Lots of options for First Time Home buyers. Get ready this winter and early spring for the home buying season – Fannie Mae – Home Ready or Federal Home Loan Bank’s – First Front Door programs are a really good place to start. Check with your mortgage consultant today!
If the right thing for you and your family is to purchase a home this year, buying sooner rather than later could lead to substantial savings.
via 4 Reasons to Buy A Home This Winter! — Inside My Real Estate Mind
“Poverty is hereditary – it comes from your children.”
Comedian Phyllis Diller may have been joking when she said that, but anyone who is raising a child today knows that there’s nothing inexpensive about having kids. In fact, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, “it will cost an estimated $241,080 for a middle-income couple to raise a child born last year for 18 years.”
If that doesn’t shock you, consider an even more eye-opening fact: that figure doesn’t include one of the most expensive costs for parents – financing a college education. According to The College Board, an “in-state public college for the 2013–2014 academic year averaged $22,826 while a private college averaged $44,750.” In the last 30 years, college costs have quadrupled.
A shared burden
The burden of financing college education isn’t just falling on parents; today’s students are amassing significant debt. As the infographic below shows, the average student graduates with nearly $25,000 in debt, giving them an uphill climb on the road to financial success. The burden of this debt may be why they delay getting married and purchasing homes.
So how can parents help their children finance the costs of college and fill the gap where Financial Aid and other student loans leave off? One popular solution is actually close to home — home equity credit. With home equity, parents can borrow off the equity in their homes to pay for college costs, and take advantage of some very significant benefits, including:
Here to Help.
At DNB First, we have competitive home equity options, including a special rate on a home equity line. Stop by or call us today to learn more. Of course, as with any financial decision, it’s important to carefully weigh your options. After all, college is one of the biggest investments you will make as a parent, so you’d better do your homework.
Created by: TakeLessons
If you are celebrating in your community this Father’s Day weekend surrounded by family and friends around the barbecue, you’ve got to try this awesome BBQ recipe. Its quick and easy, and very tasty. Thanks to our friends at Epicurious and the Bon Appetit test kitchen, this one is a real winner!
Grilled Portobello Parmesan
by The Bon Appétit Test Kitchen
Bon Appétit | August 2009
Yield: 6 servings
Active Time: Prep: 35 min
Total Time: Total: 40 min
Why stick with chicken or eggplant? Portobello Parmesan is just as tasty—and it doesn’t need any breading. Choose mushrooms that are fresh (you’ll know because they’ll still be curled up around the edges). Older ones are flat and won’t hold the filling as well.
Ingredients
Preparation
Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Whisk extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and pressed garlic clove in small bowl. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper. Arrange portobello mushrooms on rimmed baking sheet, gill side up. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Spoon generous tablespoon dressing into each mushroom; swirl to coat. Stir ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, and 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil in small bowl to blend. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Arrange tomato slices on plate; sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Place mushrooms on grill, gill side down. Grill until edges begin to soften, 3 to 5 minutes, depending on thickness of mushrooms. Transfer mushrooms to same baking sheet, gill side up. Nestle 1 tomato slice into each mushroom. Divide ricotta cheese mixture atop sliced tomatoes, spreading to cover, about 3 tablespoons per mushroom. Top with Fontina cheese slices, dividing equally. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese over each. Carefully return mushrooms to grill. Cover barbecue and cook until mushrooms are soft and cheese is melted, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle remaining chopped fresh basil over. Place mushrooms on plates. Drizzle remaining dressing around mushrooms and serve.
HAPPY FATHER’S DAY DAD!
Nutrition Information
Per serving: Calories (kcal) 375.4, % Calories from Fat 69.6, Fat (g) 29.1, Saturated Fat (g) 12.7, Cholesterol (mg) 70.0, Carbohydrates (g) 6.1, Dietary Fiber (g) 0.6, Total Sugars (g) 4.2, Protein (g) 21.9
Nutritional analysis provided by Bon Appétit
Vince Liuzzi
Statistics show that 78% of business leaders rate employee retention and engagement as critical or important to the success of their business. Organizations are looking for new and different ways to understand and improve employee or team member engagement. Effective and meaningful, active employee engagement is truly a competitive differentiator for the high performing business.
Active employee engagement goes far behind an annual survey facilitated by human resources that companies use as a measurement for employee morale. It speaks to the culture an organization fosters, and its willingness to make the right investments within the environment benefitting much-loved employees. In a recent study by Deloitte, three key areas of strategic focus on employee engagement were identified: Lead and Develop, Attract and Engage, Transform and Reinvent. These three priorities go far beyond a typical survey “temperature check” followed by an executive summary turned into an action plan – many companies still call that an engagement program. Its en excellent study with rock solid conclusions and some pretty interesting tools and resources.
In past decades, Gallup and other leadership organizations have led the way around the concept of employee engagement program surveys. Employee engagement has in reality, been a topic companies have considered since the industrial revolution. These concepts were essentially rooted in the late 1800’s by an industrial engineer Frederick Taylor who was looking for ways to improve industrial efficiency. In his book “The Principles of Scientific Management” Taylor theorizes that four principles of scientific management center around the engagement of employees and how their attitude impacted productivity in the steel industry. It was ground breaking work for its time – but that was over 100 years ago!
Developing, enhancing and maintaining a high performing work environment is truly a complex issue to tackle. It blends an organization’s mission and values with its people, culture and performance. Once people join an organization, companies must continuously improve, redesigning and developing the work environment to make it more enjoyable and rewarding, making the employees happier and more productive. In today’s environment, companies need to update the way they look to engage employees. With the influx of younger workers and the proliferation of technology, organizations need to change the way they think about engagement making the workplace environment more flexible, modern, humane and enjoyable. Organizations must build an environment that is fun, meaningful, stimulating and rewarding to attract and retain high performing employees in today’s workforce.
Forward thinking companies truly understand the critical need to go beyond traditional engagement survey programs to create more productive and successful work environments. They design jobs, change the work environment, add benefits, invest in people and develop managers. New employees hired into these organizations are screened for culture and job fit to ensure success. Effective hiring, on-boarding, training and development programs have never been so important.
Josh Bersin Principal and Founder of Bersin by Deloitte was recently quoted in a recent study published by Forbes magazine stating, “Let’s change our thinking and move beyond the concept of engagement. If we really achieve the goal of making organizations “irresistible”, we can make work fun, meaningful and enriching for everyone.”
EVP, Chief Banking Officer
DNB First, Banking since 1860
Recently, I made the switch from a mega-national bank to DNB First, an authentically local, community-based bank in the Greater Philadelphia suburbs operating in the region since 1860. It’s been an absolutely wonderful experience and I am left wondering why it took me so long to make the switch!
Some well known mega banks deliver products, services and pricing nationally, and yet attempt to compete and win business on a local, market level. Few are successful in keeping the customer at the center, maintaining local focus and presence, while complying with national big-bank policies, procedures and expectations. Customers can get lost in the shuffle.
I came across this article about local banking and the impact it has on the economy, and the community we live and work in. The article highlights some of the obvious (and not so obvious) comparisons between community and mega-banks. Of course selecting a financial services partner is an important and highly personal choice. At the end of the day, consumers must work with those trusted professionals that are committed to helping them achieve their most important hopes, dreams and desires.
The article cites some pretty important distinctions to make when evaluating financial providers. Read more…..
Vince Liuzzi
EVP, Chief Banking Officer at DNB First
Community-based banks have long played a critical role in the U.S. economy and this has never been more important than in today’s unprecedented times. The central principle driving community banks is “The Relationship”.
This approach provides customers financial services based upon the ongoing personal interactions that improve the flow of information, resulting in an understanding of all of your financial needs and allowing for customized solutions.
John Wooden: basketball player, coach, author and legend. Known as the “Wizard of Westwood” Wooden is probably best known as the Head Coach of UCLA’S Basketball team where he won 10 NCAA championships and was named National Coach of the Year six times.
DNB First shared a link to an article today about “why you should make an extra mortgage payment” and it made me wonder, how many people have been able to pay off their mortgage early? Continue reading “Early Mortgage Payoff?”
Today we are celebrating President’s Day, though it is known to be George Washington’s birthday, we can celebrate all our presidents and their guiding wisdom throughout the years.
So, if you have the day off and are looking for something “presidential” to do, check out some of these free in Philly museums. Around the country there are other various museums and presidential libraries also opening free to the public. Check them out and celebrate our presidents.
A few years ago, this YouTube video was shared with me for the very first time. It had quite an impact on me back then, just as it does today.
Take the time to watch this short 3 minute video – it could change your perspective on how we perceive others.
Be a leader in your community and in life – take the time to understand the story of the people you interact with.
Vince Liuzzi – Executive Leader
Although it may not always be a possibility for everyone, preparation is key. Remember, its’ never to early to plan for retirement. As this couple found out early retirement was achievable by making some quick drastic changes. In her article, Andrea Coombes lays out 8 tips for success from early retirees.
Community Broker News and Views 