Blogs

Real-Life Adventures in Estate Planning: Part 1

Apr 25, 2025

The future is unknowable but estate planning is a way to protect your legacy and provide for those you love. Our next two blogs will share client stories, one highlighting effective planning and another offering a valuable lesson, both of which illustrate the importance of planning ahead.Full Story

Essential Planning: Five Steps to Simplify Your Life

Apr 11, 2025

In this installment of our BCT blogosphere, BCT Wealth Advisors offers straightforward, proven solutions to help you ease the burdens on your loved ones and beneficiaries when its time to deal with the inevitable. Full Story

The Power of Reinvesting in Our Community

Apr 07, 2025

Reinvesting in your community sounds great, but how does one really put that into action? If you’ve ever wondered if it matters where you deposit your hard-earned money, be assured that it does. Full Story

Wealth Wisdom for Women

Mar 25, 2025

This edition of our Blog comes from our BCT Wealth Advisors team and is inspired by recent news regarding the upcoming transfer of wealth from Baby Boomers to their beneficiaries. Women benefit significantly!​Full Story

Are You Ready for Retirement? Key Questions to Ask.

Mar 11, 2025

The widespread discussion of deferred resignation and early retirement within our region’s households underscores the need for careful future planning. Ideally, feeling ready to retire and being ready to retire should go hand in hand, but the reality can be more complicated. Whether you’re thinking about retirement from any industry or simply pausing between career opportunities, BCT Wealth Advisors cares about what comes next for you and your family. Full Story

Catching Up with Melanie Canby, Callar Scholarship Recipient

Feb 25, 2025

A heartfelt commitment to building community defines everything we do at BCT Wealth Advisors. That’s why we manage scholarships to help community members advance their personal and professional goals. Every scholarship donor makes a profound difference in the lives of community members—full-time students and working professionals among them. Full Story

February Check-In: Are You Making Progress on Your 2025 Goals?

Feb 10, 2025

We kicked off 2025 with fresh motivation and new goals, but now that February is here, are you staying on track? While we can’t organize that pesky hall closet or finish that house project for you, we can help you reach your 2025 finance goals. According to our BCT Wealth Advisors team, here are three simple things that you can do now to elevate your financial wellness journey in 2025:Full Story

BCT's Alice Frazier Represents Community Banks at House Committee on Small Business

Feb 06, 2025

CHARLES TOWN, WV, February 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ (OTC:PTBS) Yesterday at the first House Small Business Committee hearing of the 119th Congress, Alice P. Frazier, President and CEO of BCT-Bank of Charles, spoke on behalf of the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) today calling on lawmakers to advance regulatory and tax relief that will further enhance lending to the nation’s small businesses. Full Story

Should You Make Extra Mortgage Payments? A Look at the Pros and Cons

Jan 06, 2025

A mortgage comes with one huge benefit: homeownership. But it also comes with a tough reality: paying interest. That can lead to sticker shock when you see how much that interest adds up over the life of your loan. Making extra payments in addition to your monthly mortgage payment could help you save hundreds or thousands of dollars of the life of your loan. But is that always the best financial choice?​Full Story

A Special Message from Alice Frazier for the 2025 New Year

Jan 01, 2025

Happy New Year Friends and Neighbors! New Year’s Day is always a special time for reflection and setting intentions. In the early quiet hours, before the household begins to stir, is my time. Nestled in my cozy corner of the couch, with the fireplace warming the room and the Christmas tree lights twinkling, I sit with my notebook and pen, ready to reflect and set my intentions for the year.Full Story

Avoid Holiday Scams

Dec 01, 2024

As the holiday season approaches, it seems like there are more and more fake shopping sites. The ads on social media show expensive products like electric scooters, designer bags, and other popular toys and gifts at unbelievably low prices. Many of these bogus sites use photos and logos the scammers steal from legitimate businesses, but they won’t send you authentic products. If you’re wondering how to avoid these phony offers, there are a few ways to help you detect them.Full Story

Cybersecurity Awareness Month

Oct 01, 2024

Staying Safe Online is Easier Than You Think! Every day we are more and more connected—whether messaging family and friends, shopping online or ordering supplies for our small businesses. It’s important to take steps to stay safe when using our phones, laptops and smart devices. The Cybersecurity & Infrastruction Security Agency of the United States of America, also known as CISA, provides important information to help. Full Story

Please Verify You Are Human: AI-Assisted Phishing

Aug 26, 2024

It’s no secret that artificial intelligence (AI) has been the talk of the town for the last couple of years. With tech giants like Google and Microsoft investing heavily in their applications, it seems this new technology is here to stay. From students outsourcing their assignments to ChatGPT, to businesses generating marketing material featuring employees with a few too many fingers, AI can be a powerful tool to increase the user’s productivity. Full Story

Stop Prescreened Credit and Insurance Offers

Jul 03, 2024

Do you receive unsolicited credit or insurance offers? Many, if not most, are a result of a "prescreening" of your credit report. Learn how prescreening works and how to opt out.Full Story

Five Beneficial Money Habits you Can Put into Practice Right Now

Jun 21, 2024

When it comes to saving, investing, or getting your finances in order, the process can often feel daunting. You may find yourself waiting for the next big life event or pushing off the process until the next month or the New Year. You might be unsure of where to start, or perhaps you feel like you’re lacking in resources or professional advice.Full Story

PODCAST: Alice Frazier - From Cowgirl to Batman

Jun 17, 2024

PODCAST: Alice Frazier shares life experiences that shaped her pathway from cowgirl to Batman. Nathan Baumeister leads BCT's President and CEO through an in-depth conversation of discovery, challenges, and unexpected opportunities. Full Story

Financial Literacy is Key to Effective Money Management for Teens...and the Whole Family

Jun 17, 2024

Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan once stated, “Financial education is a process that should begin at an early age and continue throughout life. This cumulative process builds the skills necessary for making critical financial decisions.” Full Story

Tips to Take the Financial Stress out of Travel

Jun 05, 2024

Vacations are meant to be relaxing, but under planning and overspending can lead to financial stressors. Consider the following tips to reduce travel-related anxiety and help you make the most out of your time away—whether journeying across state lines or overseas.Full Story

"Pig Butchering" Crypto Scams a Growing Concern

May 22, 2024

A new form of investment scam has skyrocketed in recent years as criminal syndicates target consumers through online channels. Called “pig butchering,” this new scam is increasingly relevant, including among the consumers and communities that community banks serve.Full Story

Preparing Your Home to Sell This Summer

Mar 07, 2024

Summer is peak season for the housing market, which means competition will be sizzling. If you’re selling this season, strike while the iron (like the weather) is hot by getting your home into tip-top shape before you even list it. How? Follow these tips and make your house the stand-out property of the season.Full Story

2024 New Year's Letter from Alice

Jan 01, 2024

Dear Clients, Friends, and Neighbors, my husband gave our adult children a special pen and journal for Christmas this year. His words of wisdom were, “Be sure to look around and take in those special moments coming to you in 2024. Take time to journal all that you see and feel. Many years from now you will appreciate the opportunity to read your thoughts from back-in-the-day.” Full Story