April 2015

Seneca Savings moving Liverpool branch, expanding services in 2015

CLAY — Baldwinsville–based Seneca Savings bank plans to move its Liverpool branch, located at 105 2nd St., to a former NBT Bank building it acquired on Dec. 3  at 7799 Oswego Road in Clay. The bank Read More

LGS names 2015 Distinguished Community Leader Award winners

SYRACUSE —  Leadership Greater Syracuse (LGS), a nonprofit offering a yearlong civic-engagement training program, announced it will recognize two individuals and one business at its Distinguished Comm Read More

Changes in laws, society change trust planning

SYRACUSE — Changes in federal estate law in recent years have resulted in an evolution regarding how trusts are viewed and what type of trusts individuals and business owners are choosing. “We’ve j Read More

Berkshire Bank announces environmental business initiatives

Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE:BHLB), parent of Berkshire Bank, recently announced it has started a new initiative to become a more environmentally sustainable company. The program, called AME Read More

Utica gets upgrade on its financial outlook from Fitch Ratings

UTICA — Fitch Ratings, Inc. has upgraded the City of Utica’s financial outlook, Mayor Robert Palmieri and Comptroller Bill Morehouse announced in a news release issued April 20. Fitch’s decision ma Read More

Cost-Benefit Analysis for Financial Planning

Many investors ask about the cost-benefit analysis of financial planning. Fee-only advisors can claim their compensation is straightforward and easy to understand. In contrast, commission-based adviso Read More

Tompkins Financial profit edges up 1 percent in Q1

ITHACA — Tompkins Financial Corp. (NYSE: TMP) recently reported that its net income inched up nearly 1 percent to $12.7 million in the first quarter from $12.6 million in the year-ago period. Earning Read More

Avoiding a Government Head Fake on Retirement Savings

Retirees should reconsider strategies on IRA, 401(k) withdrawals A government rule on retirement savings may be tricking retirees into looking at their financial situations all wrong. The rule s Read More

Tax refund burning a hole in your pocket? Five ways to use it wisely

Ideally, your tax refund shouldn’t be at a level that makes you want to do a touchdown dance. Large refunds mean the government is getting an interest-free loan from you during the year. Sure, it’s ni Read More