tips for keeping your

TIPS AND TRENDS FROM SEFCU
WINTER 2016
MONEYCLIPS
save
I
learn
I dream
I
enjoy
I
balance I
live
5
tips for
keeping
your
FINANCIAL
RESOLUTIONS
(and how SEFCU can help!)
PLUS FREE SEMINARS — MORTGAGE ADVICE — COMMUNITY NEWS — BOARD ELECTIONS — AND MORE!
MONEYCLIPS
WI N T ER 2 016
Issue Highlights
8
Leave a legacy with life insurance
What you leave behind for your loved ones should be part of the plan
9 Why you need a mortgage pre-approval
There are benefits to being prepared before you start looking at houses
10
5 tips for keeping your financial resolutions
It’s the start of a new year, and SEFCU can help you meet your goals
12
Why I Care: Chrisann Kohlhepp and Linda Salomons
14
SEFCU Board elections
16
Get to know your financial services team
Find out how these two volunteers are changing kids’ lives
An introduction to who’s running this year
Fifteen minutes with Cindy Alaia, Registered Service Associate
Lifestyle/Opportunities
4
19
20 Lucky Savers offers rewards
Find out how you could win prizes
just for opening a Share Certificate
Moneyclips is
Winter seminar schedule
Smart Sense game and giveaway
News
3
6
18
Message from the President & CEO
News and information
Community events wrap-up
Holiday closings
All SEFCU branches and the Member Solutions
Center will be closed in observance of the following
holidays.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day* | Monday, January 18
www.twitter.com/sefcu
Presidents’ Day* | Monday, February 15
*Slingerlands and Glenville Price Chopper branches
will be open on this holiday operating under Saturday
hours.
www.facebook.com/sefcu
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO
SEFCU President
and CEO Michael
Castellana, back
row left, and SEFCU
Board Member Peter
Komarinski, back
row right, kick off
SEFCU’s holiday tree
lighting with guests
Logan, Monet-Elysea,
and Jason.
■ As we welcome in 2016, it’s a great time to
take a look at how you can improve your well-being. If your
resolutions are financial in nature, we can help. Check out
pages 10 and 11 for some tips to help keep you motivated and
on the right track.
Even though SEFCU doesn’t make a formal resolution each
year, we remain committed to serving more than just the
financial needs of those in our neighborhoods, providing
necessities, and volunteering our time to help those in need.
The credit union believes so strongly in giving back that each
quarter we honor one employee and one member who are
making a difference in the lives of others with the Why I Care
award. Flip ahead to page 12 to meet Chrisann Kohlhepp and
Linda Salomons who are the most recent recipients.
To keep with what has been a tradition for more than 20 years,
SEFCU rounded out the year by providing gifts and food to
families throughout our service areas as part of our Holiday
Sharing Program. Through the generous donation of time and
money, SEFCU assisted 41 organizations to make the holiday
season more joyful. And, as the credit union has done for
the past several years, SEFCU donated more than $250,000
to food pantries and rescue missions throughout the Capital
Region, Syracuse, Binghamton, and Buffalo, allowing these
organizations to continue their missions of providing food and
shelter to our most vulnerable neighbors.
Enjoy reading this issue of MoneyClips. As always I welcome
your comments at [email protected] or follow me on
twitter@castellana_. On behalf of everyone at SEFCU, thank
you for choosing us as your financial institution and best wishes
for a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2016.
Michael J. Castellana
President & CEO
Federally insured by NCUA
MONEYCLIPS WINTER 2016 3
E D U C AT I O N U P C O M I N G S E M I N A R S
Winter seminars
■ Are You Social Security Savvy?*
When it comes to retirement income, Social Security plays an
important role. Find out how you can maximize your Social
Security benefits, learn the benefit rules you need to know, and
more at this seminar.
■ Defensive Driving
Attend this Department of Motor Vehicles-approved defensive
driving workshop for a refresher on safe driving tips and today’s
vehicle and traffic laws. When you complete the course you may
be eligible to remove as many as four points from your driving
record and receive a 10% reduction on your car insurance. The
cost of the class is $25 for members and $35 for non-members.
Please bring a money order or check for payment on the day of
the class.
■ Get Financially Fit
Balancing life and your budget can be tricky. Get simple
suggestions and tips for successfully cutting back on spending,
trimming your monthly expenses, and saving toward specific
goals. We will also discuss easy strategies to help you repair and
build credit.
■ Getting Out of Debt
Hear how you can repair credit that has gone bad as we discuss
who reports your payment information, understanding your
payment information, analyzing and building your credit score,
and simple strategies to help repair bad credit.
JAN
FEB
MARCH
■ It’s Your Estate. Are You in Control?
Bill Pfeiffer from the Pfeiffer Law Firm will discuss strategies
to make sure the assets you have are passed down as you have
planned – when and to whom you have designated.
■ Planning for Healthcare in Retirement*
Discover how you can prepare for meeting your medical
expenses in retirement by gaining insight into healthcare costs,
evaluating what Medicare covers and what it costs, and learning
strategies for income to offset costs.
■ Protecting Your Assets From Nursing Homes
You have worked your entire life to accumulate your assets
so find out how you can protect them from the high costs of
healthcare. Join James LeBrou and Terry Greismer from the
Rowlands and LeBrou Law Firm and find out how you can
protect everything you worked so hard to earn.
■ The Nine Questions You Need to Answer to Launch
a Business or Product
Join Robert Braathe Enterprises for an interactive workshop
to teach you ways to go from idea to inception by answering
nine critical questions that will help ensure your business can
succeed.
Not NCUA Insured
Not Credit Union Guaranteed
May Lose Value
Not Insured by Any Federal Government Agency
Not a Credit Union Deposit
*Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. Insurance products offered through LPL Financial or its licensed affiliates. SEFCU
and SEFCU Wealth Management Services are not registered broker/dealers and are not affiliated with LPL Financial Advisory services offered through
LPL Financial, a registered broker/dealer. The LPL representatives associated with this website may discuss and/or transact securities business only with
residents of the following states: CA, CT, FL, MA, ME, NC, NJ, NY, PA, UT, VA, and WI.
4
MONEYCLIPS WINTER 2016
SEMINAR INFO Reservations are required for all seminars and can be
made by calling 866-733-2880 x5321, or online at sefcu.com. Please visit
sefcu.com the day of the seminar to make sure the seminar hasn’t been
cancelled due to inclement weather or circumstances beyond our control.
CAPITAL REGION
BINGHAMTON
Capital Region seminars will be held at the Dora Maxwell
Auditorium at SEFCU, 700 Patroon Creek Boulevard,
Albany. Directions to the Dora Maxwell Auditorium are
available at sefcu.com or by calling the Member Solutions
Center at 800-727-3328.
■ Get
■ Get
Financially Fit
Thursday, January 28 • 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
■ Planning
for Healthcare in Retirement*
Wednesday, February 3 • 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, March 8 • 6 p.m. – 7 p.m.
This seminar will be held at SEFCU’s Kirkwood
branch, 4 Crescent Drive, Kirkwood.
BUFFALO
■ Get
Financially Fit
Wednesday, March 16 • 6 p.m. – 7 p.m.
This session will be held at SEFCU’s Clarence branch, 4375 Transit Road, Williamsville.
■ The
Nine Questions You Need to Answer to Launch a Business or Product
Financially Fit
Thursday, February 4 • 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
■ Defensive
Saturday, February 13 • 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
■ Protecting
■
Financially Fit
Thursday, March 31 • 6 p.m. – 7 p.m.
This seminar is being held at SEFCU’s Midler branch,107 Simon Drive, Syracuse.
Out of Debt
Wednesday, February 24 • 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
■ Are
Your Assets from Nursing Homes
■ Get
Tuesday, February 23 • 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
■ Getting
Driving
SYRACUSE
You Social Security Savvy?*
Thursday, March 3 • 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
It’s Your Estate. Are You in Control?
Tuesday, March 22 • 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
MONEYCLIPS WINTER 2016 5
S E F C U N E W S A N D I N F O R M AT I O N
Save now for next year’s holiday expenses
■ The dust may have settled from the holidays, but for some the holidays will last well into 2016 (and beyond) in the form
of monthly credit card bills from holiday purchases. Instead of making the same mistake again next holiday season, open a SEFCU
Holiday Club account and save for next year’s gifts all throughout the year.
Set a budget
With a SEFCU Holiday Club account you can add
to it at any time throughout the year in branch,
through direct deposit or payroll deduction, or
through SEFCU OnLine. Savings will accumulate
during the year and on October 1 your Holiday
Club balance will be transferred to your SEFCU
Checking account so you can get a jump start on
holiday shopping.
Best of all, you can choose how much to contribute,
and when, so you’ll know how much you have to
spend before you even start shopping.
Start today! Take some stress out of next year’s
holiday season. Open a Holiday Club account via
SEFCU OnLine, at any branch, or by calling the
Member Solutions Center at 800-727-3328.
SEFCU offers credit disability
insurance coverage
■ No one plans on getting hurt or missing work, but
sometimes it happens. If you have a SEFCU loan, credit disability
insurance coverage is an inexpensive way to give yourself peace of mind
in the event that you are out of work on disability for an extended period of
time.
What is credit disability insurance?
When you take out a SEFCU home equity line of credit, credit card, new
and used auto loan, personal and secured loan, or advances, choosing
credit disability coverage to go with it means your loan payments will be
paid during the time you are on disability. The plan is a retroactive plan
which means benefits are calculated from the first day of total disability.
Depending on your situation you may choose single credit disability (covers
you when you are on disability) or joint credit disability (covers you and/or
your co-borrower when either of you is on disability). Your rate will depend
on which option you choose. Your loan payment will include the premium
so you have the convenience of making just one payment.
The next time you apply for a SEFCU loan, make sure you say “yes” when
asked if you want to add credit disability insurance and have confidence
knowing your loan payments will be paid on your behalf.
To learn more visit sefcu.com/disabilityinsurance, call the Member
Solutions Center at 800-727-3328, or stop by any branch.
6 MONEYCLIPS FALL 2015
S E F C U N E W S A N D I N F O R M AT I O N
SECURITY CORNER
Good habits are key to protecting your plastic against fraud
■ Plastic card fraud statistics are up and much of the fraud comes from criminal activities we can't control.
But safeguarding your cards – and identity – from the risk of exposure starts with keeping constant control of your cards,
card numbers, and any other details about your financial information.
"Paperless" cash is convenient, accepted almost everywhere, and, in proportion to the
volume in use, very safe. But with convenience comes risk.
Make good habits and stop bad ones to minimize your card risk.
For example, if your card has a PIN (Personal Identification Number),
memorize it. Don’t choose easily recognizable PINs such as the last four
digits of your Social Security Number, or phone number or the month,
and year of your birthdate. Also, carry only cards you're going to use and
leave all other cards in a safe place at home.
When it comes to card safety, if you don't practice good habits,
you could become a victim of identity theft. The good news is that using
these tips can go a long way toward keeping you and your cards safe.
To learn more about protecting your information, visit SEFCU’s Privacy
and Security Center at sefcu.com/privacy.
To learn more about identity theft protection,
visit sefcu.com/IDProtect.
Pick the perfect present
with a MasterCard® Gift Card
■ Don’t stress the next time you need to buy a gift. Choose a
SEFCU MasterCard Gift Card – coming soon!
Whether you’re giving a gift for students, travelers, employees,
or family, the SEFCU MasterCard Gift Card is a great choice.
Available in denominations from $25 to $750, recipients can use
the card anywhere MasterCard is accepted – even online. And,
if you’re buying a gift card as a birthday gift, you can select the
birthday design for an added personal touch.
Need extra peace of mind? If you register the gift card online after it
has been purchased you can request a replacement card if yours is
lost or stolen.
Want to learn more about SEFCU’s MasterCard Gift Card?
Visit sefcu.com/giftcards.
MONEYCLIPS FALL 2015 7
PRODUCTS LIFE INSURANCE
SEFCU INSURANCE AGENCY
Leave a legacy with life insurance
F
ederal estate taxes, or taxes levied upon death, used to be a burden on families who hoped they could leave their assets to their
children and grandchildren. But current federal estate tax law, with an exemption of $5,430,000 per person (double that for
married couples), makes estate taxes a problem only for the very wealthy (although be aware that estate or inheritance tax at the
state level might exist for all of us).
This means that legacy planning – what you leave behind, for whom, and when – should be
a part of your long-term financial strategy. And, if you want that legacy to leave your family
financially secure, life insurance can help.
With only 5% of Americans retiring independently wealthy, we realize most of us need to
be mindful of not running out of money before we die. But it’s important to also consider
what the future holds for your loved ones when you’re not around, especially given how
inexpensive it is to get coverage these days (a healthy 40 year-old man or woman in New
York can get a $500,000, 20-year term policy for about a dollar a day).
With rates at or near all-time lows, now is a
perfect time to let life insurance augment
your legacy.
8
MONEYCLIPS WINTER 2016
SEFCU Insurance Agency
has partnered with
AccuQuote to provide
reliable insurance options
to meet your needs.
For your free personalized
life insurance review,
call AccuQuote at
877-654-8916 or visit
www.sefcu.com/
accuquote today!
S O L U T I O N S B E N EF I T S O F A M O R TG AG E PR E - A PPR OVA L
SEFCU MORTGAGE SERVICES
Why you need a mortgage pre-approval

Whether you’re shopping for shoes or skis,
you probably have a pretty good idea what your
budget is and what you can afford. So why wouldn’t
you do the same for a major purchase – like a new
home? By getting a mortgage pre-approval you’ll
know how much you’re approved to borrow which
will make it easier to narrow down your search
and give you peace of mind throughout the
process.
4
Check out some other reasons
why it’s a good idea to get
pre-approved.

Eliminate
disappointment
There’s no sense in
looking at homes
outside your budget
so it’s a good idea to
get pre-approved up front.
That way you can work with
your realtor and he/she can
show you houses you know
you can afford. Let’s face
it – you don’t want to fall in
love with a house that is way
out of your price range.
3
2
1
Understand all the
costs of buying
There are a lot more
costs to consider when
buying a home than
just the down payment.
When you get a preapproval the costs
are clearly laid out so
you will understand
how much money you
will need to close –
before you even start
shopping.


Multiple offers
Depending on the real estate market and the
time of year you are purchasing there could be
multiple offers on a house you are interested in.
If you put in an offer and have a pre-approval,
your offer is more likely to be accepted over
another buyer who doesn’t have a pre-approval,
assuming the offers and all the other terms are
similar.
Correct potential credit problems
Most people don’t monitor their credit score on a regular
basis so by getting pre-approved you’ll be able to correct
any errors on your credit report before you apply for the
mortgage. In some cases you may be able to raise your
credit score which could lower your interest rate.
Planning to buy a home? Make sure you get pre-approved with SEFCU Mortgage Services so you start the
home-buying process on the right foot. Call 518-783-1234 in the Capital Region or 315-701-1390 in Syracuse or visit
www.sefcumortgageservices.com today!
700 Patroon Creek Boulevard, Suite 301, Albany, NY 12206
and 200 Salina Meadows Parkway, North Syracuse, NY 13212
Licensed Mortgage Banker - New York State Department of Financial Services
NMLS Company ID – 309847
MONEYCLIPS WINTER 2016 9
5
LIFEST YLE TIPS FOR KEEPING YOUR FINANCIAL RESOLUTIONS
tips for keeping your
FINANCIAL
RESOLUTIONS
(and how SEFCU can help!)
10
MONEYCLIPS WINTER 2016
A
4
1
5
2
3
lthough we’re just a few weeks into
2016, you may be finding it difficult
to keep any New Year’s Resolutions
you made. Here are a few tips to make sure
you stay motivated to keep working toward
building a strong financial foundation.
Attend a free financial seminar
What better way to flex some financial muscle
than attending an information session! To make it
even easier SEFCU is offering a free seminar, “Get
Financially Fit,” several times this quarter.
How SEFCU can help
SEFCU offers a number of free seminars throughout
the year that cover topics from budgeting to saving
to planning for retirement. Check out the first
quarter schedule on page 4 or visit sefcu.com/
seminarcalendar regularly to see what’s new.
Open an Owner’s Choice account
Be prepared for unexpected expenses. Open an
Owner’s Choice account at SEFCU, name it
anything you want (like “emergencies,” “car
repairs,” or “vacation”) and feel confident you’ve
put aside money for unplanned expenses.
How SEFCU can help
If you’re ready to open an Owner’s Choice account, log in to SEFCU OnLine, click on “Additional Services” and then “Add Account.” Name it
whatever you want and start saving toward your
goal. Don’t have SEFCU OnLine? Stop by a branch or call the Member Solutions Center.
Create a budget
Let’s face it, if you don’t have a plan, how can you
possibly stick to it? If you haven’t already, make a
budget that details exactly where you spend your
money. The key is to make it realistic – otherwise it
won’t work.
How SEFCU can help
Let FinanceWorks™ help you quickly and
conveniently track your spending. Categorize
each transaction you make with your SEFCU
MasterCard® Debit card under headings like
“food,” “entertainment,” “travel,” “childcare,” etc.,
and then you can see where you spend the majority
of your money each week or month. Once you
know where you’re spending you can find places to
cut back and set reasonable limits.
Take advantage of “free” money
Think coupons, special offers, and quantity
discounts when making purchases or planning trips.
How SEFCU can help
If you have a SEFCU Debit MasterCard you can
cash in on Member Rewards – discounts you’ll
earn just by shopping and paying with your SEFCU
Debit MasterCard. Offers are redeemed via SEFCU
OnLine and are credited right to your account. What
can be easier than that?
Experts say it takes 21 days to form a new habit, so
keep working toward keeping your financial resolutions.
And, if you do get sidetracked just reset yourself
and keep trying – you can do it! To learn more visit
SEFCU’s Planning & Education Center on sefcu.com.
Set up automatic transfers
Admit it – you’re human – and even though you plan
to transfer money to your Savings account from each
paycheck it doesn’t always happen. Sometimes you
forget or maybe you decided to spend the money on
something else. With automatic transfers the money
is moved into your Savings account before you even
have a chance to spend it.
How SEFCU can help
Put your Savings on automatic and pay yourself first.
Log in to SEFCU OnLine, click on “Move Money”
and “Schedule a Transfer.” Transfers will occur
automatically on payday – or any day you choose –
and you’ll never have to remember again.
MONEYCLIPS WINTER 2016 11
BANKING WITH A PURPOSE WHY I CARE
WHY I CARE: CHRISANN KOHLHEPP AND LINDA SALOMONS
Making kids’ lives brighter is their calling
F
or more than a year, SEFCU has been presenting Why I Care awards recognizing employees and members who give back to
their community through volunteerism. Meet this quarter’s recipients, Chrisann Kohlhepp and Linda Salomons, and learn how
they are making a different through their commitment to the community.
Chrisann Kohlhepp, Employee Recipient
About 10 years ago after losing her mother, Chrisann Kohlhepp
began searching for something “more” in her life. She knew
there had to be a way she could make a difference and give back.
After finding herself surrounded by youngsters at church for
several Sundays in a row, there was no doubt that working with
children was what she was meant to do. Fast forward 10 years
and Chrisann is a foster parent who has provided a stable, loving
home to seven children and teenagers, most of whom have been
with her long term.
The impact Chrisann is having on these young lives is evident.
She remembers a teenage boy in foster care who was staying with
her and how surprised and excited he was when she gave him not
only his own room, but a set of keys to her house – a place he
“Once a young person comes into
my home he or she is in my heart
forever.”
Chrisann Kohlhepp
could truly call home. And speaking of home, there is no doubt
about how committed Chrisann is to these teens, deciding to
adopt one of the foster children as her own.
Chrisann is primarily a foster parent for teenagers because they
are typically the hardest to place, but for her she is building
lifelong relationships, saying “once a young person comes into
my home he or she is in my heart forever.” She remains in touch
with many of the foster children who she has shared a home with
and is even called “Nana” by a former foster child’s little boys.
Linda Salomons, Member Recipient
Even though Linda Salomons had been raised in a family that
frequently volunteered their time, she said it didn’t become her
passion until her four-year-old son, Eric, was diagnosed with
childhood leukemia and needed a bone marrow transplant
from his twin brother. Eric is now a healthy 17-year-old cancer
survivor, but during his illness, she said, the support her family
received was incredible and she wanted to be part of something
that did the same for other families going through a difficult time.
res a hug with her
Chrisann Kohlhepp sha
The new Kohlhepp family:
right, at his
ly adopted son Anthony,
son John, left, and her new
adoption ceremony.
12
MONEYCLIPS WINTER 2016
When she was approached with the idea of starting an
organization to assist families whose child was diagnosed with a
life-threatening medical condition, she jumped right in, helping
found A Room to Heal. Over the past 10 years, A Room to Heal
has been part of 65 room makeovers where volunteers create
customized, personalized rooms (bedrooms or playrooms where
the child spends most of his/her time). They are filled with all the
child’s favorite things to provide
a healing environment and bring,
comfort, hope, and lasting love.
Linda feels strongly about the
positive, and sometimes lifechanging, impact that helping
someone else can have on a
volunteer. She has seen people
sometimes hesitant to begin
volunteering because they
don’t have enough time or they
don’t believe they can make a
difference, but she believes by
creating opportunities for people
to get involved they will see the
impact they can have and will “get
hooked” and continue to give back.
Above: SEFCU President and CEO Michael Castellana presents Why I Care Awards to Linda
Salomons, left, and Chrisann Kohlhepp, right. Below, Salomons volunteers her time to renovate a
room.
In addition to her time as a
volunteer for A Room to Heal,
Linda is very involved in the
community, giving back to Make-A-Wish
of Central New York®, The Leukemia and
Lymphoma Society, Sean’s Standing Strong
Memorial Fund, Greater Binghamton
United FC, Greater Binghamton Jewish
Federation, and many others.
Over the past 10 years,
A Room to Heal has
helped create 65 healing
environments where
volunteers create customized,
personalized rooms
for children with
life-threatening conditions.
Know a SEFCU employee or member who deserves the Why I Care Award? Visit sefcu.com/WhyICare to
nominate someone you believe makes a difference in his/her community.
MONEYCLIPS WINTER 2016 13
ANNUAL MEETING AND ELECTIONS
ANNUAL MEETING AND ELECTIONS
Meet the Board Candidates
■ The Nomination Committee has selected four
individuals to stand for reelection for three-year terms on the
SEFCU Board of Directors. Nomination petitions on behalf
of members are accepted until February 12, 2016. If there are
additional candidates, an election of the Board of Directors will
be conducted by ballot. Eligible members may vote prior to
the Annual Meeting on March 23, 2016. At least 500 member
signatures are required on a nominating petition. Petitions
must be accompanied by a signed certificate from the nominee
agreeing to the nomination and to serve if elected to office.
Petition forms and certificates can be obtained from the Board
Secretary. Nominees should include a brief statement of their
qualifications and biographical information. Nominating
petitions should be sent to the SEFCU Board Secretary at:
700 Patroon Creek Boulevard, Albany, NY 12206.
Ronald P. Romano
Credit Union Experience
Ronald Romano has been a
member of the SEFCU Board
of Directors since 1991, serving
as an Associate Director from
1991 to 1994. He was appointed
a Director in July 1994 and
currently serves as Treasurer.
Mr. Romano has served on
the Supervisory, Asset/Liability, Nominating, and Volunteer
Education Committees. He has chaired both the Supervisory
and Volunteer Education Committees. Currently, he serves
as the Chairman of the Asset/Liability Committee and as a
Pension Trustee.
Professional Experience
Mr. Romano is the President and CEO for the NYS Industries
for the Disabled, Inc. in Albany, New York. He held the position
of Chief Financial Officer of NYS Industries for the Disabled,
Inc. from 1998 to 2010. From 1988 to 1997, he was the
Manager of Finance and Administration for the New York
14
MONEYCLIPS WINTER 2016
Annual Meeting slated for
March 23 in Albany
SEFCU members are invited to attend the 2016 Annual
Meeting on March 23 at 6 p.m. at SEFCU, 700 Patroon
Creek Boulevard, Albany.
Immediately following the Annual Meeting a special
session will be held to consider the expulsion of members
as outlined in SEFCU policy.
Advance reservations and proof of membership are
required for attendees. Reservations can be made by
calling 518-451-2895 or e-mailing [email protected].
State Science and Technology Foundation. Prior to that he was
Assistant Controller for the Lawrence Group, Inc. (1987-1988);
VP for Finance and Chief Financial Officer (1984-1987) and
Manager of Accounting and Finance (1983-1984) at the Oxygen
Enrichment Company, Ltd., Inc.; and Senior Accountant
(1981-1983) and Staff Accountant (1979-1981) at Coopers and
Lybrand.
Educational Experience
Mr. Romano received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting
from Ithaca College and spent a semester studying international
business at the Ithaca College London (England) Center.
Richard Cross
Credit Union Experience
Richard Cross has been a member
of SEFCU since 1979 and was
appointed an Associate Director
in 1994. In 1997 he became a
Director. He has served on the
Governance Committee (1994)
and the Selection/Nominating Committee (1999). Mr. Cross
was appointed to the Supervisory Committee in 1995 and
served as its Chairman until 2001. He currently serves on the
Board Oversight Committee.
Professional Experience
Mr. Cross served in the New York State Office of the Attorney
General from 1978-2011, when he retired as an Assistant
Attorney General and unit head in the Civil Recoveries
Bureau. While at the Office of the Attorney General, he
represented the state of New York on a range of matters
including breach of contracts, student loans, overpayments,
and agency penalties, and practiced before New York State
courts and the United States District Courts and Bankruptcy
Courts located in New York State.
Educational Experience
Mr. Cross received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from
the College of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio and his J.D. from The
Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, Columbus, Ohio.
Paul J. St. John
Credit Union Experience
Paul St. John has been a member
of the credit union since 1967
and joined SEFCU's Board of
Directors in 1977. He served
as Chairman of the Board of
Directors from 1988 to 1993. He
previously served as the Vice
Chairman from 1978 to 1988.
In addition, Mr. St. John has served on the Asset/Liability,
Building, Budget, Computer, Executive, Personnel and Bylaws
Committees. Currently, he serves on the Asset/Liability and
CEO Compensation Committees.
Dr. Robert Cornute
Credit Union Experience
Mr. Cornute joined SEFCU’s Board
as an Associate Director in 1994.
To fill a vacancy, Mr. Cornute was
appointed to the Board of Directors
in September 2006 and was elected
to the Board in 2007. During his
tenure, he has been a member of
the CEO Compensation, Bylaws
and Governance Committees. Currently he serves on the
Asset Liability Management Committee.
Professional Experience
Mr. Cornute is retired from New York State government
service, where he held various positions in administration and
law enforcement. He is a twelve-year veteran of the United
States Air Force (1950-1962) and a 13-year veteran of the New
York State Guard, from which he retired in 2001 with a grade
of Brigadier General. He also served as Deputy Commander
of the Army Division of the New York Guard. Mr. Cornute
holds professional memberships in the New York Guard
Association, Association of the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force
Association, Military Officers Association of America, and
the Militia Association of New York.
Educational Experience
Mr. Cornute holds a PhD in Public Administration from
Clayton University, a Master of Arts in Public Affairs, a
Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice, and an Associates of
Applied Science in Political Science.
Professional Experience
Retired from his position of Civil Engineer in the Materials
Department of the NYS Department of Transportation
(NYSDOT), Mr. St. John now owns and operates his own
concrete consulting business. During his more than 30 years
as a civil engineer for NYSDOT, Mr. St. John worked in
numerous capacities.
Educational Experience
Mr. St. John received a Bachelor of Science in Geology and
Education from SUNY Plattsburgh.
MONEYCLIPS WINTER 2016 15
W E A LT H M A N A G E M E N T 15 M I N U T E S W I T H C I N D Y A L A I A
WEALTH MANAGEMENT SERVICES
Get to know your
FINANCIAL SERVICES TEAM
Fifteen Minutes with Cindy Alaia, LPL Registered Service Associate
E
ventually, everyone who calls SEFCU Wealth
Management talks to Cynthia (Cindy) Alaia. As
our LPL Registered Service Associate, Cindy helps
members with day-to-day service requests and
provides administrative support for our financial advisors. Cindy
prides herself on providing a great member experience, whether
it’s answering account-related questions, getting clients online
access to LPL’s AccountView, or working with the advisors to
help solve problems. While she’s spent most of the last 10 years
“behind the scenes” at SEFCU Wealth Management Services,
Cindy’s role is critically important to our day-to-day operations.
Question: What about your job do you
really enjoy?
Cindy: I love talking to people and if you’ve ever talked
to me on the phone, you can probably attest to that! However,
because I am typically behind the scenes I especially love
meeting our members in person. I enjoy working with each
of our members, listening to what interests them and what’s
important to them, while also resolving their concerns or
questions. I like being part of a team that helps people;
that is what we do at SEFCU Wealth Management
Services.
“Because I am typically
‘behind the scenes’ I
especially love meeting
our members in person.”
16
MONEYCLIPS WINTER 2016
“Our advisors take the time to get to know our members,
build long-term relationships and provide customized
advice.”
Question: What does a typical day on
the job look like for you?
Cindy: While a lot of my time is spent answering questions
about investments, supporting our financial advisors, or helping
a member navigate our online tools, I often work with members
going through life-changing events, such as the death of a loved
one, by assisting with paperwork and acting as a liaison on
their behalf in an attempt to simplify the claim process during a
difficult time.
Question: What does exceptional service
mean to you?
Cindy: I often field calls and questions for the SEFCU
Wealth Management Services team and that really allows me
to manage the pulse of our client base by finding out what’s
important to them and identifying current issues and patterns.
During these conversations I can focus on meeting our
members’ needs while keeping their best interests in mind.
I want each person to feel that their situation is not only
important to them, but important to me, too.
Question: What’s important to you?
Cindy: Having compassion for people. It is important
to me to listen to our members’ questions and concerns and
resolve issues quickly and efficiently. We often do not know
what a person is experiencing in his/her life and if I can make
someone’s day or situation easier with a smile, a laugh, a kind
word, or by solving an issue, then that makes me feel like I have
made a difference in someone’s life.
Question: Why should members meet
one of our financial advisors?
Cindy: At SEFCU Wealth Management Services, our
financial advisors take a holistic and individual approach to
each person’s unique financial situation. Our advisors take the
time to get to know our members, build long-term relationships
and provide customized advice. I support each of the advisors
and our members so that together we can achieve the goals set
forth by them and their respective advisor.
Question: What do you do in your free time?
Cindy: For me, spending time with my family is important,
but I also love to travel, cook, garden, and read. In addition,
I am an avid Bruins and Mets fan and enjoy taking in a local
game at RPI, the Times Union Center, or Joe Bruno Stadium.
Not NCUA Insured
Not Credit Union Guaranteed
May Lose Value
Not Insured by Any Federal Government Agency
Not a Credit Union Deposit
If you’d like a free, no obligation
consultation with one of SEFCU
Wealth Management Service’s
Financial Advisors, call 518-451-2948
today to schedule your appointment.
*Insurance products offered through LPL Financial or its licensed affiliates. SEFCU and SEFCU Wealth Management Services are not registered
broker/dealers and are not affiliated with LPL Financial. Securities and Advisory Services offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment
Advisor. Member FINRA/SIPC.
This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific tax issues with a
qualified tax advisor.
MONEYCLIPS WINTER 2016 17
COMMUNITY EVENTS WRAP-UP
CAPITAL REGION’S
SMARTEST
COMPANY
PRESENTED BY SEFCU
Trivia tourney nets $17,000
to benefit the homeless
■ In the fall more than 40 companies competed in the first
Capital Region’s Smartest Company trivia contest. At the end
of the night the Times Union was crowned the Capital Region’s
Smartest Company, but not before SEFCU contributed more
than $17,000 to non-profits that serve the homeless in our
community. Watch for information about the 2016 event!
Special thanks to our Platinum Partners:
A dollar makes a difference!
■ We asked you to help and more than 4% of our
members have answered the call and made the commitment
to donate at least $1 each month to SEFCU’s Giving for Good
program. A big thank you to everyone who has generously
contributed to this program. With your support we are able to
change the lives of friends and neighbors right in our community.
SEFCU’s Giving for Good program provides a number of
necessities for children including backpacks and school
supplies, hats, gloves, scarves, and so much more! Because of
your generosity we provided 4,000 backpacks this school year
and 3,000 hat, glove, and scarf sets.
Special thanks to everyone who has contributed to Giving for
Good! The four SEFCU members below were randomly selected
and had a chance to donate $500 to the charity of their choice.
CAPITAL REGION
Elizabeth M. — Ronald McDonald House Charities
SYRACUSE
Latisha O. — March of Dimes, Central NY Division
BINGHAMTON
John C. — Veterans Support Group
BUFFALO
Dennis K. — The Franciscan Center, Inc.
Learn more about this fantastic, convenient way to be part of
something great. Visit sefcu.com/GivingForGood today!
SEFCU is snowed in!
■ Last month SEFCU members purchased paper
snowflakes and because of your support it looked like a blizzard
in our branches. As a result of your generosity more than $7,000
was raised which provided funding for our Holiday Sharing
Program.
This year, our Holiday Sharing Program provided food, gifts, and
necessities to more than 100 families throughout the Capital
Region, Syracuse, Binghamton, and Buffalo.
18
MONEYCLIPS WINTER 2016
Our generous
members!
SMART SENSE GAME AND PRIZE
WORD
SEARCH
Be a Smart Sense detective and see if
you find all the words in the list below.
Make sure to look forward, backward,
up, down, and diagonal. Good luck!
SEFCU SMART SENSE
You could be a winner!
Register for a drawing to win* a $100 Amazon® gift card!
If you have a Smart Sense account at SEFCU, here’s your chance to win a
$100 Amazon gift card. Visit sefcu.com/Moneyclips and enter the drawing
by March 31, 2016 for your chance to win.
*SEFCU employees and their immediate families are not eligible. Open to Smart Sense
members only. If you have more than one Smart Sense member in your family, you
may complete the online form for each child. One entry per person.
MONEYCLIPS WINTER 2016 19
MONEYCLIPS
W I NTE R 2 016
Patroon Creek Corporate Center
700 Patroon Creek Boulevard
Albany, NY 12206
MoneyClips is a quarterly newsletter published
for the benefit of SEFCU members.
Main Number 800-727-3328
DIAL Automated Phone Svc. 518-452-2874 • 800-733-2848
SEFCU Insurance Agency 518-786-9905 • 888-250-6689
SEFCU Mortgage Services 518-783-1234 • 800-444-6313
TTY Phone Number
518-464-5252
Website www.sefcu.com
N E W P R O D U C T S LU C K Y SAVER S O FFER S R E WA R DS
Lucky Savers program offers
great deals on savings, prizes
■ If you’ve always considered opening a Share
Certificate at SEFCU but haven’t done it yet, now is the time!
With SEFCU’s new Lucky Savers program you’ll have a chance
to win prizes just for opening a Share Certificate. Here’s how it
works!
When you open a Lucky Savers Share Certificate at
SEFCU, not only will you enjoy a better rate than our
standard 12-month certificates, but for every $25 you
deposit (up to $250 per month) you’ll be entered into a
drawing for cash prizes ranging from $25 to $5,000. And,
unlike most of SEFCU’s other certificates, you can add to this
one at any time.
After 12 months the certificate will automatically roll over into another 12-month Share
Certificate or you can close it after the initial 12 months – whatever works best for you!
This fun, exciting savings program is for members 18 or older (Smart Sense members
have their own add-on Share Certificate) and is a great way to get started saving, especially if
you’ve never opened a Share Certificate before.
For additional details or to open your Lucky Savers Share Certificate, stop by any branch, call
the Member Solutions Center at 800-737-3328, or visit sefcu.com.
PRESORTED STANDARD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
SARATOGA SPRINGS NY 12866
PERMIT #426