Northern Shenandoah Valley Financial Education Program

Happy Financial Wellness Month! If you retire at 60, your savings may need to last 30+ years. Does your current plan support that timeline? Take a small step today—explore our Smart Moves guide for practical tips:https://www.nasaa.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Facing-Retirement-Late-Career-Retirement-Planning1.pdf

Share this with someone who’s planning for retirement!

Thinking about opening a 529 account? Here are some questions to consider: https://www.investor.gov/introduction-investing/general-resources/news-alerts/alerts-bulletins/investor-bulletins-10

Kick off National Consumer Protection Week by seeing how well you can spot fraud tactics and scams. https://www.investor.gov/additional-resources/spotlight/investing-quizzes/fraud-literacy-quiz

Want to know what's brewing with the new "No tax on tips?" We're serving up a for qualified workers who make tips on the job. You may be able to deduct up to $25,000 of cash or charged tips received from customers or tip sharing. This can help reduce the bill you owe to the or increase your refund.

Get the freshest information on the One, Big, Beautiful Bill at https://ow.ly/60hO50YaoFx.

It’s a good idea to file a federal tax return even if you didn’t make enough income to meet the filing requirement. You could get money back if you qualify for refundable tax credits, had federal income tax withheld from your paycheck or paid estimated tax payments. Visit www.irs.gov/whoshouldfile

Will you void your car warranty if you don't get the car serviced at the dealership? The short answer is No. Read on to find out more!

Voiding Car Warranty if Car Not Serviced at a Dealership - Consumer Reports Consumer Reports explains why you don't have to have your car serviced at the dealership so you don't void the factory warranty.

2: Check Out Your Investment Professional.

You can check their background, registration status and more by using the free, simple search tool at Investor.gov. It’s a great first step toward protecting your hard-earned money.

Got a letter about unemployment benefits you didn’t file? That’s identity theft Unemployment benefits can be a life saver if you’re between jobs. But what happens if a scammer misuses your personal information, like your Social Security number (SSN) to file a fraudulent unemployment claim? That’s identity theft.

FINANCE CALENDAR TIP: Plan for Your Tax Refund.

Make a plan before the money arrives. Split your refund between savings, debt payoff, goals, and fun money. Use
percentages to make it easy: 30% savings, 40%
debt, 20% fun, etc. You can also divide your refund
into multiple accounts. Learn more at irs.gov and
search “split refund.”

💳 Think you need to pay for credit repair? Think again.

In our latest Money Mindset blog, "Don’t Pay for Credit Repair: Use These Proven DIY Strategies Instead," Samuel Molina, AFC®, shares proven DIY strategies that help you protect your credit, avoid scams, and fix errors—without paying high fees.

Whether you’re a financial professional looking for practical tips to share with clients, or someone managing your own credit, this guide covers:

• How to spot credit repair scams
• Steps to dispute inaccuracies on your credit report
• How to limit hard credit inquiries
• Tools to take control of your financial future

Take charge of your credit safely and confidently.

🔗 Read the article here: https://buff.ly/l7Dwmme

Preparing to file your taxes and looking for help? The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free tax help for eligible taxpayers, including people who made $69K or less in 2025, people with disabilities and limited English-speaking taxpayers. Learn more and find a location near you: www.irs.gov/vita