At the end of the year, Bill Martin will retire from his position as General Manager and transition to a new role as a volunteer member of the Credit Union’s Board of Directors.

Bill has led Pittsford FCU since 1980. However, he has been contributing to the Credit Union literally since its inception in 1968. In the Credit Union’s earliest days, Bill carried out a myriad of tasks as a “volunteer” of sorts, helping his father, Bill Martin Sr., who was the first leader of the Credit Union.

Bill’s leadership has created a vibrant, financially secure organization that includes over 20,000 members who derive real, measurable benefit from the services they receive from their Credit Union. Those services are delivered by a dedicated staff of nearly 50 professionals, working together in a culture that is uniquely “Bill’s.” This culture is defined by a focus on healthy work-life balance, an embrace of technology that helps people work smarter rather than longer, an open door policy for managers, a willingness to lend a hand in any situation, and an effort to make work something to be enjoyed. The Credit Union’s low employee turnover is a testament to this culture.

Pittsford FCU and Bill Martin are synonymous, and imagining a world where the two are not everyday partners is difficult. However, Bill has done a fantastic job preparing the organization and its management for this transition.  Our next General Manager, Brian Scudder, has been with Pittsford FCU for over 23 years, and has had the good fortune to learn much from Bill during this time.

Please join us in congratulating Bill on his retirement and wishing him well in all of his future pursuits. If you need to find him, your best bet is to look on a tennis court. Thank you, Bill, for all you’ve done for Pittsford FCU, its employees, and members.

Out with the old, in with the new! Starting in 2018, FinanceWorks, a budgeting tool within online banking, will be replaced with a similar product called Money Management. Money Management has comparable features to FinanceWorks, with the addition of a few new and exciting ones.

The new year seems to be a good time for reflection, so why not reflect on your financial health? Setting financial goals this year can be a breeze with Money Management. Whether you have been using FinanceWorks in the past or not, next year can be a great time for members to implement the free Money Management tool. Be on the lookout for more information coming soon. If you are an active FinanceWorks user and have immediate questions, please feel free to contact us.

The holiday season is in full swing! Although the season comes and goes like clockwork each year, it can still be hard to prepare for the added expenses. Here are some quick hints to consider:

• Make a list and stick to it.
• Follow your budget. The early bird deals and super sales may seem enticing, but they won’t save you money if you end up buying items you may not necessarily need.
• Set spending limits with your friends and family with whom you exchange gifts.
• Keep in mind the age-old saying “it’s the thought that counts.” Giving a thoughtful gift doesn’t mean an expensive one.
• Try to set next season’s budget now, to help avoid overspending and under saving.

Follow these tips to start the new year off with less holiday debt and more peace of mind.

Our Pittsford branch renovation continues, and change occurs on a daily basis. The masons are taking advantage of the exceptionally nice weather to install decorative stone outside, and the carpenters have constructed a new roofline and soffit structure. Inside, electric, data, and climate control infrastructure is being installed. The elevator shaft is ready to ascend upward, once we have our new steel support framework in place.  Over the Veterans Day weekend, we relocated our computer room, which was a considerable effort all on its own.

A reminder that the Pittsford branch is fully operational throughout construction. We appreciate your patience with any disruption resulting from the renovation process. If you wish to avoid the dust, please visit the Mendon Branch at 1321 Pittsford-Mendon Road. For up-to-date renovation news, visit PittsfordFCU.org/Construction.

Many children look forward to going to the college of their dreams. It has been ingrained in them that the next step after completing high school is attending college. They think of all of the new fun, friends, and interesting courses that will surround them. While caught up in all of the appealing aspects of college, there is a crucial piece that most people don’t spend enough time (if any) thinking about – the financial portion.

Whether you or your child is in middle school, high school, or already in college, it is never too early, or too late, to talk about finances. The conversation does not need to be uncomfortable. Children should be well informed that their college decision will have a cost, and they should know exactly what that cost is. This is especially important if the student will be borrowing money.

Once accepted, colleges will usually send a financial aid package. The amount of financial aid can be determined by academic achievement, athletic talent, and/or family income, which is established based on the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is an important application you can fill out in an effort to get needed financial aid. Although the term “aid” may seem like the support is free, the money given may come at a cost. The package may include grants, scholarships, and/or loans. It is critical to know which aid will need to be paid back and which will not. Grants and scholarships generally do not need to be paid back, but there may be certain terms associated with each that the money can be contingent upon. Loans will need to be paid back. There are two main types of federal loans usually present in a financial aid package: direct subsidized and direct unsubsidized. With a subsidized loan, the U.S. Department of Education pays the interest while you are in school and for six months after graduation. With an unsubsidized loan, the interest will accrue during college and be added to the principal loan, to be paid back by the borrower.

Make sure to carefully read through your aid package and determine the actual cost of each school you or your child are considering. Remember, although there might be a lower amount to be paid for the year at the bottom of the offer, make sure to add the cost of loans that may be included that will need to be paid back, with interest, after leaving college.

High School Seniors: Get Ahead Sooner with Scholarships

Pittsford FCU is proud to offer college-bound high school seniors the opportunity to compete for scholarship awards. The Rochester Chapter of New York State Credit Unions will, once again, award a minimum of $10,000 in scholarships. Pittsford FCU will award five additional $1,000 scholarships, exclusively to Pittsford FCU member-applicants. The process is simple: students wishing to be considered for a scholarship can begin the application process on our website at PittsfordFCU.org/Scholarship. Applications are due by January 31, 2018. Get started today!