Tucson Business Radio

TMBS E27, Michelle McLellan, Sr. Product Mgmt Exec. at BofA

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Michelle McLellan, Senior Product Management Executive at Bank of America   

Nearly 80 percent of homes in the U.S. are at least 20 years old according to the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. And some much older than that. Aging homes means many homeowners either want to bring their homes up to date, or they need to replace well-worn parts of their homes.  

They’re taking remodeling into their own hands to make their home fit their lifestyle. Whether it’s fashion or home design, we’ve all made trendy choices that make us look back and cringe. Wood paneling may have been on-trend in the 70s, but today it makes a room look dull and dated. And, if you still have a Tuscan-inspired kitchen, it’s overdue for a refresh. After all, reviving your space can help you feel more at home in a place you’ve already grown fond of. And while we see so many design ideas we’d like to try, we don’t get much information when it comes to paying for all these fun changes. For the big items, a trusty credit card isn’t necessarily a financially savvy choice. There are other ways to finance your home renovations, like a home equity line of credit (HELOC), but they can be a bit intimidating until you uncover the mystery). 

Relevant research from the 2018 Houzz & Home Study: Role of Secured Financing in U.S. Home Improvement in Collaboration with Bank of America: 

• Homeowners choose to finance the big projects – A typical homeowner using secured (e.g. home equity line of credit, cash-out refinance) financing spent $32,000 on 2017 renovations, three times more than a renovator paying with cash ($13,000). 
• Home equity lines of credit provide flexibility – Those surveyed said they were motivated to use a HELOC by its ease of use (39%), low cost (38%), quick funds (30%) and tax deductions (29%). 

Tucson Business Radio

TMBS E26, James Billl Oxford, American Legion Commander

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James W. “Bill” Oxford, The National Commander

Vietnam War veteran James W. “Bill” Oxford was elected national commander of the nearly 2 million-member American Legion on August 29, 2019, in Indianapolis, during the organization’s 101st national convention. He has been a member of the nation’s largest veterans’ organization since 1986.

A native of Lenoir, N.C., Oxford is a paid-up-for- life member and past commander of Post 29 in Lenoir. He served as department (state) commander of the North Carolina American Legion from 2010 to 2011. A veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, Oxford was an aviation electronics technician for the A-6 Intruder and served in Vietnam during his initial enlistment. After being discharged as a sergeant in 1970, Oxford joined the North Carolina National Guard.  He subsequently attended officer’s candidate school and transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve, where he ultimately retired as a colonel after more than 34 years of military service.

An active volunteer with several organizations, Oxford is a member of Masonic lodge-York and Scottish Rite. His theme as national commander of The American Legion is “a foundation for the future,” as the organization enters its second century of service.

 About the American League: www.legion.org

The American Legion was founded one hundred years ago by World War I veterans concerned about their wounded comrades and the sacrifices that were made to defend freedom and although you are nonpartisan you strongly believe that all of our elected officials should ensure that veterans, members of our military and their families feel the gratitude of a nation that truly appreciates and values their service and sacrifice.

The Nation’s Largest Veterans Organization Looks to its Second Century as America’s Most Influential Voice for Veterans. Of course, I am referring to the American Legion with about two million members and nearly 13,000 posts worldwide, whose members are involved in community-based support of veterans, service members and their families. The American Legion is strongly committed to helping veterans and military families with its outreach programs and lobbying efforts, as a new generation of returning veterans reintegrate into the community.

In the aftermath of another Election day, Bill Oxford is hoping that Americans will pause to remember just who it is that makes it possible to freely choose our elected officials. By that you mean Bill?

“It is fitting that Veteran’s Day is just a few days after Americans traditionally go to the polls,” Oxford said. “It is, after all, the veteran who protects our freedom and ensures that our constitutional republic is protected from tyrannical regimes and terrorists who hate our way of life. 

Congress and the White House still have some unfinished business that we would like to see them address expeditiously.”

Among issues that The American Legion hopes people will focus on:

• Congress still has not passed the Pay Our Coast Guard Act. When the federal government shut down earlier this year, the Coast Guard was the only military branch to experience an interruption in their payroll.  During that period, The American Legion provided more than one million dollars in grants to junior-ranking Coast Guard members who had children at home. Unlike the other military branches, the Coast Guard falls under the Department of Homeland Security. Legislation in Congress would ensure that Coast Guard funds are appropriated in advance, like the military branches in the DoD, and that members of Coast Guard would be paid on time in the unfortunate event of future government shutdowns.
• The American Legion Family is playing a vital role in helping communities recover from the devastation caused by recent hurricanes and other natural disasters. Families inside and outside The American Legion desperately need assistance. The American Legion has many assistance programs but public unity and attention are essential in this rebuilding effort.
• Thousands of veterans struggle daily to overcome the hardships inflicted by traumatic brain injury, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other signature wounds of war.

The American Legion strongly believes that the Department of Veterans Affairs, which has problems, is a system worth saving and must be strengthened. Treatment for veterans is the cost of not only war but of maintaining a strong defense during peacetime. America has an obligation to treat these veterans in the health care system that was built specifically to address their unique needs. “Choice” has an important role, but it should not be funded in a manner that will diminish the VA system. The American Legion will work closely with the VA to ensure smooth implementation of the VA Mission Act

• The Harry W Colmery “Forever” GI Bill has many improved benefits that eligible veterans may not be aware of. The American Legion played a crucial role in the crafting of this and earlier versions of this landmark legislation.
• Reforming the VA health care system is not just a task, but a continuing process that will only improve if Americans hold their elected officials accountable and demand that veterans be treated with the dignity and respect that they have earned.

The best way for employers to thank a veteran is to hire one. By providing jobs, employers can help eliminate veteran homelessness.

To maintain a strong volunteer military, America should provide a high quality of life for military members and their families, and the training, technology, and weapons needed to prevail against any enemy.

Veterans are a vital part of communities across the nation.  American Legion programs such as Operation Comfort Warriors, Boys State, Boys Nation, American Legion Baseball, Oratorical Scholarship contests, blood donations and the National Emergency Fund benefit and touch countless lives.

The American Legion is the nation’s largest veterans’ service organization, with about two million members and nearly 13,000 posts worldwide, whose members are involved in community-based support of veterans, service members, and their families. The American Legion is strongly committed to helping veterans and military families with its outreach programs and lobbying efforts, as a new generation of returning veterans reintegrate into the community.

Where can my listeners find more information about The American Legion?   www.legion.org