Eight Components of Developing a Financial Plan

Oct 10, 2025 | Blog, Financial Fitness

By Charlestien Harris, Retired Financial Coach at Southern Bancorp In last week’s article, I discussed October being recognized as National Financial Planning Month. This week, I’ll explain the eight key components of developing a financial plan. These components...

October is National Financial Planning Month!

Oct 3, 2025 | Blog, Financial Fitness

By Charlestien Harris, Retired Financial Coach at Southern Bancorp October is the perfect time to review your finances. During the fall season, nature’s changes are evident with just a glance at your surroundings. The same can be said when you take a good look at your...

The $6,000 Senior Tax Deduction: What Does It Mean?

Sep 25, 2025 | Blog, Financial Fitness

By Charlestien Harris, Retired Financial Coach at Southern Bancorp Taxes are a fact of life, and being a senior citizen is no exception. Many people believe that Social Security income is not taxable, but that’s not entirely true. Whether your Social Security benefits...

Secured or Unsecured Credit Cards
Which is Better?

Sep 19, 2025 | Blog, Financial Fitness

By Charlestien Harris, Retired Financial Coach, Southern Bancorp The holidays are just a few months away, and if we’re being honest, most of our purchases will be made by sliding, tapping, or inserting a card. Now is a great time to evaluate which type of card might...

September is Insurance Awareness Month

Sep 12, 2025 | Blog, Financial Fitness

By Charlestien Harris, Retired Financial Counselor at Southern Bancorp You might be asking yourself, “Why is having insurance so important?” Well, let me ask you this: How would you pay for an unexpected event like a car accident, a house fire, or a medical emergency?...

Managing Your Finances During College

Sep 4, 2025 | Blog, Financial Fitness

By Charlestien Harris, Retired Financial Counselor at Southern Bancorp Managing your finances during college can be a significant source of stress. For many students, this is the first time they’ve had to take personal responsibility for their financial decisions....

How to Limit the Effects of Inflation on Your Budget

Aug 22, 2025 | Blog, Financial Fitness

By Charlestien Harris Eventually, what goes up must come down…right? Well, sometimes yes, and sometimes no – especially as it relates to inflation. Inflation is the rate at which prices increase over a given period. It can also be described as the decline in the...

Back-to-School Financial Literacy Basics for Families

Aug 1, 2025 | Blog, Financial Fitness

By Charlestien Harris, Retired Financial Counselor at Southern Bancorp Financial literacy is a critical skill that benefits every member of the family, regardless of age. For many parents, setting a good example and providing the tools and knowledge children need to...

Money Matters for Military Families

Jul 25, 2025 | Blog, Financial Fitness

By Charlestien Harris ATTENTION – July is National Military Consumer Month! I discovered this little-known fact while conducting research for my weekly article. We enjoy our freedom in this country thanks to the dedicated service members who protect it with honor. In...

Let’s Celebrate National Savings Month

Jul 14, 2025 | Blog, Financial Fitness

By Charlestien Harris, Retired Financial Counselor at Southern Bancorp Did you know that July is designated as National Savings Month?  I didn’t know that fun fact either.  It was established to encourage individuals to focus on saving, budgeting, and...