Financial Wellness Resolutions for 2025

A new year, a new set of New Year’s resolutions. With so many areas to focus on and goals to achieve—health and wellness, hobbies, and professional growth, to name a few—we encourage you to prioritize your financial wellness in 2025.

From Wealth Management to Fraud, and a few departments in between, our teams share some simple habits, tips, and goals that can help set you and your loved ones up for financial success in the year ahead.

 

David Short, Retail Banking Western Region Manager, Retail Banking

“I always encourage teens and young adults to open a savings account and—for those who have a job— to transfer 5 – 10%  from each paycheck directly into their savings account. They’ll be impressed with their balance by the end of the year!”

 

Kymla Birchette, Greater Sacramento Market Manager, Retail Banking

“The best investment you can make is in yourself! Meet with your banker or financial advisor to discuss your future financial goals (i.e. planning for retirement or simply saving for the future). Prior to that meeting, lay out all expenses in categories such as needs (rent/utilities) versus wants with a plan to uncover any unnecessary expenses. In your plan, consider increasing your 401k contribution to maximize any employer match.

 

Juliane Veselik, Trust Officer, Wealth Management and Trust

“Meet with an estate planning attorney to set up a trust so that you are in control of how your assets are distributed at your passing. This will also allow you to avoid probate which is costly, lengthy, and your estate is then made public information. Bank of Marin’s Wealth Management & Trust team can put you in contact with a trusted estate planning attorney in your area. If you already have a trust, ensure you are reviewing it every two to three years or, at the minimum, after every major life event (i.e. marriage, divorce, and death).

 

Perry Seto, Senior Relationship Manager, Walnut Creek Commercial Banking Office

“Stay healthy. A healthy mind and body are essential to a productive business life.”

 

Information Security and Fraud teams

Our Information Security and Fraud teams encourage individuals and businesses to continue to keep fraud prevention top of mind. While there is no way to ensure 100% protection against scammers, there are precautions you can take to minimize risk. Our teams suggest the following:

  • Educate yourself. Phishing, Quishing (QR phishing), and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) such as deepfakes (videos, photos, or audio clips that have been digitally altered with an unsuspecting person’s likeness to make it appear as if they are saying or doing something they’ve never done) are just some of the tactics used by scammers.

Scammers can make emails look like they are from a legitimate business, government agency, or reputable organization. Never click on links or open attachments in unsolicited emails. When in doubt, confirm the validity of the email request by directly contacting the person or company; do not use contact information provided in the email.

Remember, Bank of Marin will never contact you (email or phone) and ask you for your username and password.

  • Create strong, unique passwords.
    • Do:
      • Use a passphrase instead of a single word password.
      • Avoid using common sequences such as “1234”
      • Use a mix of upper and lowercase letters.
    • Don’t:
      • Use personal information as part of your password
      • Re-use passwords between sites.
      • Write down username and passwords. Instead, use a password manager.
  • Enable multi-factor authentication for online accounts.
  • Be cautious of what you share online and on social media. Sharing personal information, like your address, birthdate, or social security number, can open the door for scammers and identity theft.
  • Sign up to receive notifications from your credit card company and financial institution(s). Receiving notifications from your bank and credit card companies, as well as reviewing monthly statements, can help catch unauthorized transactions early.
  • Use trusted mobile apps. Verify that you are downloading the correct app by checking the developer details; carefully consider which apps you grant access to your bank account.