COUNTRY Financial Blog — Financial Security No Matter Where You're Starting From

The generosity of our community never ceases to amaze us. Thanks to your 120 comments on a recent blog post about COUNTRY Financial celebrating 25 years in Salem, Ore., the Boys & Girls Club of Salem, Marion and Polk Counties received a generous donation of $600 from COUNTRY. » Read More

Despite a year-end rally for the COUNTRY Financial Security Index, Americans are still on thin ice financially. Our newest survey shows one in three couldn’t go any amount of time without a paycheck before resorting to skipping bill payments. Yet, the average length of unemployment is more than nine months. That’s enough to stress anyone’s savings! » Read More

We’ve all seen the “Top Ten Ways to Cut Costs” articles that invariably appear this time of year. Some offer useful and basic tips (buy generic). Other suggestions are more challenging (buy a new home with energy-saving features). So which ones are worth a serious look? » Read More

It seems like everyone has a financial resolution this year. Whether it’s paying off credit card debt, or simply dining out one less time a week, we can all use a little help in tracking our goals and finding some motivation. Here are a few online tools to keep you accountable this year! » Read More

We are in winter, right? For the last two weeks, when I stepped outside, it was 40+ degrees. Mother Nature was seemingly giving us a break from the early onset of winter. Today, we got a glimpse of the cold weather to come. Now’s the time to prepare your home for the inevitable icy onslaught. » Read More

The holiday season isn’t quite over, even though your wallet might wish it was. If you’re still trying to decide on plans for New Year’s Eve but are worried about the cost, here are a few ways to ring in 2012 on a budget. » Read More

The holidays are many things. In between shopping and baking cookies, we can sometimes forget they’re also a charitable time. Although we’re nearing the end of the season, if you’re still hoping to make a holiday donation, it’s not too late. » Read More

An old proverb (some would call it a curse) states “May you live in interesting times.” Lately, I’d settle for anything other than interesting. I hear from clients and advisors all the time, and many are anxious about what they should be doing.  » Read More

Imagine yourself in New Madrid, Missouri. It’s Dec. 16, 1811. Without warning, you hear a tremendous noise. The ground shakes and fissures. The rumbling intensifies. Your house groans as if about to collapse. You run outside. Trees are falling, and birds are screeching. What’s happening? » Read More