up to bright light.
Another little-known counterfeiting fact: During the Revolutionary War, the British government intentionally flooded the colonies with counterfeit Continental currency to destroy its value.
While there are currently over 450,000 ATMs operating within the US, the first ATM debuted in London, England in June 1967.
Source: uscurrency.gov
PERSONAL FINANCES
More Middle-Income Americans Start Investing
The notion that only the rich invest died quite a while ago, fueled by the introduction of 401(k) plans and discount brokers. Since 2020, the number of low- and moderate-income investors has increased by 167%, even though many consumers feel stretched to cover the rising costs of daily purchases.
These increases were discovered by research carried out by the BlackRock Foundation and Commonwealth, a national nonprofit focused on financial security. Their findings were derived from JPMorganChase Institute data, which tracked billions of investment transfers by about 10 million active checking account users.
This 2024 data included low- and moderate-income investors, evenly divided between those who had median net incomes of $29,000 and $51,000.
The new research follows a January 2025 survey that found that 54% of low- and moderate-income Americans were investing in the retail capital markets. More than half of those began investing in the past five years.
Strong stock market highs in recent years encouraged these newer investors to create stock portfolios. Financial institutions have also been encouraging their customers to build emergency savings.
Consumers who have yet to open an investment account have cited lack of available funds for investing, combined with a lack of knowledge of the stock market. These individuals may miss out on compound growth, where returns build on both the initial amount invested and the gains that accumulate.
If you'd like to explore your own investment opportunities for 2026, contact your APM loan advisor for a referral to a licensed broker or financial planner.
Source: cnbc.com
FOOD
Spring Frittata with Arugula and Herbs
This one-pan meal is prepared in an iron skillet in two phases, first on the stovetop and then finished in the oven. Spring Frittata with Arugula and Herbs is ideal for a weekend brunch, or for dinner guests any day of the week.
AROUND THE HOUSE
How and Why to Color Drench a Room
Color drenching is a design technique where an entire room is painted one color, including the walls, trim, door frames, and often the ceiling. Instead of using a different color to highlight architectural features, you have a seamless, monochromatic look.
It works especially well in bedrooms, dining rooms, and smaller spaces where you want to set a particular mood. Whether you're going for something calming and cozy or bold and dramatic, color drenching can get you there.
Whether you choose a darker shade, lighter colors, or warm neutrals, the goal is the same. You should end up with a cohesive feel that creates depth without relying on contrast. Without color breaks, the space can feel calmer, more intentional, or dramatic, depending on your chosen color.
Here's a tip before you pick up a brush: spend some time exploring the different finishes available in your chosen color — matte, eggshell, satin, or gloss. Visit a hardware or paint store and ask for assistance, or visit this paint sheen guide online. Using the same paint color with different finishes adds visual interest while preserving the seamless look. It's one of the best ways to ensure that a color-drenched room feels intentional instead of flat.
Source: thediyplaybook.com
