What style of architecture once dominated Bergen County?
A. Cape Cod
B. Dutch Colonial
C. Ranch-Style
D. Bi-Level
If you think the answer is Dutch Colonial, you know your stuff!
Like New York City and the Hudson Valley, Bergen County was settled by Dutch farmers. The earliest houses in Bergen County were made of wood, but they did not last, and Dutch Colonial homes—mostly known as sandstone—replaced them. According to the Bergen County Historical Society, today, 192 of those Bergen-Dutch Sandstone Houses are listed in a thematic nomination to the National Register of Historic Places. The Steuben House at Historic New Bridge Landing is one of the earliest and largest, c.1752.
The Steuben House at Historic New Bridge Landing in River Edge, New Jersey [Photo credit: Bergen County Historical Society]
Today, the homes throughout Bergen County reflect almost every style of architecture imaginable! And some of them are for sale. If you’re in the market, make sure you know what you can afford before you start looking! You want to work with a mortgage specialist who knows the towns you’re looking in; with headquarters in Englewood and branches throughout Bergen County, you’ll find that person at NVE Bank.
Which of
these home renovations tops the list of projects that will get you the best
return on investment in 2019?
Master Suite Addition
Swimming Pool Installation
Garage Door Upgrade
Hands Framing House Drawing and Photo Combination on White.
If you guessed, “C,” good for you! A new, upscale garage door is not only functional, but it also contributes to your home’s curb appeal. And as far as upgrades go, this one is relatively affordable! According to REMODELING magazine’s 32nd annual Cost vs. Value Report, ditching the standard 16′ by 7′ garage door and replacing it with an antique-style, four-section door with decorative handles and top panel windows can yield a 97.5% payback. In dollars, the report estimates a new $3,611 garage door — which is likely energy efficient, with foam insulation and thermal seals on the window — will yield a $3,520 return.
Need a hand? NVE is here to help with a flexible home equity line of credit or fixed rate home equity loan.
Ramapo Valley County Reservation, Bergen County’s largest park area. (Photo credit: http://www.co.bergen.nj.us)
Answer: D – The Bergen County park system is comprised of more than 9,000 acres.
That’s a lot of green! Finding the mortgage that’s a fit for you isn’t always a walk in the park, but NVE has been helping people secure mortgages in Bergen County since 1887.
Click here for a full lineup of our mortgage products, helpful tools and more!
Many people who are close to, or already in retirement choose to hold funds safely in an IRA CD. If this is something you’d like to learn more about, stop by one of NVE Bank’s convenient neighborhood branches located throughout Bergen County, or call us at 1-866-NVE BANK (683-2265) for information on retirement account options, including our current 25-month IRA CD special*.
*Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is effective as of 3/25/19 and subject to change without notice. Penalty for early withdrawal. Available through 4/15/19. New funds required. Other terms and rates available. Fees could reduce earnings on the account. Minimum amount of $5,000 is required to open this account. Maximum amount of $250,000 per tax ID. Interest payments are rounded to the nearest cent. As a result, low balance accounts may not be paid interest. Available only to persons who reside or work in New Jersey. Your contributions may be tax deductible. Consult your tax advisor. NVE Bank is not responsible for any typographical errors.
Teaching children about the importance of good money management can and should start at a young age. “Talking about family saving goals helps children understand that putting money aside for the future – whether to be prepared for unexpected expenses, for short-term goals such as summer vacation, or for longer-term goals such as paying for college – is important to you,” according to Elizabeth Kiss, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Extension Specialist at Kansas State University. “They will also likely be interested in knowing how they can help. They may even want to set their own savings goals and be motivated to work toward achieving them!” This is one of many reasons saving as a family can be a productive and enjoyable exercise.
As we celebrate America Saves Week — an annual program designed to encourage and support Americans to save effectively — we’d like to share six ways you can save as a family while having fun, from personal finance website Wise Bread’sJanet Alvarez.
Meeting financial goals as a family can be challenging. But inspiring your family to help and contribute to a financial goal doesn’t have to be a painful process, especially when the result is an exciting family vacation, a new family car, or college savings. In the spirit of America Saves Week, I’ll share some ideas on how to save as a family for all those items and bucket-list experiences.
Gamify
It!
In
my family, we often make a game of who contributes to a joint family pot for
that month’s fun activity. A game of monopoly can turn into a real contest, as
anyone who loses is asked to contribute a small amount to that month or week’s
activity of choice (such as a meal out, or family movie). Of course,
contributions should be proportional to earnings – teens might contribute $5
from their part-time job or allowance, while adults would be expected to
contribute much more. Still, the spirit of the game is focused on sharing and
enjoying together – and because everyone has a stake, we enjoy it all so much
more.
Making
Money Can Be Fun
Every
year around the holidays, my entire extended family likes to take a vacation
somewhere warm, so we start planning and saving a year in advance. By each
contributing to the holiday vacation fund, our money goes much farther, and
we’re often able to visit really cool places we might’ve not otherwise
afforded. Of course, if we can easily afford to contribute our share, we do so,
but when money is tight, we find fun ways to raise cash for our share of the
contributions. Last year, for example, some of my cousins hosted a bake sale.
Others sold items they’d knitted, art they’d produced, and so forth. All of the
proceeds went straight into the family vacation fund.
Sell,
Sell, Sell!
A
family garage sale can be an enjoyable and rewarding way to raise extra cash
for shared activities or purchases. If your family wants a new flat-screen TV,
game console, or other piece of technology or furniture, why not start by
selling what you already have and don’t need? A traditional garage sale is one
good way to raise cash, as is selling unused items online (this tends to be the
better option for selling electronics and gadgets).
Match
It!
Often,
children’s only way to save is to use their holiday or birthday gift money. It
can be challenging for kids to save money they so badly want to spend and enjoy
immediately, so it’s important to offer incentives for doing so. One idea is to
match dollar for dollar every bit of money they save from their gifts. That
ensures kids get the immediate gratification of knowing their saved gift money
is being doubled, but also enables them to feel empowered by having chosen to
save and contribute to family goals.
The
Envelope Method
When saving for multiple goals, the envelope method is an excellent way of keeping all the monies separate for their intended uses. Simply mark each envelope with a stated goal, and contribute regularly to each until the goal amount is met. For small children, it can be rewarding to contribute to smaller family goals, such as ice cream or a movie rental. A $10 or $15 goal can mean a $1 or $2 monthly contribution from their allowance. This helps children learn the value of saving, and builds confidence in their ability to do so.
Your Bank Can Help
Your
local financial institution can be an excellent resource for helping your
family save together. From traditional savings accounts or CDs to holiday
savings accounts, your bank can help you select a financial product that can
help your family in reaching its shared goals faster. For larger goals, in
particular, a shared family account can be an excellent resource for keeping
your family on track to realizing your financial wishes.
Happy
saving!
Janet Alvarez is the news anchor for WHYY/NPR and the Executive Editor of Wise Bread, an award-winning publication focused on promoting financial literacy.
For more information on tools to help you save or how to get started with putting a saving plan in motion, visit our website. You can also stop by your convenient Bergen County neighborhood branch, or call us at 1-866-NVE BANK (683-2265).
According to 2018 Bankrate.com survey, 20 percent of Americans don’t save any of their annual income, and those who do save aren’t putting away enough, according to many experts who recommend having $1 million in savings upon retirement. Those ages 55-64 have an average retirement savings of $120,000, while those ages 65-74 have a median of $126,000 saved in retirement accounts — just 12 and 12.6 percent of the million-dollar mark, respectively. This would appear to be at least one reason, among others, that many would-be retirees are not as prepared for this stage of life as they would like, or need to be, and struggle with sustaining their intended lifestyle. Years that have long been designated for cross-country RV trips, international travel, relaxing nights on the porch swing, and extended visits from the grandkids are often spent worrying about how to make ends meet. Whether you are falling short of your savings goals or you are financially equipped but not quite ready to say goodbye to the workforce, there are plenty of options for making money after retirement.
Driving
Uber, Lyft
and Amazon Flex are all retirement-friendly
driving-based jobs. Uber is a peer-to-peer ridesharing service available to
anyone who has downloaded the mobile app. Uber drivers make their own schedules
and can customize their hours as needed. Uber collects a 20 percent fee from
each ride, and the rest of the earnings go directly to the driver, plus 100% of
any tips. To be an Uber driver, you must own a vehicle, have a valid driver’s
license and insurance, and pass a background check.
Lyft is an almost identical concept to Uber. There are some relatively minor differences, which are outlined in this side-by-side comparison.
Amazon Flex is another driving option; however, it differs from the previous two. The service, which is managed by Amazon.com, offers opportunities for drivers to deliver a designated number of packages, using their personal vehicles, during specified blocks of time. Amazon promotes that Flex drivers make $18-$25 per hour.
Consulting
After being in the workplace for decades, one inevitably amasses invaluable experience and knowledge in his or her field. Becoming a consultant in your field of expertise is a great way to leverage all you have to offer, often on your own terms. Let’s use Human Resources as an example. As a freelance HR consultant, you can provide support to an independent professional or small-to-mid-sized organization and assist in myriad tasks including payroll administration, on-boarding specialization, recruiting, and more. Two basic steps to get started are creating and/or updating your LinkedIn profile and a website, both of which can help you attract clients by becoming a discoverable resource. Old fashioned business cards aren’t a bad idea either! There are free and affordable tools to help you do all of this. Some of the great things about become a consultant are that they exist in virtually every field, you can get started quickly, and it can be done full-time or part-time.
Sitting
No, we’re not suggesting you become a professional couch potato; we’re talking about caring for people’s children, pets and homes! Many families are in need of responsible adults to drop off or pick up kids up from school or daycare and transport them to activities, help them with homework, cook for them, or just spend time with them at certain times of day. Pet sitting and house sitting are gigs that can be picked up for extra money, too. Walking and feeding the dog or cat a few times a day, watering plants, and tossing a frisbee around are all manageable tasks that don’t take up much time and put extra cash in your pocket (or your retirement account). This is a common and accessible way to make money; you can find opportunities by asking friends and neighbors, looking at community bulletins, and using reliable, legitimate websites as resources.
Substitute Teaching
One
particularly nice thing about substitute teaching is that you decide when you
want to do it. There are two types of substitute teaching: vacancy and
temporary leave. Temporary leave is a long- or short-term absence. A vacancy is
a position unfilled due to retirement, resignation, or other cause for
permanent departure. In New Jersey, a vacant position is required to be filled
within 60 days, so a substitute teacher filling this position could be looking
at two solid months of work. Any extension past 60 days requires specific
credentials/certifications, but regardless of the tenure, there’s no doubt that
the experience is sure to fill your “second act” with variety and spontaneity. One
day you might be subbing in a high school English class and in the same week
you could end up in a second-grade classroom. There are two ways to qualify as
a substitute teacher in New Jersey:
1. Hold a New Jersey educator
credential (teacher, administrator, educational services)
If you are fluent in two or more languages, becoming a translator or interpreter is definitely something to take into consideration. As a freelancer providing these services, you can set your own rates; hourly rates can range from around $12 to $40 an hour depending on where you are located. In New Jersey, the average hourly rate is around $35. Options are plentiful, as the need for translators and interpreters permeates governmental, medical/ hospital, educational and other settings. A good place to get started is on the American Translators Association website.
Tutoring
One of the most pleasant things about looking for “second act” employment is that you’re not starting from scratch; you’ve already honed skills that you can now leverage to your benefit in a fashion of your choosing. For example, a retired teacher can offer tutoring services, taking on as many clients as he or she wants and setting his or her own rates. People of all ages require different levels of assistance year-round, so tutoring is always in demand. While professional teaching experience is often preferred, it is not necessarily required. Provide your information to school guidance counselors, who often pass along tutor referrals to parents. Online tutoring and test prep jobs can also be arranged through websites such as Tutor.com and Smarthinking, where tutoring takes place in a secure online classroom.
Small Business
Retirement often provides people with the time and perspective they need to finally pursue passion projects that have been pushed aside in the past. With an entrepreneurial spirit, one can certainly turn a hobby into a healthy source of income. Photography, writing, crocheting/knitting, cooking/baking and crafting are just a few examples of skills that can be transformed into lucrative small businesses. Etsy is a popular e-marketplace that provides creators with a platform to sell handmade wares spanning a wide range of categories, from clothing and accessories to home décor, art, furniture and much more.
For those less inclined to create but who have a way with people, getting into sales is a cinch, thanks to a wide array of direct sales organizations. With companies specializing in everything from beauty and cosmetics to clothing, beverages, pet food and more, there’s something for just about anyone. But this is not an industry to jump into with abandon; according to the FTC, “not all multilevel marketing plans are legitimate,” so it’s important that you do your research to avoid getting involved with Ponzi or Pyramid schemes. You can start with these tips from the Better Business Bureau.
Retirement often provides people with the time and perspective they need to finally pursue passion projects that have been pushed aside in the past. With an entrepreneurial spirit, one can certainly turn a hobby into a healthy source of income. Photography, writing, crocheting/knitting, cooking/baking and crafting are just a few examples of skills that can be transformed into lucrative small businesses. Etsy is a popular e-marketplace that provides creators with a platform to sell handmade wares spanning a wide range of categories, from clothing and accessories to home décor, art, furniture and much more. For those less inclined to create but who have a way with people, getting into sales is a cinch, thanks to a wide array of direct sales organizations. With companies specializing in everything from beauty and cosmetics to clothing, beverages, pet food and more, there’s something for just about anyone. But this is not an industry to jump into with abandon; according to the FTC, “not all multilevel marketing plans are legitimate,” so it’s important that you do your research to avoid getting involved with Ponzi or Pyramid schemes. You can start with these tips from the Better Business Bureau.
Library Assistant
While being a librarian requires a Master’s in Library and Information Studies, being a library assistant requires only a high school diploma. A library assistant helps librarians acquire, prepare, and organize materials, as well as performing other tasks needed to help run a library. This job consists of providing mostly clerical support, making sure all materials are organized and accounted for. Responsibilities can include checking books in and out, collecting fines for lost, overdue or damaged multimedia, and placing materials in their designated spots. This job pays roughly $12-$14 an hour on average. Here’s how to become a library assistant, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Catering
If you are good
with food, people, and enjoy the hustle and bustle of the kitchen, you might
consider becoming a catering assistant. Catering assistants help caterers with both
kitchen responsibilities and guest service. Responsibilities include things like
basic food prep, transporting materials, keeping things clean and orderly, and
serving guests. Being available on weeknights, weekends and holidays is key to
booking jobs in this industry, and keep in mind it also requires the stamina to
work before, during, and after each event. Being a catering assistant might not
be the most relaxing way to spend retirement, as it’s certainly on the more
physical end of jobs one might take on at this stage, but it’s sure to keep
things exciting!
Many people who are close to, or already in retirement choose to hold funds safely in an IRA CD. If this is something you’d like to learn more about, stop by one of NVE Bank’s convenient neighborhood branches located throughout Bergen County, or call us at 1-866-NVE BANK (683-2265) for information on retirement account options, including our current 46-month IRA CD special*.
Everyone’s
retirement savings goals differ and have as much, if not more to do with what
you spend as what you save. As with all financial decisions, the first step for
each individual is to consider his or her own specific situation and goals and
take it from there!
*Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is
effective as of 2/11/19 and subject to change without notice. Penalty for early
withdrawal. Limited time offer. Other terms and rates available. Fees could
reduce earnings on the account. Minimum
amount of $5,000 is required to open this account. Maximum amount of $250,000
per tax ID. Interest payments are
rounded to the nearest cent. As a result, low balance accounts may not be paid
interest. Available only to persons who reside or work in New Jersey. Your contributions may be tax deductible.
Consult your tax advisor. NVE Bank is not responsible for any typographical
errors.
How many local businesses do you know of that have been around for more than a century? With more than 131 years under our belt, NVE Bank is proud to count ourselves among them. It is our pleasure to serve as a leading community mutual bank for people throughout northern New Jersey. We do this not only through offering excellent banking products and services, but by volunteering with and otherwise supporting regional organizations in myriad ways to help strengthen our communities. One of our favorite parts about starting the New Year is looking back at what we accomplished in the “old year.” Here are some highlights!
MAKING IT COUNT WHERE IT REALLY MATTERS
NVE
Bank’s roots are steeped in supporting our communities. This comes in many
forms, and frequently centers on philanthropic endeavors, such as the
following:
National Rebuilding Day
At NVE Bank, we put a lot of people in their dream homes with our residential mortgage products and services. But some of our neighbors are in need of a different kind of service when it comes to their homes. That’s why, every April, the NVE team marks our calendar for National Reuilding Month. By sponsoring a local project in support of Rebuilding Together North Jersey’s (RTBC) National Rebuilding Day program, we help provide much needed, and sometimes critical and life-saving repairs, for vulnerable families in our communities. In April 2018, NVE employees volunteered to assist in renovations to a single-family home in Cresskill, New Jersey. Renovations included painting, landscaping and general home repairs.
The work done by Rebuilding Together volunteers is at no cost to the recipient families and monies for materials are raised through sponsorships, donations, and in-kind gifts. To that end, NVE happily presented RTBC with a $7,500 donation to assist with their mission.
Food Drives and Thanksgiving Turkey Distribution
As a community bank, NVE has a hyperlocal focus, allowing us to devlop meaningful, long-term partnerships with various organizations that serve the same areas we do — St. Cecilia’s Office of Concern Food Pantry is one example. We host several annual food drives to benefit local families in need on behalf of the organization. The Pantry supplies weekly groceries to more than 890 families in Englewood and surrounding communities; 500 of those families pick up food weekly. We are fortunate to have staff, customers and other neighbors whose generosity enables NVE to consistently make substantial donations to support their programs. Our 2018 Cereal and Thanksgiving Food Drives garnered many bags of food for the Pantry. NVE staff members also volunteered in the days leading up to Thanksgiving, helping to distribute hundreds of turkeys to families in need.
In June, NVE also made a $1,000 donation to fund the Office of Concern Food Pantry’s Product Protection initiative. The donation covered the cost of purchasing durable storage containers to ensure that the food products collected through donations are adequately stored and protected against heat and moisture. You can learn more about the Office of Concern Food Pantry in our recent blog post, where we interviewed John Nolan and George McKenna, who oversee the operation.
GETTING A MAKEOVER
A big, exciting change that came in 2018 was the rollout of our improved website, which showcases a new layout, enhanced functionality and new user-friendly tools. One of the more notable features the redesign included was the conversion to a new domain; the URL now ends with “.bank” instead of “.com”. This verified banking domain, created by security and banking experts, has a higher level of mandated security than any other commercially available domain. Our customers’ security has always been, and will always be our priority, and in an era of increasing cybersecurity threats, these enhanced security features create a safer space than ever before. Visit the website at www.nve.bank and read about all the updates and features here: NVE Bank Rolls Out New Website.
HELPING KIDS GET AN EARLY START
It’s
never too early to help children learn about saving and managing money!
iPiggiBank
Financial Literacy Program
In 2017, NVE embarked on an exciting partnership with iPiggiBank, sponsoring their Financial Literacy Class, Money Management 4 Kids, an innovative, eight-week educational program. NVE was delighted to return as a sponsor in 2018, supporting classes delivered to third-graders attending the Bergen Family Center after school enrichment program at the Dr. John Grieco Elementary School in Englewood. NVE made a $3,000 donation to fund the program.
Teach Children To Save
NVE Bank continued our support of the American Bankers Association Foundation’s “Teach Children to Save” program at schools throughout North Jersey in April 2018. Teach Children to Save Day was celebrated April 20, but volunteers from all our branches dedicated time to educating Bergen County students about good savings habits all month long. Our program included visits to The Right Start Learning Center in Teaneck, Englewood on the Palisades Charter School, the Hillside School in Closter, and Smith Elementary School in Tenafly. Since this program began in 1997, over 125,000 bankers have taught savings to more than five million students!
11th Annual Scholarship
Program
NVE
Bank awarded $1,000 Scholarships to 10 area high school seniors at a reception
hosted by the bank at its Englewood headquarters on June 19. The scholarships
are part of a program that has been offered by the Bank for the past eleven
years, and extends to area middle schools, where seven graduating eighth-grade
students were selected to receive $500 Savings Product Scholarships. Since the
inception of the program, NVE Bank has awarded more than $165,000 to deserving
scholars in Bergen County.
High School recipients included:
Haemi
Lee – Leonia High School
Olivia
Sher – Cresskill High School
Alyssa
Mehl – Pascack Valley High School
Serena
McKeon – Northern Valley Regional High School
Soo
Hyum – Academies at Englewood
Candis
Balkaran – Dwight Morrow High School
Chelse
Salnave – Bergenfield High School
Jessica
Perrone – New Milford High School
Patrick
Williams – Teaneck High School
Miguel
Angel Rosales Morales – Tenafly High School.
Middle School recipients included:
Robert
Keating – Benjamin Franklin Middle School
Hannah
Kim – Cresskill Middle School
Layla
Williams – Thomas Jefferson Middle School
Nobonita
Dimitra – Janis Dismus Middle School
Xavier
Thompson – Leonia Middle School
Alyssa
Fuld – David Owens Middle School
Marcelino
Morales – Roy Brown Middle School.
PRESERVING THE ARTS
Financial literacy is crucial, but providing children with arts education is important, too. NVE Bank partnered with Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC) to bring live performing arts programs to schools in Bergen County throughout 2018. Through the organization’s “Arts in Education” program, NVE sponsored assembly programs in Englewood, Tenafly, Leonia, Teaneck, Cresskill, Bogota, Bergenfield, New Milford, Westwood and Closter. The programs offer students the opportunity to interact with live performers, learn about issues that impact youth today, and experience live theater in the comfort of their own school!
ADDING TO THE FAMILY
As a
community bank, we have a people-first philosophy, which includes our staff.
We’re always happy to see the NVE family grow, which it did towards the end of
2018 when several new team members arrived. They’ve already made an impact and
we couldn’t be happier to have them on board!
Top left – right: Matthew Isola, AVP/Commercial Loan Officer; Jermaine Watson, Universal Banker; Elaine McGee, VP/Residential & Consumer Lending. Bottom left – right: Brian Uhlfelder, Tenafly Branch Manager; Jonathan Bender, AVP/Senior Credit Analyst; Allison Larro, Branch Manager Palisades Avenue.
Here’s
to a great 2018 and an even better 2019!
NVE Bank hosts and participates in various community service, fundraising and awareness events throughout the year. To learn more about these programs, or NVE Bank’s banking products and services, visit our website, stop by one of our convenient neighborhood branches in Bergen County, or call 1-866-NVE BANK (683-2265) to speak with a branch associate.
