Y Gen Out Loud » Gen Y

Gen Y leading the readers revolution

Tamara Bell — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:24:05 +0000

According to a recent Pew Research survey, the number of Americans who have a tablet or e-reader jumped from 18% in December to 29% in January. But what does that mean for the future of the publishing industry and books in general?

To explain how technology is helping to create avid readers among the next generation, we have as our guest Laurie McLean, a literary agent with Larsen-Pomada Literary Agents. Laurie joins Keeping Up with Gen Y to talk about how Gen Y readers, through new platforms from companies like Apple and Amazon, are leading the discovery of new writers, while young authors are pushing past traditional publishers to have their voices heard. She also shares her predictions for changes to the publishing industry in 2012.

MORE ABOUT LAURIE MCLEAN

Laurie McLean, literary agent, Larsen-Pomada Literary Agents

Laurie McLean is an agent at Larsen-Pomada Literary Agents in San Francisco. She represents adult genre fiction (romance, fantasy, science fiction, horror, westerns, mystery, suspense, thrillers, etc.) as well as children’s middle grade and young adult books.

For more than 20 years Laurie ran an eponymous public relations agency in California’s Silicon Valley. She is wise in the ways of marketing and publicity, negotiation, editing and a host of other business-critical areas. She is also a novelist herself, so she can empathize with the author’s journey to and through publication.

She graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from the State University of New York and a Master’s Degree at Syracuse University’s prestigious Newhouse School of Journalism. Laurie also is Dean of the San Francisco Writers University.

You can listen to the show below or you can download it as a podcast from our iTunes page. And you can find us on WomensRadio.

Gen Y helping others help themselves

Tamara Bell — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:27:30 +0000

Vanessa Carter is the Director of Campus Microfinance Alliance, a coalition of nearly a dozen student-run microfinance groups that have already lent more than $350,000 to disadvantaged entrepreneurs who need it most.

Now, they are expanding the program even further. The Alliance has launched a new campaign, “Lend for America,” a summer internship that provides hands-on lessons for college students to learn how to start microfinance organizations in their campus communities.

Vanessa joins Keeping Up with Gen Y to talk about how Gen Y’s confidence and open-mindedness in solving problems can positively impact job creation in their communities. She also explains the potential of microfinance loans to build those strong businesses needed to revitalize the economy.

MORE ABOUT VANESSA CARTER

Vanessa Carter, Director, Campus Microfinance Alliance

Prior to joining Campus Microfinance Alliance, Vanessa worked with Credit Builders Alliance, where she managed services to help nonprofit loan funds offer credit reporting as a tool to build credit for consumers, as well as helped to build ThinkImpact, a social enterprise that connects students with rural villages in Kenya and South Africa to build social businesses.

Vanessa is a recipient of the Projects for Peace fellowship and spent the summer of 2008 establishing a community center in South Africa to improve access to entrepreneurial opportunities for women.

Vanessa graduated with a B.A. in International Relations and Government from Claremont McKenna College.

You can listen to the show below or you can download it as a podcast from our iTunes page. And you can find us on WomensRadio.

Optimism a key to successful Gen Y entrepreneurs

Tamara Bell — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:41:05 +0000

Sammy Shreibati, the January Y Gen Entrepreneur, is co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of SaveUp, a free rewards program to help people save money and get out of debt.

Sammy joins Keeping Up with Gen Y to talk about how working first at a small business can be a good learning experience for Gen Y wanting to start their own companies. He also discusses how optimism and belief in yourself are keys to long-term success.

MORE ABOUT SAMMY SHREIBATI

Sammy Shreibati, co-founder, SaveUp

Sammy Shreibati is co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of SaveUp, a free rewards program to help people save money and get out of debt. Previously, Sammy was the Director of Engineering at PrepMe, an education company dedicated to bringing high quality, customized learning to students across the world. He helped PrepMe grow from a bootstrapped startup in his garage to a venture-backed online education company.

While at Stanford University, the San Francisco resident studied Electrical Engineering with an emphasis on computer design.

You can listen to the show below or you can download it as a podcast from our iTunes page. And you can find us on WomensRadio.

The Y Gen Entrepreneurs series, which airs the second Wednesday of each month, is sponsored by Constant Contact, a leading provider of email marketing, event marketing, and online surveys to small businesses, associations and nonprofits. Click here for more information.

Gen Y entrepreneurs averting startup mistakes

Tamara Bell — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 12:52:12 +0000

Alex Lorton, the December Y Gen Entrepreneur, is co-founder of Cater2.me, a San Francisco-based company that was created with the goal of connecting inspired kitchens with the masses.

Alex joins Keeping Up with Gen Y to talk about how Gen Y who want to start a business should use their social networks to test their ideas and get feedback before moving forward. He also explains how a little perspective can go a long way in ensuring a successful venture.

MORE ABOUT ALEX LORTON

Alex Lorton, co-founder, Cater2.me

Alex Lorton is co-founder of Cater2.me, a San Francisco-based company that was created with the goal of connecting inspired kitchens with the masses. Before starting Cater2.me, Alex worked in strategic management consulting for Oliver Wyman in New York City.

A native of Toledo, Ohio, Alex graduated from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he received a degree in Business with a focus on Accounting and Entrepreneurship.

You can listen to the show below or you can download it as a podcast from our iTunes page. And you can find us on WomensRadio.

Gen Y bringing new blood to elected offices

Tamara Bell — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 13:31:31 +0000

As the 2012 election cycle begins, candidates for U.S. Congress, as well as state legislatures across the nation, will be decided in primaries and/or caucuses over the first half of next year. The final winners will be determined in the general election on Nov. 6. Many of those down ballot races will include Gen Y candidates, who will be taking the leap from voters to contenders for the first time.

Trent McKnight, a Gen Y candidate for the Texas House of Representatives, joins Keeping Up with Gen Y to talk about how the current political climate of sharp partisanship offers an opportunity for Gen Y to bring new blood to elected offices. He also discusses how getting involved in their local communities can help young people understand their connection to the political process.

MORE ABOUT TRENT MCKNIGHT

Trent McKnight, Gen Y candidate for Texas House of Representatives

Trent McKnight is running for the Texas House of Representatives in a district that spans rural areas of west and north Texas. He co-manages McKnight Ranches, a full-time cow-calf operation. He is founder of Rural Young Professionals as well as former director of Rural Texas Banks.

Trent has served as chairman of the United States Department of Agriculture’s Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers, and as Agricultural Advisor to both the U.S. military in Iraq and the United Nations in Africa.

A graduate of Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics, Trent received his Masters of Science in Comparative Politics from The London School of Economics.

You can listen to the show below or you can download it as a podcast from our iTunes page. And you can find us on WomensRadio.

Investment in Gen Y can help nonprofits grow

Tamara Bell — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 14:33:36 +0000

The holiday season is a time filled with shopping, parties, and family traditions. But it’s also a time to think of others less fortunate. For both Gen Y and nonprofits, however, connecting to broaden participation in giving seems to be a challenge. How can these two forces come together to make a difference in people’s lives?

Dr. Jen Shang, an assistant professor at the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University, joins Keeping Up with Gen Y to discuss ways that nonprofits can use social media and new fundraising technology to encourage young people to give money, time, and talent to worthy causes. She also explains how changing the mindsets of both nonprofits and Gen Y can lead to purposeful careers in the fundraising field.

MORE ABOUT JEN SHANG, PH.D.

Dr. Jen Shang, assistant professor, School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University

Jen Shang is the world’s only philanthropic psychologist and an assistant professor at the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University. She co-authored a recent report, Growing Philanthropy in the United States, which drew on existing research and the June Growing Philanthropy Summit, a meeting of 30 influential leaders from the nonprofit industry for discussions in Washington, D.C.

Her professional interests include Philanthropic Psychology, Donor Behavior, Fund Development, and Nonprofit Marketing. Jen received her undergraduate degree at Beijing Normal University, a Master of Science at Carnegie Mellon University, a Master of Arts at University of Pennsylvania, and her doctorate at Indiana University.

You can listen to the show below or you can download it as a podcast from our iTunes page. And you can find us on WomensRadio.

Gen Y staying fit during the holidays

Tamara Bell — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 12:56:19 +0000

It’s hard enough for Gen Y to exercise and eat healthy when juggling the demands of school or work, but add holidays to the mix, and training and healthy eating tend to go out the window. What can Gen Y do to avoid weight gain during the holiday season?

Dr. Karen Basen-Engquist, a professor of Behavioral Science at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, joins Keeping Up with Gen Y to offer suggestions on how to squeeze in exercise and healthy eating between holiday parties and shopping. She also explains how taking care of yourself in your 20s with a regular exercise routine and healthy diet can radically reduce your chances for certain cancers when you’re older.

MORE ABOUT KAREN BASEN-ENGQUIST, PH.D.

Dr. Karen Basen-Engquist, Professor of Behavioral Science, MD Anderson Cancer Center

Dr. Karen Basen-Engquist is a Professor of Behavioral Science in the Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. As a psychologist, Dr. Basen-Engquist’s primary area of research interest is developing and testing health behavior interventions for cancer survivors to improve their physical function, quality of life, and health outcomes.

Her research includes how exercise and diet affect cancer survivors’ physical and emotional well-being, development of interventions to help cancer survivors adopt more physically active lifestyles, and innovative real-time methods of assessing fatigue and other symptoms in patients with and survivors of cancer. She has a study funded by the National Cancer Institute to investigate the mechanisms of exercise adoption and maintenance in endometrial cancer survivors using a social cognitive theory model that tests the social, physiological, and behavioral predictors of exercise self-efficacy.

You can listen to the show below or you can download it as a podcast from our i Tunes page. And you can find us on WomensRadio.

A picture is worth a thousand votes

Chris Copsey — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 13:38:37 +0000

Have you ever had to show your ID to go to the movies or to buy a drink? What about to open a bank account? An issue that is exploding all around the country begs the question: should the government require citizens to show a photo ID in order to vote?

Voting is a cornerstone of our democracy. The United States is founded on the principle that free and fair elections determine the direction our country takes. Many people — women, minorities, non-land owning folks — have fought aggressively for the right to vote, so is it therefore right, or fair, for states to require its citizens to show their photo IDs to vote, even if the person is properly registered?

Proponents of the measures cite the increasing likelihood of voter fraud as the main impetus behind the laws. If elections are to be free and fair, then they should be just that — even the hint of fraud might lessen the legitimacy of the outcome.

Some opponents balk at that argument and say that instances of voter fraud are not widespread enough to warrant such legislation. Furthermore, many Democrats argue that these Voter ID bills unfairly target specific voting groups that are more likely to vote blue than red, such as minorities, the elderly, and young voters, claiming that these groups are less likely than others to get, or know to get, such IDs.

In spite of the arguments on either side, the truth of the matter is that many states require IDs in order to vote right now — a driver’s license usually suffices, but in some instances a utility bill or even a debit card will qualify as a valid form of ID. The more strict Voter ID laws would do away with that, and require an ID with a photo on it. A driver’s license still qualifies, as do passports, or any other government-issued ID cards. However, those other forms of ID, such as utility bills or debit cards, will no longer be accepted in those states that have enacted these laws.

So what is a voter to do if they don’t have a photo ID? Well, there are a few options. First, if a voter does not have a photo ID with them, then they can cast a provisional ballot, which will then be counted if the voter shows a valid photo ID by a later period, usually a few days. Secondly, the states that require photo IDs are issuing free voting cards that can be used as a valid form of ID for voting.

Voter ID bills have been introduced in many states and, in spite of the furor, been enacted into law in a relatively small number. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, seven states require voters to show a photo ID before they can vote. But if they don’t have a photo ID, they’re still allowed to vote under certain criteria.

Then there are eight states that have enacted legislation requiring only photo IDs to vote. Voters can still cast a ballot without a photo ID, but their vote doesn’t count until they show a photo ID to election officials within days after the election. Of these, Texas and South Carolina require the Department of Justice to approve changes to their voting laws. The department’s decision on the Texas law is due Dec. 5. Its decision on the South Carolina law is due Dec. 27.

Despite what proponents say regarding the ease of either getting or providing a photo ID, what is giving these laws national attention harks back to what some opponents are saying about the intent of the legislation — to make it harder for people identifying with a particular party to make it to the ballot box. Alarming reports have worked their way across the country, including stories of elderly citizens leaving after long stints in DMV lines while trying to get their photo ID.

In this, as in many things, education is king. Opposition to a law doesn’t mean one shouldn’t follow it. Voting is one key way in which we the people can change the course of the country. So at the end of the day, it is always important for voters to double check that 1) they are registered to vote beforehand, and 2) make sure that if a photo ID is required at the ballot box, they have one with them ready to show.

Gen Y entrepreneurs making their mark

Tamara Bell — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 12:44:03 +0000

Nathaniel Whittemore, the November Y Gen Entrepreneur, is founder and co-founder of several companies. Today, he is a principal with Learn Capital, a San Francisco-based venture capital firm focused exclusively on funding entrepreneurs with a vision for better and smarter learning.

Nathaniel joins Keeping Up with Gen Y to explain that while success for young entrepreneurs often depends on the right place, right time, and right connections, it doesn’t always have to be left to chance. He also discusses how writing can help Gen Y gain credentials as well as respect in industries where one day they want to make their mark.

MORE ABOUT NATHANIEL WHITTEMORE

Nathaniel Whittemore, principal, Learn Capital

Since graduating Cum Laude with honors in History from Northwestern University, Nathaniel Whittemore has founded and co-founded several companies, including the Center for Global Engagement, a multi-disciplinary center at his alma mater that designs programs for students interested in global development, philanthropy, and social entrepreneurship. The CGE currently runs programs in Uganda, India, Bolivia, Nicaragua, and South Africa, and its approach to experiential global education has been held up as a model by institutions such as the Clinton Global Initiative University program.

The San Francisco resident was the founding editor of the Social Entrepreneurship portal on Change.org, which he grew from launch to the most read website about the topic. He serves as an advisor and evangelist for a number of nonprofits and startups, including Assetmap – a platform for accelerating professional serendipity – which he co-founded. Nathaniel also writes regularly about education, business, and social innovation for publications including GOOD, Inc, and Fast Company.

Today, Nathaniel is a principal with Learn Capital, a venture capital firm focused exclusively on funding entrepreneurs with a vision for better and smarter learning.

You can listen to the show below or you can download it as a podcast from our iTunes page. And you can find us on WomensRadio.

Occupy Wall Street offers lessons for Gen Y

Tamara Bell — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 21:13:14 +0000

Over the past year or so, we’ve witnessed riots in countries across the world. And today, ongoing demonstrations in our country are making headlines around the globe. But what’s the main reason behind all this unrest?

Solomon Polachek, a preeminent scholar in labor economics and conflict resolution at Binghamton University, joins Keeping Up with Gen Y to explain how economic imbalance figures into the Occupy Wall Street protests and how it compares and contrasts to previous movements in the United States as well as more recently in other countries. He also points out lessons Gen Y can learn from the demonstrations as they face high unemployment and job scarcity in a tight economic market.

MORE ABOUT SOLOMON POLACHEK, PH.D.

Dr. Solomon Polachek, scholar in labor economics and conflict resolution, Binghamton University

Solomon Polachek is a preeminent scholar in labor economics and conflict resolution at Binghamton University.

Dr. Polachek joined Binghamton University in 1983. He holds appointments in the Economics and Political Science Departments, and from 1996 to 2000 he served as Dean of the Arts and Sciences College. In 2005 he received the State University of New York Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.

With a doctorate from Columbia University, Dr. Polachek has had post-doctoral fellowships at the University of Chicago, Stanford, and Princeton. He is coauthor of the book, The Economics of Earnings, and has published more than 100 articles and book chapters. He also is editor of Research in Labor Economics, on the editorial boards of a number of academic journals, and a Research Fellow at the Institute for the Study of Labor in Bonn.

You can listen to the show below or you can download it as a podcast from our iTunes page. And you can find us on WomensRadio.

Gen Y getting smart about energy conservation

Tamara Bell — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 12:13:20 +0000

It’s no surprise that Gen Y is known to be the most environmentally aware generation. But while they express interest in being eco-friendly, surveys show they’re not any more likely to be involved in green-related activities than older generations.

Alicia Dixon, manager of Public Relations for CenterPoint Energy, a Houston-based domestic energy delivery company, joins Keeping Up with Gen Y to talk about how new technologies, including Smart Meters and Intelligent Grids, will help consumers conserve more by allowing them to keep track of their energy use. She also points out that Gen Y, who typically don’t have the money to buy hybrid cars or energy-efficient appliances, can make little changes that pay off in big ways towards saving energy at home and at work.

MORE ABOUT ALICIA DIXON

Manager of Public Relations, CenterPoint Energy

Alicia Dixon is manager of Public Relations for CenterPoint Energy, a Houston-based domestic energy delivery company that includes electric transmission and distribution, natural gas distribution, competitive natural gas sales and services, interstate pipelines, and field services operations. The company serves more than five million metered customers primarily in Arkansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas.

A graduate of Baylor University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, Alicia joined CenterPoint in 1990 and has been in her current role since 1999. She also is a member of the Public Relations Society of America and the International Association of Business Communicators.

You can listen to the show below or you can download it as a podcast from our iTunes page. And you can find us on WomensRadio.

Young dancer lifts special needs students to new heights

Tamara Bell — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 12:08:20 +0000

On the list of what little girls want to be when they grow up, ballerina is somewhere at the top. But for those with special needs, the dream of dancing often goes unrealized.

Fortunately, that’s no longer the case in one Texas town. Last year, Leah McGee, a 24-year-old Lake Jackson native, started A Chance to Dance, a non-profit organization that provides professional dance instruction to children with special needs.

Leah joins Keeping Up with Gen Y to talk about how inspiration can be the impetus for changing others’ lives. She also discusses how the power of a heartfelt mission statement can guide Gen Y-founded nonprofits to success.

MORE ABOUT LEAH MCGEE

Leah McGee, founder, A Chance to Dance

Leah McGee began taking dance classes at 3. Now at 24, the Lake Jackson native has started A Chance to Dance, a non-profit organization that provides professional dance instruction to children with special needs.

While at Baylor University studying Education, Leah was a member of the Baylor Dance Company. She also worked with underprivileged children in an after-school tutor program through Mission Waco, a local non-profit that helps the poor and disenfranchised. After graduation from Baylor, Leah went on to receive her Doctor of Physical Therapy from Texas Woman’s University in Houston, where she currently works in pediatrics.

You can listen to the show below or you can download it as a podcast from our iTunes page. And you can find us on WomensRadio.

No Gen Y entrepreneur is an island

Tamara Bell — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 12:14:36 +0000

Tony Aguilar, the October Y Gen Entrepreneur, is founder and CEO of Amiti Advising, an Austin, Texas-based financial planning firm focused on young professionals, young families, and college students.

Tony joins Keeping Up with Gen Y to talk about how young entrepreneurs can reach the next level by surrounding themselves with a team who shares their vision. He also discusses the need in Gen Y business owners to foster positive change not only across our country, but the world.

MORE ABOUT TONY AGUILAR

Tony Aguilar, founder, Amiti Advising

Tony Aguilar is founder and CEO of Amiti Advising, an Austin, Texas-based financial planning firm focused on young professionals, young families, and college students. Before starting Amiti, Tony was a corporate financial advisor helping manage over $100 million in assets. During that time, he designed portfolio management strategies, created statewide marketing plans, and developed company seminars.

A native of Texas, Tony attended Indiana University, where he studied finance, business law, and economics.

You can listen to the show below or you can download it as a podcast from our iTunes page. And you can find us on WomensRadio.

Breast cancer: Gen Y women not immune

Tamara Bell — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 12:35:52 +0000

Since 1985, every October has been dedicated as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Crystal King, Gen Y breast cancer survivor and manager of multicultural marketing for Susan G. Komen for the Cure, joins Keeping Up with Gen Y to discuss how we need to rewrite the mindset that suggests young women, especially those with no family history, are immune from breast cancer. She also points out that, for minority women in particular, it’s OK to talk about the cancer. Talking about it can actually save young lives.

MORE ABOUT CRYSTAL KING

Crystal King, manager, multicultural marketing for Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Crystal King is a 6-year breast cancer survivor and manager of the multicultural marketing for Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Crystal was only 25 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. At that time, she had begun her professional career as a sales manager for Philip Morris USA after graduating from Albany State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing.

Today, Crystal is manager of Circle of Promise, Komen’s African American program, where she works with the organization’s 122 domestic affiliates to help further their outreach efforts into minority communities. She is responsible for supporting the organization’s inclusion goals both internally and externally as well as underscoring their commitment to reducing the disparities that many women face in underserved communities by creating a greater awareness. Her time with Komen has provided her with a platform to impact women in all walks of life both internationally and domestically.

Internationally, Crystal takes pride in helping to formulate activities for awareness and early detection as Komen takes its efforts beyond U.S. shores to focus on reducing the disparities for black women around the globe.

She travels the country as a speaker for many occasions and is most recognized for being featured on Cherrios cereal boxes and other General Mills products as the company’s Pink Together Survivor Ambassador. For her work, Crystal was awarded the prestigious “Touching A Life” award by The National Basketball Wives Association during the NBA All-Star weekend last year.

You can listen to the show below or you can download it as a podcast from our iTunes page. And you can find us on WomensRadio.

With new fees, should Gen Y leave big banks?

Tony Aguilar — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 21:53:04 +0000

(Editor’s Note: Bi-monthly, Y Gen Out Loud will be publishing a column by Tony Aguilar, founder and CEO of Amiti Advising, an Austin, Texas-based financial planning firm focused on young professionals, young families, and college students. I’ve known Tony for a while, and I’m excited to have him posting here. His columns will provide insight and information for Gen Y on finance, economics, and business. — T.B.)

In the last couple of days you’ve heard about all these changes taking place with our wonderful banks. Here’s a break down of what’s going on, why it happened, and what you should do.

On Oct. 1, the Federal Reserve instituted a 24 cent cap on swipe fees that banks can charge merchants, which is about 20 cents lower than what the average used to be. Banks say these swipe fees are necessary to cover fraud prevention, processing transactions, and overhead. Congress crunched some numbers and realized that it didn’t cost 44 cents per transaction to cover these costs, so they passed a law that limited how much banks can charge per swipe.

Banks will be losing about $9 billion a year because of this new law and you know they’re going to find a way to get this cash back. Months ago, in anticipation of this swipe limit, many banks began scaling back or eliminating their rewards programs. Doing this not only saved them some dough, but it made their credit cards more attractive because they still offer hefty rewards programs. Equifax reported that between January and May of this year, 15 million new credit cards were issued which is a three year high. Credit cards issued to the highest risk borrowers rose 65 percent!

But that’s another story. Back to our wonderful banks. One way to patch these swipe fee wounds is to charge customers a monthly fee for using their debit card. Bank of America, the country’s largest bank, is taking the most heat for it right now, but SunTrust and Regents added the same fees. This week, Bank of America announced it will begin charging $5/month for each customer who uses their debit card starting first thing 2012. Happy New Year! That’s right, you Bank of America, SunTrust, and Regents users will be charged $60/year for using your own money. Let’s see who’s next to follow.

What’s even better is that many banks (ahem, Chase) are now charging $5 ATM fees (in some cities) for using another financial institution’s ATM. If you’re downtown and you end up pulling cash from another bank’s ATM twice a month and are charged $5 for using your debit card to pay for your dinner, then you are looking at $180/year for using basic services. After all this happens, do not even think about going to chat with a teller at your local branch because they’ll tack on another $8.95 per month if you do.

So what should you do? Leave the bank that pulled your rewards program, increased your ATM fees, and charged you $5 for using your debit card for another bank (or credit union) that has a rewards program, little or no ATM fees, and free checking. Yes, there are still some banks and credit unions out there that offer these (formerly basic) perks.

Many credit unions and local banks are exempt from the swipe fee rule, so they have no need to charge you a monthly fee to use your debit card. Also, many smaller banks and credit unions cover your ATM fees and have retained their rewards programs.

Online banks like Ally and ING Direct have many of these great perks and have savings account interest rates that are 5 to 10 times higher than what your bank probably yields. Currently, Ally and ING Direct offer a whopping 1 percent on savings accounts, while Chase and Bank of America offer less than 0.2 percent. Online bank accounts are usually free to open and they will transfer money out of your existing bank at no cost. The only downfall is there are few, if any, brick and mortar locations, so if you consistently need to hit up your bank to deposit checks then it may be better to seek out a credit union near you.

If you have any questions about how these new fees will affect your personal situation, you can email me at tony@amitiadvising.com.