MACU FOR YOU NEWSLETTER Fall 2026

One of the latest ruses on the rise is SIM swapping — when a criminal tricks your mobile carrier into transferring your phone number to a new SIM card.

With the new SIM card under their control, the fraudster gains access not only to your phone number, but also other information linked to your device, including

• Financial accounts, such as online banking and payment apps
• Digital identities, such as your social media accounts and digital handles
• Stored data, including all apps, contacts, messages and security codes, and
• Personal information such as your name, address, date of birth and other identifiable information

Signs of SIM swapping

• You can’t place calls, send texts or access certain accounts.
• You received an email that your SIM card was activated on another device.
• You can’t log into accounts.
• You find unfamiliar financial activity.

Take action if targeted

To mitigate the damage of a SIM swapping takeover, take these steps.

• Change passwords and logins of all digital accounts, starting with your email.
• Contact your cell phone provider to get back control of your phone number.
• Contact all your financial institutions and credit card companies and consider locking the accounts until the issue is resolved.
• Place free fraud alerts and credit freezes with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

Ways to protect yourself

• Check if your mobile carrier offers SIM lock features, such as a password code.
• Use unique complex passwords for digital accounts and enable multi-factor authentication on accounts.
• Opt for more secure authentication methods such as fingerprint of facial recognition or hardware-based security keys.
• Monitor your accounts.

Melisa Hunt was just dropping off a deposit from her in-home daycare business when she saw a job opening for a teller posted at Mid American Credit Union. Having worked at another financial institution before opening her daycare business, Hunt applied.

That was 30 years ago.

Hunt’s career at Mid American has progressed from being on the teller line to helping process mortgage loans to working in financial services. While technology has changed considerably for both employees and members, two things have remained constant in Hunt’s MACU career: feeling like she’s working among family and helping members with their finances.

One member stands out in particular for Hunt: a young man worried about having his truck repossessed and handling his debt. She helped him refinance his truck loan through MACU and then continued to advise him on how he could repair his debt and build his credit. The young man showed his depth of appreciation by inviting her to his wedding.

Besides her MACU family, Hunt also loves spending time with her own family. “My grandchildren are my greatest joy,” she said. She also enjoys vacationing near oceans and mountains.

By Debbie Stang, Home Loan Officer

While each season can bring a checklist of chores for homeowners, fall is the most crucial window for doing home maintenance. Taking a weekend to winterize your home in early fall and scheduling professional services can prevent minor issues from turning into costly repairs later.

Maintain a sound structure. The freezing and thawing that comes with winter weather can cause damage to two major areas of your home: its roof and foundation. Clear debris from gutters and inspect for and repair cracks in the foundation.

Clogged gutters can trap water that can create ice dams in winter weather. The heavy ice can cause gutters to pull away from the roof and force water backward under your shingles. Freezing moisture in foundation cracks can cause them to widen, leading to water leaks and structural shifts.

Avoid other water hazards. Freezing water can also cause problems for pipes and sprinkler systems. Disconnect, drain and store garden hoses since trapped water can freeze inside faucets and cause pipes to burst. Schedule a blow-out of sprinkler lines before the first hard ground freeze.

Keep the heat inside. Caulking and applying weatherstripping to leaking windows and doors will not only keep the heat inside and chilly air outside, but it will also help reduce your heating bills. Another energy-saving tip: reverse ceiling fans to run clockwise to force warm air that collects near the ceiling back down. Also, don’t wait for your furnace to fail during falling temps; schedule an annual inspection to ensure it’s running efficiently.

Other checks on the checklist. Test all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and change batteries if you haven't done so recently. If you have a wood-burning fireplace, have the chimney swept to clear out creosote buildup, a leading cause of house fires. Don’t wait for the first snowfall to make sure winter equipment and tools, like a snowblower or shovels, are in working order.

Don’t forget lawn care. Trim and remove dead tree limbs in the fall to help prevent them from crashing into your home or falling into your driveway and power lines during high winds or heavy ice accumulation. Get a head start on next year’s lawn by aerating and overseeding before the ground freezes. Remember to clean and store your lawn equipment and outdoor patio furniture.

For more information about Mid American’s mortgage products, click here, or please call 316-722-3921 and ask for either me or LeeAnn Marker in mortgages, or email debbies@midamerican.coop or leeannm@midamerican.coop.

By Jessica Brokaw, CFP®

During your working years, life is built around a steady paycheck. Money comes in regularly, bills get paid and whatever is left goes toward savings. Retirement flips that script. Instead of saving from a paycheck, you’re creating one — from the money you’ve already saved. A “retirement paycheck” simply means having a plan to turn your retirement savings into reliable income you can count on each month. The goal isn’t just having a large account balance — it’s making sure your money lasts and supports your lifestyle.

Where Retirement Income Comes From

Most retirees rely on a mix of income sources. For many, Social Security is the starting point of a retirement paycheck. It provides guaranteed income for life and adjusts for inflation over time. The age at which you claim benefits matters: claiming earlier means smaller monthly payments, whereas delaying can increase your payments. Many people use Social Security to cover basic expenses, then rely on retirement accounts and other personal savings sources to fill the gap and provide flexibility for spending.

How Much Can You Spend — Safely?

One of the biggest challenges in retirement is figuring out how much you can spend each year. Retirement can last 20 to 30 years — or longer — so it’s important to balance enjoying today with protecting tomorrow. A retirement paycheck approach looks at your expected expenses, rising costs over time and healthcare needs to help create steady income without running out too soon.

Planning for Change

Retirement isn’t one long, predictable phase. Many people spend more early on when they’re active, then less later and possibly more again if healthcare costs rise. Having different income sources and a flexible withdrawal plan can help you adjust as your needs change. If you need help building a flexible retirement paycheck that covers your anticipated needs, consider working with a financial professional.

Making It Feel Like a Paycheck Again

Many retirees feel more confident when income arrives in a regular, predictable way — such as monthly withdrawals — rather than taking money out only when bills come due. Creating that “paycheck” feeling can reduce stress and make retirement finances easier to manage. A retirement paycheck isn’t about guesswork. It’s about having a clear plan so your savings can support you — month after month, year after year.

At Mid American, LPL Financial Advisor Jessica Brokaw is available to assist you with investment, retirement and legacy planning. Contact her at Jessica.Brokaw@LPL.com or 316-779-0800.

Informational Sources: Kiplinger: “The Rule of 240 Paychecks in Retirement” (May 15, 2025); Investopedia: “How to Create a Retirement Paycheck” (June 28, 2025).

LPL Financial and its advisors are only offering educational services and cannot offer participants investment advice specific to their particular needs. If you are seeking investment advice specific to your needs, such advisory services must be obtained on your own separate from this educational material.

©2026 Kmotion, Inc. All rights reserved. The article and opinions are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. Nothing in this article shall be construed as providing investment counseling or directing employees to participate in any investment program in any way. Please consult your financial advisor or other appropriate professional for further assistance with regard to your individual situation.