FIRST EDITIONUpcoming Events (Apr-Aug)

Wednesday, 4/20Complimentary Steering Towards Retirement with IRAs Seminar, 6pm in Toms River

Thursday, 4/21 Free ID Theft Protection Seminar, 6pm in Toms River

Wednesday, 5/18Free Homebuying Seminar, 6pm in Freehold/Howell

Thursday, 5/26Complimentary Basic Estate Planning Seminar, 6pm in Neptune

Wednesday, 6/15Free Car Buying Seminar, 6pm in Neptune

Thursday, 7/28Complimentary Social Security & Your Retirement Seminar, 6pm in Freehold/Howell

Thursday, 8/25Complimentary How to Weather a Bear Market Seminar, 6pm in Freehold/Howell

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*Visit First Financial’s event calendar to register for upcoming seminars at firstffcu.com or text “FFSEMINAR” to 69302 to receive updates and register on your mobile phone.

SPRING 2016 • A Semi-Annual Member Publication

2016 marks the 80th anniversary of First Financial and we’re thrilled to celebrate this milestone with our members. In 1936, during the Depression, a group of Asbury Park schoolteachers organized themselves into one of the earliest Credit Unions in America. It was named Monmouth County, NJ Teachers Federal Credit Union. Under the leadership of Harold "Pop" Shannon, this Credit Union grew to include employees of both Monmouth and Ocean County Boards of Education, at which time the name was changed to Mon-Oc Teachers Federal Credit Union.From a small office in Asbury Park, over the years the Credit Union expanded its Field of Membership to include municipal employees (as Mon-Oc Public Employees Federal Credit Union), employees of some local hospitals and nursing facilities, and

several small businesses (when the name then became Mon-Oc Federal Credit Union). In April 2003, Mon-Oc became a community Credit Union, serving anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school in Monmouth or Ocean Counties. The cooperative spirit that was created in the early days of Mon-Oc is still at the heart of our philosophy, as we became First Financial Federal Credit Union in July 2006.

Throughout 2016, we will be celebrating our 80th anniversary with special contests and promotional offers. Stay tuned!

First Financial’s 80th Anniversary

Here’s our story...

Note from the CEO

Regardless of how the markets may perform, consider making the following part of your investment philosophy:

Diversification. The saying “don’t put all your eggs in one basket” has real value when it comes to investing. In a bear or bull market, certain asset classes may perform better than others if your assets are mostly held in one kind of investment (i.e. in mutual funds, CDs, or money market accounts). That being said, you could be hit hard by stock market losses or alternately lose out on potential gains that other kinds of investments may be experiencing. So there is an opportunity cost as well as risk.

This is why asset allocation strategies are used in portfolio management. A financial professional can ask you about your goals, tolerance for risk, and assign percentages of

your assets to different classes of investments. This diversification is designed to suit your preferred investment style and your objectives.

Patience. Impatient investors obsess on the day-to-day doings of the stock market. Have you ever heard of “stock picking” or “market timing”? How about “day trading”? These are all attempts to exploit short-term fluctuations in value. These investing methods might seem fun and exciting if you like to micromanage, but they could add stress and anxiety to your life, and they may be a poor alternative to a long-range investment strategy built around your life goals.

Consistency. Most people invest a little at a time, within their budget, and with regularity. They invest $50 or $100 or more per month in their 401(k) and similar investments through payroll deduction or automatic withdrawal. In

essence, they are investing on “autopilot” to help themselves build wealth for retirement and for long-range goals. Investing regularly (and earlier in life) helps you to take advantage of the power of compounding as well.

If you don’t have a long-range investment strategy, schedule a no-cost, no-obligation appointment with our Investment and Retirement Center located at First Financial by contacting us at 732.312.1564 or Samantha.schertz@cunamutual.com.This material was prepared by MarketingLibrary.Net Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy.

Diversification, Patience and Consistency

At First Financial, our primary commitment is to assist you with your financial dreams every time you bank with us. Providing security, convenience, and education continue to be our main priorities each day while keeping you and your family in mind. Together, we can shape your goals and budget so you can live the life you want to live.

2015 was a very successful year for us — one of our biggest accomplishments was our 2% Challenge where we were able to save our members a total of $192,488 on their auto loan payments! 2016 is a pivotal year for the credit union as we celebrate our 80th Anniversary — stay tuned for upcoming promotions and contests that you won’t want to miss. We’re also preparing for the move to our new corporate headquarters, directly behind the Freehold/Howell Service Center at 391 Route 9 North in Howell in May of 2016.

Thank you for your continued support and membership with us for the past 80 years — your trust and loyalty is invaluable. As you walk the path to financial security, we are right beside you. From buying your first home to planning your retirement, we’re here to work with you to achieve all of your goals. It is our pleasure to serve you in 2016 and for years to come. God bless!

Sincerely,

Issa Stephan, CCUE, President & CEO

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Three important factors when it comes to your financial life.

SPRING 2016 • A Semi-Annual Member Publication

WHAT’S THE MOST DANGEROUS KIND OF IDENTITY THEFT?Like the thieves behind the crime, identity theft can take on many disguises depending on the information stolen. When identity theft goes undetected, these crimes can not only cost victims their money, but also their health and well-being.

It’s nearly impossible to avoid identity theft, but awareness and vigilance are key to fixing the problem if you do get hit. Here are three particularly dangerous types of identity theft.

Child ID TheftWhat makes it dangerous: Thieves often go after children’s identities through stealing data from schools or even taking their relatives’ information. Children will likely not know they were victims until they grow older and are denied for their first loan, credit card or even housing – because of a poor credit history. This blemished credit report could cause them to be denied new lines of credit, which could stunt their financial wealth.

How to avoid this identity theft: Check your child’s credit by requesting a free credit report (you can get

your own credit reports for free once a year) and dispute and close any unauthorized accounts that may have been opened.

Medical ID Theft What makes it dangerous: Although consumers may think their medical information is not a target for cybercriminals, healthcare companies are becoming increasingly targeted. Data breaches in the healthcare sector could result in your information falling into the hands of thieves who could then use this data to take advantage of medical services. A report by the Ponemon Institute recently found medical identity theft rose 22% in 2014, resulting in patients’ health information potentially being mixed up with thieves’.

How to avoid this identity theft: Always read the data privacy statement your healthcare provider gives you before agreeing to the terms and monitor your accounts in case of fraud.

Tax ID TheftWhat makes it dangerous: Tax fraud through identity theft is an easy way for criminals to make money. In

2013, the Internal Revenue Service gave out $5.8 billion in fraudulent tax refunds.

How to avoid this identity theft: File your income taxes early each tax season and shred any and all documents with your personal information on it.

While medical identity theft is dangerous in almost every aspect of your well-being – from a health to a financial standpoint – these other types of identity theft could also pose a threat to your or your loved ones’ futures. By protecting your personal information, you could help curb this crime and keep yourself from becoming a victim. Any large, unexpected changes in your score could signal new-account fraud and a sign that other serious forms of identity theft are on the way.

Don’t wait until it’s too late! Enroll in our ID Theft Protection Services online 24/7 at firstffcu.com/id-theft-protection.htm.

Source: usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2015/03/15/credit-dotcom-dangerous-identity-theft/70136996/

The First Financial Foundation recently awarded $500 classroom grants to six deserving educators for the 2015-2016 school year.

Recipients (left to right)

Elizabeth Oliva - Monmouth Regional High SchoolJennifer Suralik Quintenz - Pinelands Junior High SchoolRobin Fabricatore - Toms River Intermediate NorthMary Pat Kochenash - Upper Freehold Regional School DistrictCathy Heuser - Brick Elementary SchoolLaurie Peters - Bayville Elementary School

Congratulations to all of the 2015 recipients and thank you to all the educators who submitted essays and videos!

2015 First Financial FoundationClassroom Grant Winners

Support While You Shop with AmazonSmile! You can support local students and educators in Monmouth & Ocean Counties when you shop on AmazonSmile. Start by visiting smile.amazon.com and Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the First Financial Foundation. Be sure to search for “First Financial Foundation Wall, NJ” when selecting your charity. Register your account by visiting our First Financial Foundation page at firstffcu.com. Thank you in advance for your support!

Holiday Closings 5/30: Memorial Day 7/4: Independence Day

9/5: Labor Day3

SPRING 2016 • A Semi-Annual Member Publication

SPRING 2016 • A Semi-Annual Member Publication

6 IMPROVEMENTS TO INCREASE HOME VALUEDreaming of stainless this and marble that, with a dash of hip color? Sloooow down. See what your wallet has to say first. Some projects will protect your dollars more than others, especially if you’re planning to sell in a few years.These projects are the best long-term remodeling investments you can make:

1. Replacing Your Front Door Your faithful front door works tirelessly — day in and day out — to usher in you and your guests, and to seal your house up tight. But when Old Faithful gets tired and worn out, don’t hesitate to call in a replacement. Replacing your old front door with a new steel door is a project that kicks up curb appeal and yields the best payback.It’s also a relatively low-cost project. According to the National Association of Realtors® “2015 Remodeling Impact Report,” a new steel front entry door has a national median cost of $2,000 installed, and can recover 75% of that cost at resale.

2. New SidingOld, worn siding, along with generally sad curb appeal, can contribute to a loss of up to 10% of your home’s value, according to some appraisers. New siding, on the other hand, practically screams “my owner takes care of me.” There are two common options for siding, which should you choose?Vinyl siding is low-cost, durable, and easy to install, and it hits all the right notes when it comes to getting a return on your home improvement dollars. Best of all: It’s a low-maintenance feature that frees up your time.

Fiber-cement siding also shows a strong payback of 79% in the “2015 Remodeling Impact Report.” Although its national median cost of $19,100 makes it the pricier option, it has one thing vinyl still lacks — the perception of quality.

3. Kitchen UpgradeWe’re not talking about the dream kitchen remodels that are plastered on Pinterest and Houzz. But a minor kitchen remodel — one that keeps a lid on costs by refacing instead of replacing cabinets, and includes new flooring, countertops, and modestly priced appliances — is an ever-popular project. Although the ROI on a kitchen update is relatively modest — the “2015 Remodeling Impact Report” says you can expect a return of 67% on the $30,000 national median cost of a kitchen upgrade — you’ll get lasting satisfaction. Eighty-two percent of homeowners said their updated kitchen gave them a greater desire to be at home, and 95% were happy or satisfied with the result.

4. Deck and Patio AdditionsLike alfresco living? You’re in good company. According to a 2014 Home Trends Survey from the American Institute of Architects, our love of outdoor living spaces — especially decks and patios — is on the rise. One big reason is that decks and patios are a sweet way to expand living space at a low cost of $8 to $35 per square foot — a bargain compared to the $150-and-up per-square-foot cost of a new addition.

5. Turning an Attic into a BedroomWhen it comes to romantic rooms, a bedroom retreat is hard to beat. But a treetop boudoir is much more than a daydream — it’s a good investment. You’ll gain living space without having to add on to your home’s footprint — the walls, floor, and ceiling already exist. That helps keep remodeling costs under control.There are code restrictions you’ll have to navigate when converting an attic to a bedroom, but if your house qualifies and you can cover the cost (about $65,000 says the “2015 Remodeling Impact Report”), chances are you won’t regret your decision. Some 94% of homeowners responding to the “Report” said they were happy or satisfied with their new attic space.

6. New Garage DoorNo surprise that a garage door replacement project made it onto the list of all-time winners — a new garage door provides a big boost for your home’s curb appeal at a relatively modest cost. That’s especially good news if you’re thinking about selling your house.A project that replaces an older, two-car, embossed steel door has a current cost of about $2,300, according to the “2015 Remodeling Impact Report.” If you sell, you can expect a healthy ROI of 87% on your investment.

These are all great projects that First Financial can help fund with a Home Improvement Loan. Apply online 24/7 at www.firstffcu.com/home-improvement-loans.htm.

Source: http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/home-improvement/home-remodeling-projects-with-long-term-ROI/

Loan Connection 866.750.0100, Option 4

To Fax Loan Applications732.312.1530 (24-hour)

Member Relationship Center Phone Hours

Monday-Friday: 8:00am - 6:00pmSaturday: 8:30am - 1:00pm

Contact Us 866.750.0100 info@firstffcu.com

Neptune Branch783 Wayside Road

Toms River Branch1360 Route 9 South

Corner of Routes 9 & 571

Freehold/Howell Service Center389 Route 9 NorthFreehold, NJ 07728

Next to Howell Park & Ride

Board of DirectorsGordon Holder,

ChairpersonEarl Sutton, Jr.,

Vice ChairpersonDavid Graf,

Secretary & TreasurerElizabeth M. White

Laurita CarrCatherine McLaughlin

Karen Fiore

Supervisory CommitteeElizabeth M. White,

Committee ChairpersonRonald MinskyMitch Thaler

John CeresaniIssa E. Stephan,

CCUE, President/CEO

First Financial’s Supervisory Committee has the responsibility

to investigate Member complaints that cannot be resolved through normal channels. If you have a

complaint or suggestion to improve our service to you or if you have an unresolved problem, please

write to:

Supervisory CommitteeP.O. Box 751,

Neptune, NJ 07754

facebook.com/firstfinancialnj @NJBanking First Financial Federal Credit Union blog.firstffcu.com FirstFinancialNJ pinterest.com/1stfinancialnj

Information contained in “First Edition” is intended to summarize products and services. It is not a complete disclosure of all terms and conditions. All rates and terms are subject to change without notice. This Credit Union is Federally Insured by NCUA. For full details, please contact First Financial Federal Credit Union directly at 866.750.0100, email info@firstffcu.com, or visit firstffcu.com.

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Our Headquarters is Moving this Spring!

OUR NEW ADDRESS:

391 Route 9 NorthFreehold, NJ 07728