Author: Admin

This year’s holiday spending is expected to push the nation’s $1.17 trillion in household credit card debt even higher—and with rising debt, cardholders are increasingly at risk of falling behind on their payments.

A new analysis from Upgraded Points sheds light on credit card delinquency rates in the U.S., broken down by metro and state. Researchers ranked locations by the share of cardholders with severely delinquent debt as of Q4 2023, the latest data available.

Credit Card Delinquency in Georgia

• Last year, 16.5% of cardholders in Georgia had severely delinquent debt (90+ days overdue), the 3rd highest delinquency rate in the nation.

• The average credit card debt in Georgia was $6,757.

• Additionally, 33.3% of Georgia cardholders utilized more than 75% of their total credit, which can hurt credit scores and make it more difficult to secure loans or favorable interest rates in the future.

Access to credit is an important resource for managing personal finances, whether to pay for major purchases, serve as a bridge to cover regular expenses, or smooth out spending when something unexpected happens. But reliance on debt like credit cards can also mean racking up large balances that are hard to pay off.

In this tumultuous economy, rising financial pressures have caused more individuals to struggle with credit card payments, leading to higher delinquency rates and worsening financial strain. This analysis examines how credit card delinquency rates vary across the U.S., highlighting the regions and demographics most affected by financial instability.

For the full report visit upgradedpoints.com

Travel Growth Marketer Role

The Rise of Travel Growth Marketers The job title “growth marketer” is hot of late. Salaries are impressive, often above $100k. The role is created for growing visibility and reach, marketshare, sales, revenue, content, product improvement, and developing new types of customers. I like the idea of this role. The focus is on growth and…

Social Media Engagement Tips

Social Media Engagement Tips for Travel Companies Social media is an engaging, even addictive medium, even for travelers. It’s a wise choice for travel agencies, travel marketplaces, and tour operators to explore and engage in. This buzzword of engagement needs a little more clarification too. Why are you engaging with followers? Why would they participate?…

Business leaders registered a huge shift in positive sentiment about prospects for the U.S. economy and their own organizations in the wake of the recent U.S. presidential election, according to the fourth-quarter AICPA & CIMA Economic Outlook Survey. The quarterly survey polls chief executive officers, chief financial officers, controllers and other certified public accountants in U.S. companies who hold executive and senior management accounting roles.

Two-thirds (67%) of business executives said they were optimistic about the economy’s prospects over the next 12 months – a dramatic rise of 41 percentage points from the previous quarter. It’s the highest the measure has reached since early 2020, when it stood at 74 before cratering due to pandemic-related business shutdowns and travel bans.

Business executives’ outlook on the global economy also improved markedly, with those expressing optimism rising from 19% to 41%, quarter over quarter.

“Business executives say they’re looking forward to less regulation and more favorable tax policies and we’re seeing that optimism translate into higher profit expectations and revenue estimates,” said Tom Hood, AICPA & CIMA’s executive vice president for business engagement and growth. “Our first quarter 2025 survey, once the new administration’s policies actually begin to be put in place, will offer insight into whether the enthusiasm is sustainable or not.”

Inflation reclaimed the top spot for business concerns in the survey. Domestic political leadership, which has ranged from No. 4 to No. 7 on the list over the past three quarters, disappeared from the top 10 altogether.

The AICPA survey is a forward-looking indicator that tracks hiring and business-related expectations for the next 12 months. In comparison, the U.S. Department of Labor’s November employment report, scheduled for release tomorrow, looks back on the previous month’s hiring trends.

Other key findings of the survey:

• Revenue and profit expectations for the next 12 months both rose substantially. Revenue growth is now expected to be 3.3%, more than double the 1.5% projection last quarter. Profit projections are now 2.2%, up from 0.2% last quarter.

• Business executives who said they were optimistic about their own organization’s outlook over the next 12 months rose from 41% to 53%, quarter over quarter.

• A majority (57%) of survey respondents expect their businesses to expand over the next 12 months, up from 44% last quarter.

• Those who said they had too few employees rose from 29% to 38%. One-in-five said they were ready to hire immediately, up from 14% last quarter. Employee and benefit costs, availability of skilled personnel and staff turnover all remained top concerns for employers.

There are a lot of ways the ball can be dropped when it comes to your insurance. People often assume that they’re covered in ways they aren’t. If you’ve ever been in this position, you know how frustrating it is to have large and unexpected costs after an accident. Hear more on how Georgia Farm Bureau helps their members don’t drop the ball from Whitney Mooney, Associate Director of the Information and PR Department.

Thirty high school students representing 29 counties across Georgia have built their leadership skills and knowledge through a statewide youth leadership program run by the University of Georgia.

The students graduated from the inaugural Youth LEAD Georgia class on Nov. 4 at Trilith Studios near Atlanta.

“This was a very insightful program,” said Erin Stanford of Swainsboro. “It made me more confident and helped me understand what I need to do for my community.”

A partnership among UGA’s J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development; Chick-fil-A, Inc.; and The Same House organization, Youth LEAD Georgia is designed to equip youth with the skills and knowledge necessary to be the future leaders of the state.

A generous $1.5 million pledge from Chick-fil-A to the UGA Fanning Institute is providing financial support for Youth LEAD Georgia and an annual youth leadership summit. Thanks to the support from Chick-fil-A, Youth LEAD Georgia is available at no cost to participants.

“Chick-fil-A’s investment in Youth LEAD Georgia represents our continued commitment to developing and empowering the next generation of leaders,” said Brent Fielder, Vice President of Global Impact, Chick-fil-A, Inc. “We congratulate the inaugural graduates of this program and look forward to seeing how the skills and connections they have fostered will help them enact meaningful change in their communities in the years ahead.”

These 30 students began the program in January as 10th and 11th graders. Now 11th and 12th graders, they have attended four weekend retreats held in different communities across the state and a four-day summer bus tour of south Georgia.

“It was great to see some places for the first time and also learn things about communities I had been to that I never knew before,” said Mary Burke Smith of Rome.

At graduation, the program also announced the inaugural class of Bullard Community Champions. This generous gift from Rodney Bullard, CEO of The Same House, to UGA enables Youth LEAD Georgia participants to take on service projects in their local communities, offering them the chance to put their leadership and citizenship skills into action.

“The Same House extends much deserved congratulations to the 2024 Youth LEAD Georgia graduates and to the Fanning Institute for its leadership in developing this program that will pay incredible dividends for the participants and their communities,” said Bullard. “We are looking forward to supporting and working with the graduates as they undertake projects as Bullard Community Champions.”

Bullard, fellow Georgia business leader Fred Hicks and faculty at UGA’s Fanning Institute collaboratively designed the concept of the program. UGA Fanning Institute faculty developed the programming and curriculum and are facilitating Youth LEAD Georgia.

“Through Youth LEAD Georgia, these youth have had a chance to develop the leadership skills, build the connections and gain the understanding to engage in their communities as future leaders,” said Lauren Healey, UGA Fanning Institute senior public service faculty. “We appreciate these young people for their efforts, and we are grateful for the partnership with Chick-fil-A and The Same House.”

Along with the leadership training, the youth participated in experiential learning activities and in-depth dialogue on current issues and challenges facing Georgia. They also had the opportunity to interact with prominent business and community leaders.

The 2024 Youth LEAD Georgia class is:

• Amelia Claire Anderson, Trenton

• Ethan Barlay, Stockbridge

• Samantha Barrera-Morales, Lilburn

• Jake Bennett, Thomson

• Louden Busbee, Macon

• Evan Cornish, Athens

• Gabrielle Culbreath, Atlanta

• Presley Douglas, Metter

• Addie Drinnon, Americus

• Grayson Faircloth, Carrollton

• Elizabeth Ann Hobby, Moultrie

• Claire Jefferson, Byron

• Mason Johnson, Albany

• Hannah Kelly, Hephzibah

• Riley Kennard, Acworth

• Kailyn King, Statesboro

• Lilly Lanier, Newton

• Christina Mack, Stone Mountain

• Jawhon Moye, Atlanta

• Owen Osborne, Newnan

• AAshi Patel, Cordele

• Mary Hollis Pugmire, Madison

• Mary Burke Smith, Rome

• Erin Stanford, Swainsboro

• Grayson Taylor, Douglas

• Carolyn Thomas, Eatonton

• Tierney Walton, Valdosta

• Walker Woolard, Leesburg

• Carrie Wright, Sandersville

• Ethan Yang, Cumming

Meanwhile, the 2025 Youth LEAD Georgia class will be announced later this month and will begin the program in January. Nominations for the 2026 Youth LEAD Georgia class will open in May 2025.

For more information on Youth LEAD Georgia, click here.

Nearly half of women ages 20 and older are living with some form of cardiovascular disease (CVD), the No. 1 killer of women. 1 Because of her passion for improving women’s heart health in metro Atlanta, Julia Houston, Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer for Equifax will serve as the 2024-2025 volunteer chair of Go Red for Women in metro Atlanta. Launched more than two decades ago to increase women’s heart health awareness, Go Red for Women is the American Heart Association’s global movement designed to serve as a catalyst for change to improve the health of women.

CVD is the leading cause of death in women, claiming more lives than all cancers combined, and continues to be women’s greatest health threat. 2 According to the American Heart Association, devoted to a world of healthier lives for all, as women grow and change so does their risk for CVD. Unique life stages like pregnancy and menopause can affect that risk. The good news is the majority of cardiovascular disease incidents can be prevented through lifestyle changes and education. Through Go Red for Women, the Association calls on all women to take charge of their health and encourage other women to do the same. Because when it comes to their health, women have the best resource: they have each other.

“I was inspired to chair Go Red for Women this year because heart health is deeply personal to me—it affects so many women in our community, including the ones we love,” said Houston. “As women, we often put everyone else first, but it’s so important to remember that our own health matters, too. Go Red for Women is about encouraging us to prioritize our heart health while supporting and empowering each other. Together, we can raise awareness, share knowledge, and take action to help women of all ages take control of their heart health. It’s a mission I’m proud to lead, and I look forward to making a difference in the lives of so many.”

The 2024-25 Atlanta Go Red for Women Campaign focuses on meeting the evolving needs of women now, and at every age, every stage, and every season of their lives as their trusted, relevant source for credible, equitable health solutions. Driven by the strength of community support, the Association has successfully expanded postpartum Medicaid benefits in Georgia, launched farm fresh markets to

combat nutrition insecurity, and enacted smoke-free ordinances in Atlanta and across the state of Georgia. Additionally, initiatives like distributing health resources to new moms and inspiring high school girls to pursue STEM careers are driving equity and transforming women’s health across metro Atlanta.

“We are incredibly grateful for Julia and her unwavering passion and dedication to the Go Red for Women movement,” said Carla Smith, Metro Atlanta American Heart Association region senior vice president and executive director. “She leads by example through her commitment to raising awareness and advocating for women’s heart health, and because of this she has made a significant impact on our community.”

Go Red for Women is a global movement with impact across the United States and in more than 50 countries around the world. This year’s Go Red for Women movement and its local achievements will be celebrated on Thursday, May 22 during the Atlanta Go Red for Women luncheon at the JW Marriott in Buckhead.

Go Red for Women is nationally sponsored by CVS Health and the Atlanta Go Red for Women luncheon is locally sponsored by Atlanta Braves, Cox Enterprises, Encompass, Northside Hospital, PwC, Wellstar Health System, Southern Company,