Freedom Sponsors 1st Annual Magic of Science Fair

May 20, 2019 – The APG Discovery Center held its first annual Magic of Science Fair at the APG Discovery Fest at Aberdeen Proving Ground. The APG Discovery Fest, held on May 4^th, 2019 was an opportunity to see what is being done “behind the fence” at APG, including demonstrations of APG technology, a job fair with nearly 2,000 participants, and the First Annual Magic of Science Fair for middle schoolers.

The APG Discovery Center, with the help of the Harford County Senior Science Society, planned and organized the Magic of Science Fair, which included students from eight middle schools and several home-schooled students. There were 25 projects with 33 students who entered the juried competition. Projects ranged from citrus powered phones to harnessing solar energy, gravity’s effect on root growth, and the impact of hurricanes on different housing structures. Winners were determined as “Best in Grade”, “Runner-Up”, and “Honorable Mention”.

Student Awardees stand on stage with ribbons — APG Senior Commander Maj. Gen. Randy Taylor and Freedom Federal Credit Union’s Business Development Director, Sue Manning, stand with award recipients at the Magic of Science Fair.

The Magic of Science Fair was sponsored by Freedom Federal Credit Union, a strong supporter of the APG Discovery Center. Freedom’s Business Development Director, Sue Manning, was present for the awards ceremony. Their sponsorship included high tech prizes like 3-D printers, virtual reality systems, and robotic kits, which were awarded at each grade level. “It was a privilege to meet these phenomenal young people and an honor for Freedom to present them with awards that will encourage their love of science and technology,” stated Manning.

The APG Discovery Center is envisioned to be a 30,000 square foot facility, located near, but not on, the APG property. The intent is to develop a destination location for STEM related activities, APG displays providing a view of “tomorrow’s technology today”, and a place to show and retain the more than 100 years of history at Aberdeen Proving Ground. Additional information can be found at http://www.apgdiscovery.com/

About APG Discovery Center

The APG Discovery Center will be a place where students of all ages experience, create, and play with science and technology. A place where new worlds are discovered, and connections are made. In addition to interactive exhibits, the Discovery Center will offer after-school programs, maker spaces, and serve as an anchor for the region’s STEM activities. Phase I, The Discovery Preview Center will open in Aberdeen, Maryland in late 2019.

About Freedom Federal Credit Union

Freedom Federal Credit Union is a community-chartered federal credit union offering consumer financial services to those who live, work, volunteer, worship, attend school, or have family in Harford County. Additionally, Freedom offers a full-line of banking services for all businesses, associations, and other organizations that are based in Harford County. Freedom has been in business since 1953 and has five locations throughout Harford County. To learn more, visit freedomfcu.org

Orioles Ticket Offer – Friday Fireworks and Music

We’ve teamed up with the Baltimore Orioles to bring our members a special offer…

Join us on Friday, June 28th at Camden Yards for a night of baseball, fireworks and music.

The game starts at 7:05PM, and as a member of Freedom, you can purchase tickets at a discounted price!

Check out this flyer for more details.

To purchase tickets, please click here.

2019 Annual Meeting

Join Us for Our 2019 Annual Meeting

Members are welcome to join Freedom’s President and CEO, Mike MacPherson, along with our Board of Directors at our 2019 Annual Meeting. The meeting will be held at Richlin Ballroom on Tuesday, April 9. Light dinner fare will be provided.

Please RSVP online or by calling our Contact Center at 1-800-440-4120. We look forward to seeing you there!

Date: Tuesday, April 9, 2019
Location: Richlin Ballroom, 1700 Van Bibber Rd, Edgewood, MD 21040
Time: 7:00-8:00 PM; Doors open and reception begins at 6:00 PM
Who May Attend: All Freedom members

2019 Tax Code Changes

Tax Code Changes—What You Need to Know

Although most changes won’t take effect until April 2019, some of them can impact the financial choices you’ll make this year. For that reason, here’s the details on the most important tax code changes.

Changes to the amounts taxed for each income bracket
The 7 tax income brackets remain unchanged, but the amounts each bracket is taxed have gotten an overhaul. Here are the new rates for taxpayers filing as individuals.

Taxable Income Bracket                Tax Due

10%        $0-$9,700 10% of taxable income

12%        $9,701–$39,475 $970 +12% of income $9,700+

22%        $39,476–$84,200            $4,543+22% of income $39,475+

24%         $84,201–$160,725          $14,382.50+24% of income $84,200+

32%         $160,726–$204,100 $32,748.50+32% of income $160,725+

35%         $204,101–$510,300        $46,628.50+35% of income $204,100+

37%        $510,301+ $153,798.50+37% of income $510,300+

You can check out the taxable income rates for couples filing jointly and for individuals filing as heads of households here
Changes in standard deduction amounts
The standard deduction in 2019 will be $12,200 for individuals, $18,350 for heads of household, or $24,400 for married couples filing jointly and surviving spouses.
Elimination of personal exemptions
The personal exemption amount is being eliminated for the 2019 tax year.
Changes to itemized deductions
- Medical and dental expenses. For 2019, you can only deduct those expenses exceeding 10% of your adjusted gross income (AGI).
- State and local taxes (SALT). The new maximum for SALT deductions is a combined total of $10,000 for taxpayers filing jointly.
- Home mortgage interest. In 2019, home interest payments will be maxed at $750,000 for married couples filing jointly.
- Job expenses and miscellaneous. In 2019, you can only claim work-related deductions that are less than 2% of your AGI.
Changes to tax credits
- Child Tax Credit. The child tax credit has increased to $2,000 per child.
- Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The maximum EITC amount for 2019 is $6,557 for married taxpayers filing jointly who have three or more children.
- Adoption Credit. The maximum adoption credit in 2019 for a child with special needs is $14,080. The ceiling for other adoptions is $13,810.
- Lifetime Learning Credit. For 2019, the AGI used by joint filers to determine the reduction in the Lifetime Learning Credit is increasing to $116,000.
Retirement account contributions
For 2019, you can contribute a total of $6,000 to one or more traditional or Roth IRA(s) if you’re under age 50, and $7,000 if you’re age 50+. For 401(k)s, you can contribute $19,000, and $25,000 if you’re age 50+.

Best of Harford County

Vote Freedom for Best Credit Union in Harford County!

VOTE HERE!

Here at Freedom we appreciate and value all our members and local partners. We are a community-chartered credit union offering financial services to those who live, work, volunteer, worship, attend school, or have family in Harford County. Freedom has been in business since 1953 and has five locations throughout Harford County.

We are reaching out today because we need your vote to win best Bank/Credit Union in the Harford’s Best Readers Poll. With your help, we would like to be voted Harford’s Best Credit Union in 2018!

Votes are being collected now until 5pm on December 14th. Please click on the link below and select Freedom Federal Credit Union to vote for us on Question #7-Best Bank/Credit Union.

VOTE HERE!

User Action Required: MoneySmart to Replace My Financial Advisor

Freedom Federal Credit Union is excited to introduce our new and improved financial management tool, MoneySmart, now available to all Freedom Members for FREE. MoneySmart will replace the current financial management tool, My Financial Advisor, effective September 30th.

MoneySmart makes it easier to manage money, monitor spending and actually see where your money goes. If you want to save money, improve financial health and make financial management easier, this is great news for you.

**Important Information for Current My Financial Advisor Users**

Your Freedom Federal Credit Union deposit account history for the past 90 days will carry over into the new MoneySmart tool. However, the remaining budgeting information you have saved within My Financial Advisor will not automatically carry over to the new MoneySmart system. We recommend you export your existing information, prior to September 30th, to ensure no loss of data.

      You can export your My Financial Advisor budgeting information by following these simple steps:

      1. Log into Home Banking
      2. Click on the “My Financial” Tab
      3. Click on “Budget” located on the blue tool bar
      4. Select the month you would like to download and click “Export” on the right hand side of the window.
      5. Save the file


       We apologize for any inconvenience this transition may cause.


      Please export your data from My Financial Advisor by 11:59 PM on September 30th to preserve your data.

Benefits of MoneySmart:
A more complete financial picture, with the ability to sync your accounts from more than 17,000 financial institutions.
Automatically tagged and categorized transactions, so it’s easier to understand spending habits.
Better visual tracking of your progress, allowing you to reach financial goals quicker and easier.
A cashflow calendar that shows what is coming in and going out.

MoneySmart makes it easier than ever to stay on track, set goals, and maintain your finances responsibly.

Free Onsite Mortgage Consultations

Take Advantage of Our Mortgage Days

Mike Ostrowski, Mortgage Manager
443-640-4708
MOstrowski@freedomfcu.org

Get a free onsite mortgage consultation with Freedom’s Mortgage experts! These one-on-one discussions will give you a:

Custom mortgage analysis
Step-by-step guide to the mortgage process
Explanation of your home equity options
Free, easy mortgage prequalification

Sessions available on Sept. 7, Sept. 13th, and Sept 14th. Stop by the branch most convenient to you! To schedule a consultation at an alternative time, call us at 1-800-440-4120.

Mortgage Days Schedule:

Sept. 7, Bel Air South & North

Fountain Green Branch
1304 Churchville Rd, Bel Air

Park Avenue Branch
2019 Emmorton Road, Bel Air

SEPT. 13, APG South

Edgewood Branch
5002 Hoadley Road, Edgewood Area, APG South

SEPT. 14, Havre de Grace & Forest Hill

Swan Creek Branch
1830-C Pulaski Highway, Havre de Grace

Forest Lakes Branch
1990 Rock Spring Rd, Forest Hill

County Teachers Win Golden Apple Awards

Golden Apple Awards Reception Held June 22

Freedom Federal Credit Union President and CEO, Mike MacPherson, with 2018 Golden Apple Annual Education Awards recipients — **Freedom Federal Credit Union President and CEO, Mike MacPherson, with 2018 Golden Apple Annual Education Award recipients. (L to R): Jacob Bennett, Kathleen Ford, and Tara Recor**

Freedom hosted a reception at the Credit Union’s Park Avenue branch to celebrate this year’s Golden Apple Awards winners. Kathleen Ford, a music teacher at the John Archer School won this year’s grand prize. Ms. Ford received the $2,000 prize for her plan to better connect students with disabilities through music and song. One of Ms. Ford’s goals is to purchase a complete set of Music K-8 magazines and CDs. Her entry also calls for adapted instruments, assistive devices and software. These items will better enable students with severe physical challenges to produce music independently.

Although we received a record number of submissions this year, Ms. Ford’s thoughtfulness and creativity in considering how the award could affect positive change for her students, school, and community made her application standout.

Additionally, two runners-up were selected: Jacob Bennett, Kindergarten Teacher at Havre de Grace Elementary, and Tara Recor, Gifted &Talented Resource Teacher at Prospect Mill and Halls Cross Roads Elementary schools. Both Mr. Bennett and Ms. Recor will receive $500 each to fund initiatives at their respective schools.

The Golden Apple Educator Award benefits Freedom members who work for HCPS and have a creative vision for education that can only be met with community support. Contest applicants must submit an essay demonstrating how their idea would serve their students, class, school and the Harford County community. A panel of Freedom employees, board members, and community leaders judges each year’s entries.