n getting married/suddenly single his, hers,

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1 his, hers, and ours

2 Before you say I do it s a good idea to know your future spouse s financial side. Mismanaged finances can be a huge problem in a marriage or quite a surprise should a spouse die. Finding oneself suddenly single can be overwhelming, especially if one spouse handled all of the household finances. This brochure offers tips on how to keep your finances strong before, during and after the marriage. Keys to a financially successful relationship 1. Understand how both of you view money Couples who successfully manage their money have some of the happiest relationships. Keep in mind that if you re not careful with your finances, you ll make your life and the lives of your loved ones more complicated down the road. Knowing exactly how both of you save, spend and view financial responsibility is key. If you lived together before marriage, then you already have insight into this. Even so, take time to find out what money really means to each of you. n Set aside uninterrupted time to have a serious talk about your separate money, our money and money matters of the present and future. n Make a list of topics to explore. Examine each other s credit report. AnnualCreditReport.com provides consumers with a secure means to request and obtain a free credit report

3 death, divorce and debt n once every 12 months from each of the three nationwide consumer credit reporting companies in accordance with the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACT Act). Select the ordering method that best meets your needs: n Online at AnnualCreditReport.com n By phone 1-(877) (TDD ) n By mail download the request form from AnnualCreditReport.com, complete and mail it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, PO Box , Atlanta, GA n Is one of you a saver and the other a spender? Does one or both of you live paycheck to paycheck? n Pay off as many bills as you can before saying I do. How much unsecured debt does each of you have separately? Decide what debts become joint debts and what debt remains the sole responsibility of one party. n Consider how you will handle checking and savings accounts. Will you have a joint account for joint household living expenses and maintain separate accounts for individual expenses? n Develop a household budget. Will you jointly share responsibility for handling the money matters or will one person take care of the bills each month? If one person is going to do all the household accounting, then the other person needs to be sure they understand what s going on with the money. Go over monthly expenses and bills together so each of you know how much money is coming in and how much money is going out and for what. n Use online banking such as Members 1st Online. This way both of you can oversee the household finances and know where the money is going. n Decide on a record keeping method. Where will you file receipts, monthly statements and other important financial papers?

4 2. Have the kids talk. You may just be starting out or you may be blending families. In either case, discuss how you re going to financially manage kids and all of the expenses associated with raising them. If you don t have kids now but plan to it s a good idea to talk about both of you working or one of you staying home for a while once the baby is born. Blended families have additional concerns such as child and spousal support payments to make or receive. 3. Investment planning. Financial security is important, especially during major life changes such as marriage/divorce, buying a home, paying for college, changing jobs, and retirement. Consider meeting with a financial planner.

5 death, divorce and debt n 4. What about pre-marital agreements, power of attorney and wills? Many couples opt to have a pre-marital agreement that outlines that particular assets remain the property of a certain individual should the marriage dissolve. A good family lawyer can help you with this. You ll need to make decisions on inheritances and guardianship especially if children are involved. 5. Where to live, vacation, how to save and spend. Where to live n Plan to attend one of our free Home Buyers Seminars or Construction Loan Seminars so that you can learn all about the home buying or home construction process. n Talk to us about our First Time Home Buyers program that provides you with affordable financing with minimal outof-pocket expense. First time home buyers can benefit from our relationship with the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA).

6 n Meet with one of our Mortgage Specialists before you begin looking for a new home. Get an idea as to how much home you can realistically afford and the types of financing that is available. Ask to be pre-qualified for a mortgage. Ask about down payments required, application fees, information needed to apply for a mortgage, inspection fees, closing costs and other miscellaneous costs such as home owners insurance. n Pick up our Buying vs. Renting brochure for tips. Vacation Clubs and Holiday Clubs A Members 1st Club Account is the perfect way to save for holiday gifts, a vacation, or any other special savings goal. You have the ability to set your money aside as you save while still maintaining access to it in case you need it. Plus, our Club Accounts are flexible, allowing you to be in control of your deposit schedule and opening balance. Plan ahead and take advantage of a Club Account today! Open your account at any branch or online with Members 1st Online. Savings Options Your personal savings plan demands personalized products and services. At Members 1st, we provide a variety of savings vehicles to meet your varied needs. Whether you prefer a traditional savings account, a higher-yield money management account, or a certificate of deposit, you ll find a savings account that s just right for you at Members 1st. Checking account and free Visa Debit Card with Swipe 5 Checking with us will be a positive experience as our checking is convenient and easy. No minimum balance is required. Dividends are paid on balances of $2,500 or more. No monthly service fees are assessed. And we don t charge per check fees. Overdraft protection is available for up to 6 overdrafts monthly in conjunction with EZ Call and Members 1st Online. You simply pay for your checks. Our checking offers a free VISA Debit Card with our exclusive Swipe 5 Rebate. That means you earn a 5- cent rebate each time you make a purchase using this card as credit. This card looks like a credit

7 death, divorce and debt n card but works like a check as funds are deducted directly from your Members 1st checking account. To earn the rebate, simply always select credit at the checkout and sign the sales slip. Swipe 5 Rebate is posted to your checking account on the last day of the month. Some restrictions may apply. Overdraft protection is now available for VISA Debit Card and ATM point of sale (POS) transactions. Financially surviving divorce or death of your significant other Just like with marriage, divorce or death brings on new experiences and responsibilities. You may need to file for child support, spousal support/alimony or Social Security. You may need to deal with insurance claims and estate settlements. You also find yourself 100 percent responsible for the household bills. Divorce check list: n Educate yourself. Go through all of your financial records and figure out where the money is. Pull credit reports to see if there are any credit cards or loans you don t know about. n Collect information. Before you visit an attorney, make copies of all financial records including all account statements from all financial institutions in which you do business, investment statements, tax returns, mortgage statements, insurance policies, safe deposit box information, wills, trusts and bills. n If you have children, file for child support and/or spousal support/alimony. n Establish credit in your own name. Open a checking account and a savings account in your own name. Get one credit card in your own name and manage it very carefully. n Separate credit accounts. Debt incurred in a joint account will follow both spouses after the divorce. n Maintain insurance coverage. You ll still be covered under your spouse s health insurance until you re divorced and at that time, health insurance must be specified.

8 n If you re in a financial bind, we have several loan options to consider such as a Signature Loan to help you manage your current accounts or establish credit in your name. n If you don t have automatic payments set up, consider doing so. This way you know your bills will be paid on time and you won t forget about anything. n Update your beneficiary designations on IRAs, retirement plans, employee benefits, annuity contracts and life insurance policies and estate plan. Re-title assets if needed. n Identify retirement money available to you. n Protect your identity. Be sure to change your online passwords and watch for signs that new accounts have been opened in your name. Death of a spouse: n First, take time to grieve and adjust. Contact your attorney to verify that all steps you take are consistent with your spouse s will. n Organize your finances and evaluate your current financial situation. Go through all financial papers and make a list of your assets and liabilities. If you live in a community property state, credit accounts opened during marriage are automatically joint. You ll be responsible for any debt that your deceased spouse incurred. n Get at least 10 copies of the death certificate. You ll need copies for insurance claims, 401(k) payouts, Social Security, your financial institution(s), probate and to change the title on property. n Contact your spouse s employer and all previous employers to figure out what benefits you may be entitled to. n Cancel any unnecessary accounts, subscriptions and services. These include health clubs, private club memberships, etc. n Contact life and health insurance providers. Insurance companies will distribute money to the beneficiary listed on the policy. Don t cancel any health insurance until all outstanding medical bills have been paid.

9 death, divorce and debt n n Meet with a financial professional to review your investments and insurance coverage. n Set up an Estate Account. This account is used to manage funds for the deceased. It is managed by the Executor, Executrix or Administrator of the decedent s estate. It may be used to accept deposits earned by the estate or to pay estate expenses such as those for funeral expenses, medical bills, debts or taxes. n Protect your identity. n If you need money for funeral or medical expenses, consider a Signature Loan or a Home Equity Loan to get you through a financially challenging time. n Once your situation settles and all final expenses are paid, consider various savings options. Short and long term certificates will help you have money saved at a higher interest rate. You can select terms that meet your savings needs so your money is available if you need it 3, 6, or more months down the road.

10 Member Loyalty Rewards This unique rewards program is based on your account relationship with us. You benefit in terms of even fewer fees, more free services, reduced consumer loan rates, and bonus certificate rates. How do I participate in Member Loyalty Rewards? Your reward level is based upon the total of your combined savings, loan, and Members 1st Investment Services balances (excluding first mortgages). Balances are calculated at the end of the month. Reward levels are re-evaluated and change based on your qualifying products and balances at the end of each month. Each reward level has its own minimum total balance requirement. What are the Member Loyalty Rewards levels? We offer four reward levels - Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Titanium. For details on each specific reward level, ask for our Member Loyalty Rewards brochure or go to click on the membership tab, followed by member loyalty rewards. You need to use at least three products to benefit. To move up to the next level, increase your account balances by transferring accounts you may have elsewhere or using more of what we offer. Levels are re-evaluated and will change based on your qualifying products and balances at the end of each month. Same address? Everyone benefits You may form a group comprised of your family members who live at your address so that all account owners at the same address can enjoy the same reward benefits. Each account owner must agree to be in the group. Forming a group does not affect account access or ownership. Everyone s balances are added together to make the rewards more beneficial to all. Simply ask an associate for details.

11 death, divorce and debt n Free Seminars Members 1st offers a variety of free seminars throughout the year on topics such as Identity Theft, Home Buyers and Home Construction Loans, and Student Loans. Go to click News and Events, followed by Calendar of Events for details.

12 For questions about Individual Retirement Accounts, call (800) , ext. 209 For general loan inquiries or to apply, call (800) , ext For Member Loyalty Rewards questions, call (800) Louise Drive P.O. Box 40 Mechanicsburg, PA MBRS: /12 Equal Opportunity Lender