Best Life Podcast | Altra Federal Credit Union

Paying for college can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. In this episode of the Best Life Podcast, Tony sits down with Western Technical College financial resource coordinator Jen Weber and Altra Federal Credit Union youth marketing specialist Holly Salimes to break down FAFSA basics, financial aid options, and scholarship opportunities. Learn practical tips to make higher education more affordable and discover how “free money” like grants and scholarships can help students and families plan with confidence.

On this episode of the Best Life Podcast, host Tony Beyer sits down with Trish Owen, Escrow Supervisor at Altra Federal Credit Union, to break down the 2026 updates to escrow analysis. They explain what escrow is, why annual escrow analysis matters, and how shortages, deficiencies, and surpluses affect your mortgage payment. Trish also shares guidance on where to find your escrow statement, what impacts payment changes, and how members can manage their escrow accounts throughout the year. For questions, members can contact the Escrow Department at 608 787 7500, mail payments to 1700 Oak Forest Drive, Onalaska, WI 54650 (Attn: Escrow Department), or by visiting altra.org.

Kick off 2026 with practical money tips as Tony Beyer sits down with Financial Wellness Coordinator Angelica Bravo to discuss how small, consistent financial habits can create big, long term impact. Together, they break down approachable steps for building a spending plan, tackling unexpected expenses, and jump starting your savings. Whether you’re refining your spending plan or looking for ways to free up cash in the new year, this episode offers simple strategies to help you start 2026 on the right financial foot. To learn more about Altra’s Financial Coaches and educational resources, visit altra.org/financial-wellness

On this episode of the Best Life Podcast, Tony sits down with Julie Kaphingst, VP of Virtual Engagement at Altra Federal Credit Union, to talk about some of the exciting new features included in our Digital Restyle. They dive into the updates and improvements coming to our online and mobile banking experience like easily checking your credit score, enhanced card controls, new savings tools, customizable dashboards, member to member transfers, and upgraded security features. Tony also confesses he might come up way short on the money Julie is requesting through the app…and by short, we mean WAY short! Visit altra.org/digital-restyle to learn more about how Altra is reshaping the digital banking experience. To watch the video version of this episode, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bhQex5B_cs

On this episode of the Best Life Podcast, Tony leads an informative discussion about protecting your home through home insurance with the Director of Public Affairs for the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance, Sarah Smith, and also Jennifer Robaczewski, who is an Escrow Specialist with Altra Federal Credit Union. Learn more about what homeowners’ insurance is, what it may cover, why it’s important to not be under insured for when the unexpected happens to your home. Contact the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance at (608) 266-3585 or online at oci.wi.gov/complaints For more information and to get your questions answered about Altra home loans and escrow accounts, call (608) 787-7500 or (800) 755-0055 ext. 7500, or send an email at [email protected]

In this episode of the Best Life Podcast, Tony welcomes back Brandon Hougom, AVP of Consumer Lending at Altra Federal Credit Union, to clarify the credit underwriting process. They explore how lending decisions are made, the five C’s of credit, and practical tips for improving your credit score. Get your free credit report from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion at annualcreditreport.com Find additional resources and information at altra.org/financial-wellness

In this episode of the Best Life Podcast, Tony speaks with Travis Harrelson, a member of TruStage’s Preplanning Solutions Team, to discuss a very important topic: estate planning. Listen as Tony and Travis talk about what an estate plan is, what it includes, and why everyone should have one. To learn more and access Altra Estate Planning, visit: https://www.altra.org/invest-insure/altra-estate-planning

In this episode of the Best Life Podcast, Tony sits down with Ironcore, Inc. CEO Andy Minneker to talk data security, current threats, and how Ironcore is able to help financial institutions protect themselves from cyber threats. For more information on Ironcore, Inc. and how they’re able to help financial institutions, visit ironcore-inc.com

On this episode of the Best Life Podcast, Tony speaks with Altra’s Real Estate Post Closer II, Heather Wenhardt about escrow accounts and how the analysis of those accounts affects your monthly mortgage payments. Tony and Heather talk about what all goes into an escrow analysis, when it happens every year, and all the helpful ways Altra is able to get your mortgage questions answered.  

In this episode of the Best Life Podcast, Tony sits down with Brandon Hougom, AVP of Consumer Lending at Altra Federal Credit Union. In their chat, Tony and Brandon address some of the myths surrounding credit and why they’re simply not correct. In addition to setting the record straight on some of these credit misconceptions, the two share great information on how to improve your credit worthiness and credit score.