It didn't take long to realize that we had an issue that needed immediate attention.

Just because running a small business is a labor of love doesn’t mean getting paid isn’t still a major priority. Since today’s customers don’t always carry cash and taking checks can be risky, the ability to accept credit and debit cards is crucial for a successful, growing business.

When you're ready to start construction on your dream home, the house is not the only thing you'll need to build. You'll also want to build strong relationships with your banker, your builder and your mortgage originator.

Speaking for those of us who have lived in north Alabama for most or all of our lives, I think that sometimes we may take for granted the incredible treasures that make our area a destination for visitors.

Going to school out of state and having a lot of small town passion, I never miss an opportunity to interject a fun fact about my hometown in a conversation. “Did you know that Tuscumbia is the birthplace of Helen Keller?” or “Oh! This song was recorded in Muscle Shoals!”  People ask me where I got the cute top I am wearing, and I say it’s from a local shop in my hometown.

Astronaut, actor, athlete. These are some of today's ten most common childhood "dream jobs." (Sign of the times: when I was growing up my friends and I imagined ourselves becoming nurses, teachers, and firefighters. Sigh.) Although it's admittedly hard to determine at age six what we'll be doing with our lives twenty years later, some people actually do end up in the profession they aspired to during childhood--a surprising 30 percent, in fact, per a recent Linked In study.

Does the word "ransom" conjure up images of sketchy notes made up of random letters cut from newspapers? In the movies, criminals often send these handcrafted messages to demand a large sum of money in exchange for the safe return of something--or someone--valuable to the note recipient.

Today's real-world criminals are much more sophisticated.

How often do you hear this when checking out at a retailer: "Are you a member of our loyalty program?" or "Do you have your rewards card with you today?"  These days, consumers can easily collect a keychain full of bar-coded fobs designating their loyalty to certain merchants.  The programs aren't a passing fad.  In fact, studies show that loyalty and reward programs are growing in popularity because of the benefits they offer to both businesses and consumers.  The great news is that these programs are no longer just for the big box stores--there are some simple ways small business owners like you can show your customers how much you appreciate them, and keep them coming back!

It's finally (or should that be "already?") time to get back to school. And if you're a college student, this also means adjusting to a changing schedule, a new curriculum, and hopefully, a new budget. Here are some quick common-sense ideas to help college students keep a 4.0 in the subject of personal finances.