The Credit Union Perspective By: John Normandeau, President/CEO BestSource Credit Union Business & Pro essiona, MEMOS It's Time to Make Your Financial Resolutions for the New Year! I It's the beginning of a new year, which is a great time to make resolutions regarding your financial life. Here are a few areas to look at: Take a look at your sav- ings. Do you have an emergency fund? It's important to have at least three months worth of living expenses set aside for those unforseen situations. The best way to do this is to setup an automatic transfer (payroll allocation) into a special savings account. You won't even miss the money this way and before long you'll have the emergency fund you need. John Normandeau, CEO Do you know where your money is going? There are several free websites to help you track what you're spending and on what. They can help you monitor spending patterns, set up budgets, send you warnings when you are about to overspend and help you iden- tify areas where you can cut back. Which leads us to reducing your bills. It's a great time to examine all your regular bills. Revisit everything from your cable, cell phone and electric bills. There are websites that will do a comparison for you or call your providers directly and find out what you can do to reduce your bill. If your like most americans you are carrying credit card debt. Wouldn't it be great to be debt-free? Make a list of all your debts and figure out which you can pay off the fast- est. Pay the minimum on every card except the one you are working to pay off first. By eliminating your smaller debts first you'll see that's possible and have the drive to tackle the larger debts. At BestSource Credit Union our mission is to improve our members' financial lives. Stop by a branch or give us a call at 800.666.4500 to see how we can help you achieve your goals. For more information, visit www.bestsourcecu.org . BEST SOU RC E i► provigq∎ Mi•uito-r•V L trr,trac_ial Liv•, Ii ['1 I 0 N F D I I Best Lawyers has named Keefe A. Brooks as the Detroit Area Best Lawyers' Ethics and Professional Responsibility Lawyer of the Year Brooks for 2011. Brooks is a founding partner of Brooks Wilkins Sharkey & Turco PLLC, 401 South Old Woodward Avenue, Suite 460, Birmingham, MI 48009. Brooks Wilkins Sharkey & Turco lawyers have more than 130 years of corn- bined experience handling complex litigation and bankruptcy issues. Todd J. Stearn of Beverly Hills of the law offices of Todd J. Stearn has been named one of the top lawyers in the Super Lawyers Magazine for 2010. He practices per- sonal injury, criminal defense and business litigation law. CALENDARS FOR COMPELLING pgqpAA Bick HUMAN TRAFFICKING: Why We Must Know and Why We Must Care - Are Our Children at Risk? Bridgette Carr Professor of Law, University of Michigan Director of the Human Trafficking Law Clinic at the University APRIL 14, 2011 9:30 A.M. - NOON JEW SH WOMEN'S FOUNDATION NC . J Notionu Cauflcd lowiti,Vbkonan VIVlifr4 thin jCA ci 4q. utaix-ivtgain>t DOMESTIC *Rust Jewish ti Community VASLY Relations AM,. Council DIEKIIILICA/FAIPS VOCI Or IIMOVINYT.IRILW 030aWIT SUPPORTED BY HONIGMAN, MILLER, SCHWARTZ & COHN, LLP • U OF M DEABORN For more information, please contact the Jewish Women's Foundation 248.203.1483 • wwwjewishdetroitoreiwf ■•■ 4 2411F.: 1645870 ••••• ■■■ .,.. 26 January 13 • 2011 IAN Labe Several attorneys from Williams, Williams, Rattner & Plunkett, P.C., in Birmingham have been selected for inclusion in Law and Politics Rattner Media Inc.'s list of "SuperLawyers 2010." The listed attorneys include: Robert S. Bick of Franklin, a partner whose law practice focuses on corporate law, mergers and acquisitions law, real estate and business law; Robert B. Labe of West Bloomfield, a partner whose law practice focuses on busi- ness law, estate planning, estate and trust administration, tax law and tax planning; and Richard D. Rattner of Franklin, a partner whose law prac- tice focuses on real estate, land use, zoning and corporate law. Dr. Jay B. Hollander, direc- tor of the residency program for the Department of Urology at Royal Oak's Beaumont Hospital for the past 25 years, was honored at the June graduation of residents and fellows. A check for $171,200 will be directed to the Jay B. Hollander MD Endowed Fund for Excellence in Resident Education. The funds came from alumni to honor Dr. Hollander and will be used to offset the educational needs of the urology residency program. Waxenberg & Associates PC certified public accountants merged with the firm of Klein and Hinson to form a new firm: Waxenberg & Klein PLLC at 25900 W. 11 Mile Road, suite 240 in Southfield. The managing partner of the new firm is Ben Waxenberg. The firm provides accounting, tax and financial consultation services to individuals and businesses in the area; (248) 352-3630. Help HELP Assist Hispanics When Ann Mandelbaum emigrated from Castro's Cuba as a young Jewish teen, she experienced the challenge of learning English. Years later, armed with a Ph.D. in Latin American literature from Wayne State University in Detroit and years of teaching experience, Dr. Mandelbaum has started an ESL (English as a Second Language) pro- gram to aid Spanish-speaking adults. Since 2007, hundreds of immigrants have benefited from her program, Hispanic Education for Life-Skills Project (HELP) in Pontiac. Mandelbaum offers her services at no cost and is sup- ported by more than 20 volunteers. The tuition-free HELP School primarily enrolls mothers of young children. Outside of the classroom, the women struggle to raise their children while working minimum-wage jobs. The need is critical to bring more Hispanic families to the classes, Mandelbaum said, but lack of child- care keeps some mothers away. HELP is seeking funds to hire a care provider to supervise children onsite while par- ents focus on their classroom studies. Tax-deductible contributions may be sent to: HELP, do Ann Mandelbaum, 32560 Colony Hill, Franklin, MI 48026. The website is www.helpOaldand.com or contact Mandelbaum at (248) 971- 0207 or ana@helpoakland.com .