In times of crisis, you don't want to be shaking pennies out of a piggy bank. Having a financial safety net in place can ensure that you're protected when a financial emergency arises. One way to accomplish this is by setting up a cash reserve, a pool of readily available funds that can help you meet emergency or highly urgent short-term needs.

An important part of managing your personal finances is keeping your financial records organized. Whether it's a utility bill to show proof of residency or a Social Security card for wage reporting purposes, there may be times when you need to locate a financial record or document--and you'll need to locate it relatively quickly.

Whether you are early in your career or have started a family, as a member of the next generation of investors you face your own set of unique needs. Below are key tips to ensure you are off to a financially healthy 2022!

GPA is an acronym for grade point average, which represents of your overall academic performance. You probably know your GPA, or at least are familiar with the term from report cards and college applications. But did you know that your credit score is like a financial GPA?

Ask the Experts is a financial forum for education and advice as CNB’s experts answer your questions on financial topics that interest you. The experts of this show featured Donna L. Cator, CFP®, CDFA®, Vice President, Wealth Advisor, and Margaret M. Whelehan, CDFA®, Vice President, Financial Advisor.

After months of planning and saving, a long-awaited vacation to the destination of your dreams is the ultimate reward for all your hard work. Although the idea of the perfect vacation varies from person to person, it is easy to budget for your dream getaway, as long as you set realistic spending goals and remain willing to sacrifice a little in your daily life to make your envisioned trip come true.

Financial Literacy Month is a celebration and a challenge. It's a chance to reflect on the state of our personal finances and an opportunity to improve those finances, one step at a time. The 30 steps of Financial Literacy Month are designed to help you identify your money weaknesses and turn them into strengths.

Financial Literacy Month is a celebration and a challenge. It's a chance to reflect on the state of our personal finances and an opportunity to improve those finances, one step at a time. The 30 steps of Financial Literacy Month are designed to help you identify your money weaknesses and turn them into strengths.

Budgeting is the foundation of a great financial plan. But how can establishing a budget provide you with more financial freedom and less financial stress? In this episode, Laurie Haelen, AIF®, Senior Vice President, Manager of Investment and Financial Planning Solutions and Donna Cator, CFP®, CDFA®, Vice President, Wealth Advisor with CNB Wealth Management, join CNB’s Pittsford Bank Office Manager, Harry Gibbs, to break down the basics of budgeting. What is a budget? Why is having a budget important? How do you get started? We answer these questions and more so you can put this financial tool to work in your own life.

Your credit report contains information about your past and present credit transactions. It's used primarily by potential lenders to evaluate your creditworthiness. So if you're about to apply for credit, especially for something significant like a mortgage, you'll want to get and review a copy of your credit report.

Do you ever wonder where your money goes each month? Does it seem like you're never able to get ahead? If so, you may want to establish a budget to help you keep track of how you spend your money and help you reach your financial goals.

It is an exciting time of your life – you’ve graduated college, moved out on your own, landed your dream job, and you’ve even been lucky enough to find that special someone. The future is looking bright, but you have questions about money mixing into your love life. This dilemma is no small matter; in fact, a study published by SunTrust Bank discovered that 35% of people experiencing relationship stress blame money as the primary culprit*.

Now that your child is older and about to leave for college, it's time for you to make sure that they have enough financial knowledge to manage money while they are away.

Do you ever wonder where your money goes each month? Does it seem like you're never able to get ahead? If so, you may want to establish a budget to help you keep track of how you spend your money

Saving builds a foundation The first step in investing is to secure a strong financial foundation. Start with these four basic steps   Create a "rainy day" reserve Set aside enough cash to get you through an unexpected period of