JAN - MARCH 2011 NEWSLETTER VOLUME 5 | ISSUE 1

United Labor Credit Union celebrates 25 years serving UTime to celebrate! United Labor Credit Union (ULCU) is pleased to charge into 2011, celebrating 25 years as your non-profit financial coopera-tive. Created for the sole purpose of serving the financial needs of Labor Unions and families, we want you to remember one thing ... we’re not a bank. The credit union is owned, operated and controlled by our mem-bers – not customers. Our main prior-ity is to give you an opportunity to save for the future, make intelligent use of credit and use personal finan-cial counseling to effectively manage your money. In other words, we want you to keep more of your heard-earned money in your pocket.

Because we are a not-for-profit, ULCU has no stockholders to satisfy. Therefore, we return any profits we make back to our members in the form of low-cost loans, higher divi-dends, better service with fewer fees and free financial education. Mem-bers take an active role in the credit union by electing fellow members to serve on the volunteer Board of Directors and other governing com-mittees. Each member has one vote, regardless of how much money he or she may have on deposit.

Your deposits in ULCU are federally insured to at least $250,000, and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government. The National Credit Union Administra-tion (NCUA) is the federal agency that charters and supervises federal

credit unions and insures savings in federal and most state-chartered credit unions across the country through the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (NCUSIF). NCUA operates in a similar way that the FDIC regulates banks, but in a more prudent manner. Over the years, not one penny of insured savings has been lost by a member of a federally insured credit union.

We’re excited to share these 25 goals with you during our 25th anniversary:

1. Quality personal service2. Added convenience programs3. Continued technology upgrades such as online real- time reporting4. Online account access with additional features5. Use of more surcharge-free ATMs6. More promotions and savings7. Appearances at your local membership meetings8. Sign-up days and membership drives9. Fund-raisers for Working Families’ Friend and other worthwhile charities10. Increased membership with added Union workers and their family members11. Deepening relationships with more Union locals12. Competitive loan rates for new and used autos13. Alternative to the oppressive loan rates charged by banks and predatory lenders

14. Still no annual fee, time- honored POWER Platinum Visa® credit card and free debit card programs15. More free financial education events including the 3rd annual Union Retiree Financial Forum, Credit Reporting Workshop and “Out of Money and Buying Time” to help unemployed Union members 16. Free, interest-bearing checking earns you more17. Savings rates higher than banks18. Members appreciation events open to all Union families19. Easier-than-ever Direct Deposit services20. Investment services for a secure financial future21. Special accounts for emergencies, strikes, weddings, etc.22. Dignified service to those not served by traditional banking institutions23. Maintaining our loyalty to the Union movement and not-for-profit status24. Safety and security of your family and Union funds25. Compliance with all federal consumer-protection laws

Check out more about United Labor Credit Union online at UnitedLaborCU.org, or call (816) 313-2848. Or, e-mail Erin Williams at erin@unitedlaborcu.org.

ULCU backs Union home repairsUnion members have a new and inno-vative resource for household fixes at FixMyHomeKC.com. The Web site, launched recently by multiple trades to encourage Union workers to utilize other Union workers for needs in Heat-ing & Cooling, Electrical, Plumbing, Roofing, Concrete, Masonry, Win-dows, Painting, Gutters & Downspouts and more.

The Web site is interesting and dynamic. Users are able to click on the navigational links on the left side of the page, or click on the area of the home where repairs are needed, and pull up a list of Union contractors who can help.

What’s more, you can now find a link to the site FixMyHomeKC.com at UnitedLaborCU.org. United Labor Credit Union is pleased to provide Union households financing for upgrades, remodels or repairs needed. It’s simple to apply for a loan through the online loan application, where you can also join the credit union (proof of valid Union membership required.)

Tim Vogler, ULCU president, and its board of directors want to remind all members of Union locals that ULCU is available for all types of your borrow-ing needs, and offers lower rates on loans than other financial institutions. The credit union’s mission is to help those in Union trades keep more money in their pockets every day. FixMyHomeKC.com is just another way ULCU delivers on that mission.

NEXT FREE WORKSHOP“Union Retiree Financial Forum”Thursday, March 10, 20118 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.6320 Manchester Ave. KCMORegister online at UnitedLaborCU.org

This informational workshop will notinclude ANY sales pitches for financialproducts. See Page 2 for full informa-tion on registration, program and speaker details, sponsors and location.

25ULCU’s Operation: Maximum Impact has been tremendously successful for the Ferrara Family since the project began in August. We would like to thank Pipefitters Local 533 and Mechanical Con-tractors Association for new heating and cooling units and duct work, Carpenters District Council for new front steps and window installation, IBEW Local 124 for service upgrades, Laborers Local 663 and both the Greater Kansas City Laborers’ Training Center and Construction Industry Labor-ers Training Fund for their gener-osity and continued support of a credit union family in need.

Accidental Death & Dismemberment Plan free to ULCU members

Past-due loan?Loan extensionsare available ...

Call 816-313-2848 today.

Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance is available free-of-charge to credit union members in the event of loss of life, limb, sight, speech, or hearing, due to a covered accident. No one can be turned down for cover-age. Physical examinations or lengthy application forms are not required. The AD&D program at ULCU offers members the opportunity to receive an initial $1,000 of coverage at no cost. Members may purchase up to $300,000 of additional insurance at affordable group rates. Members may choose individual or family coverage.

This is affordable insurance that pays on top of other insur-ance policies. Acceptance is guaranteed, with no medical questions to answer. Your benefit doubles if loss of life occurs when traveling by common carrier. Additional coverage features anti-inflation, educational assistance,

hospital income and day care. There are multiple coverage options to fit any budget, from our highly rated insurance underwriter.

You will receive information about AD&D through postal mail. There is also a link at United Labor Credit Union Web site UnitedLaborCU.org, where you can learn more. You must complete and return the enrollment form in order to receive the basic no-cost insurance.

If you have questions about the insurance program, you may call toll-free 1-866-957-4064, weekdays, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., CST. A Frequently Asked Questions page is posted online for quick reference at UnitedLaborCU.org. For more details, you may also call the credit union at 816-313-2848.

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Enjoy a fun day of horseshoes with family and friends and United Labor Credit Union Saturday, April 9, 2011, a fund-raiser to benefit Working Families’ Friend (WFF).

The event will be held at McCoy Park in Independence, Mo., 800 N. Bess Truman Parkway, with winners and losers brackets judged by semi-professionals in the sport, through the Independence Horseshoe Club.

Teams and individuals are encour-aged to register online at UnitedLaborCU.org. The cost to

participate is a minimum of $75 donation per entry (additional dona-tions per team or individual are encouraged), which includes registra-tion in the day-long event, com-memorative T-shirt, food and bever-ages, and awards. Entry forms will also be available at Union halls across Kansas City and at the credit union.

The fund-raising goal is $10,000 to provide assistance, training and support to working families in need through WFF.

For additional information, call United Labor Credit Union at 816-313-2848, or visit us online at UnitedLaborCU.org.

United Labor to host HardHats & HorseShoes to benefit WFF

United Labor Credit Union’s 3rd annual Union Retiree Financial Forum is slated for Thursday, March 10, 2011, in Gladden Hall of the Visions Building (Local 42 union hall), 6320 Manchester Ave., from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Doors open at 8 a.m., when breakfast is served.

Pat Dujakovich, President of the Greater Kansas City AFL-CIO will open the event speaking on “Working People Then and Now.” Dujakovich will be followed by Robert Burks with RBC Wealth Management who will give a financial forecast and touch on information pertaining to Long-Term Care.

A lunchtime presentation will be made by representatives of Working Families’ Friend, while attendees

enjoy a free catered lunch.

Garry Kemp – Commissioner, Jack-son County Sports Complex Author-ity, long-time labor leader in our com-munity and ULCU Supervisory Com-mittee Chairman – will speak about “being a good steward of the Jackson County Taxpayers’ money,” which aligns greatly with vision of ULCU.

Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster is the event’s keynote speaker who will discuss protecting families and consumers, defending workers’ rights, enforcing environmental protections and how he works closely with law enforcement community.

Beth Glover, Lee’s Summit Police Department Community Interaction Officer, will share information about

personal and home safety with Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) techniques, and avoiding identity theft.

Each year, the Union Retiree Finan-cial Forum also features specialists in the medical and vision fields for indi-vidual screenings. In addition to these speakers and screenings, a tax preparer will offer tax tips for retir-ees.

ULCU hosts this event free-of-charge to all Union members and families, regardless of credit union member-ship, and all speakers are volunteers.

Register at UnitedLaborCU.org, or call 816-313-2848 for more details. E-mail erin@unitedlaborcu.org regarding available sponsorships.

Learn about your Financial Adviser Before you HireIf you’re like many people, you may be tempted to hire the first financial adviser you meet. Or, like others, maybe you’ll get a recommendation from family members or friends. You probably won’t even do a background check (MarketWatch.com Nov. 16). Make sure you’re not entrusting your college, retirement, or life savings to the wrong person. Here’s how to find a financial adviser who is a good fit for you and your finances:

Check references. Just because someone seems to have or spend a lot of money doesn’t mean this person will do a good job handling yours. Fancy cars and rich clients don’t guarantee a good adviser. And just because an adviser has been interviewed by the media doesn’t mean he’s on the up-and-up. The Securities and Exchange Commission (sec.gov) and FINRA - the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (finra.org) - provide assistance in checking up on advisers.

Avoid relying solely on friends and family. Industry surveys show that more than 40 percent of all people take financial advice from friends, family and business associ-ates. Just don’t. It’s better to keep friends solely as friends and get your investment advice from a professional you don’t already know on a personal level.

Don’t base everything on returns. Choose an adviser who offers long-term performance and who will allow you to ride the market’s ups and downs without being overly risky. Achieving investment success means participating in market gains during good times without losing everything when the market goes down.

Don’t let credentials sway you. There are numerous profes-sional credentials and designations for financial advisers. Each credential is different. Some mean something; some don’t. Although it’s important to check credentials, you should try to find the right person, not the right credential.

Interview more than one candidate. Most advisers will tell you they can solve your money problems. Talk to several advisers and base your decision on a background check and other information you find.

Realize that cost and payment style should be just part of your decision. Even if you save money in fees, working with an incompetent adviser will mean you could end up losing more money down the road. If you take a more expensive route, you might not get the quality of service you desire. Examine what you’ll get for your money and find a reasonable balance between services, costs and com-pensation. Also consider how much depth of advice you require. You might not need to spend a lot if you’re just looking to put money into a mutual fund each month. If you need an analysis and a financial plan, it might not be worth going the cheap route.

United Labor Credit Union recommends Mr. Robert Burks, Senior Vice President with RBC Wealth Manage-ment. Contact Robert directly at 913-451-3546. You may also e-mail robert.burks@rbc.com.

Check out http://unitedlaborcu.org/powerinvesting.html for more about Robert and investing at United Labor.