Connect with us

Finance

Financial empowerment trainings and workshops

Published

on

Financial empowerment trainings and workshops

BANGOR, Maine (PENQUIS) – As the new year begins many people have dreams of starting their own business or are thinking about turning a passion or hobby into a way to make money, but they are not sure how to start the process. Thankfully, there is a local resource available to help provide guidance right here in Penobscot, Piscataquis and Knox counties.

MaineStream Finance, a subsidiary of Penquis, is a nonprofit community development financial institution (CDFI) certified by the US Treasury, helping ALL Maine home-buyers, business owners, and consumers secure advice and financing to grow and thrive. MaineStream Finance offers a wide variety of workshops and classes on business, home buying, and financial empowerment for you and your co-workers. They deliver these services throughlending, savings products, classes, and one on one advisory support. MaineStream works closely with federal and state agencies, foundations, and local financial institutions, including banks, to help them meet Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) goals through financial education programs, loan capital, and volunteering opportunities for homeowners and small businesses.

Thinking of starting a business? Check out the Business 101 classes. These free workshops will provide an overview of the pros and cons of operating a microenterprise or small business. What a business plan is and why it is needed, plus resources for your business development. Topics include being an Entrepreneur, Business Success; Professionalism; Business Plans, Networking; Business Loans; Resources; Budgets; Credit; and Review of Upcoming Classes and Workshops. These workshops are FREE and offered via Zoom. The dates of the classes are: Monday, 1/27/25 & 2/3/25 @ 6 pm via Zoom; Tuesday, 2/18/25 & 2/25/25 @ 6 pm via Zoom, and Monday, 3/17/25 & 3/24/25 @ 6 pm via Zoom.

Are you interested in turning your passion or hobby into a business? Do you have a passion for creating or is your hobby sellable? Be sure to check out their free two-night Hobby workshop, where you will discuss what to think about before creating a new business. Areas that will be discussed: Questions to ask myself; Is there a market for my products and/or services; Business Plan; Recordkeeping; Regulations; Taxes; Marketing; Funding sources and more. The two-night workshop is FREE! The first two classes are on Monday, 1/27/25 & 2/3/25 @ 6 pm via Zoom, the next two nights run on Tuesday, 2/18/25 & 2/25/25 @ 6 pm via Zoom, and the final two classes run Monday, 3/17/25 & 3/24/25 @ 6 pm via Zoom.

To register for any of these classes or for more information to sign up visit: www.mainestreamfinance.org

Advertisement

MaineStream Finance can also help turn childcare into a business and they provide business lending too. Does children’s laughter sound like music to your ears? The number of working parents–including single-parent families and families with both parents employed–is climbing, creating an ever-growing need for quality childcare. That need creates a tremendous entrepreneurial opportunity for people who love children and want to build a business caring for them. Child-care services range from small home-based operations to large commercial centers and can be started with an investment of as little as a few hundred dollars. You can stay very small, essentially just creating a job for yourself, and possibly others. Our team of business advisors can help you create a business plan, design, develop, provide assistance with the Child Care Provider Licensing process and more. Our business advising services are free.

Are you aware that Mainstream Finance does business loans? MaineStream Finance offers a variety of loan products throughout Maine to small businesses that may have trouble finding credit.

Amount: Minimum $500 – Up to $200,000 / Term: Up to 20 years.

Whether you are a startup or an existing business we can do financing to help you move your project forward. MaineStream Finance does what is called “Gap financing” so the difference between the amount of your down payment you have and what another lender has and can lend. This Gap amount could stop your project, we may be able to help finance that Gap to complete the project. We are also looking at startup businesses in need of financing to purchase equipment, inventory, training, a building, or an existing business. The team at Mainstream Finance will help a business develop a business plan and business financials as well as help you prepare the loan documents that you will need to apply for a loan and all of this is at no charge. The MaineStream Finance mission is to help small businesses grow in Maine.

To learn more about what MaineStream Finance has to offer go to their webpage at mainestreamfinance.org, or call 207-973-3500 or email the team at MSFInfo@penquis.org for more information.

Advertisement

Finance

What is Considered a Good Dividend Stock? 2 Financial Stocks That Fit the Bill

Published

on

What is Considered a Good Dividend Stock? 2 Financial Stocks That Fit the Bill
Source: Getty Images

Written by Jitendra Parashar at The Motley Fool Canada

Dividend investing can be one of the simplest ways to build long-term wealth while creating a steady stream of passive income. But in my opinion, a good dividend stock is about much more than just a high yield. Beyond dividend yield, investors should also look for companies with durable businesses, reliable cash flows, and a history of rewarding shareholders consistently over time.

That’s exactly why many investors turn to financial stocks. Banks and asset managers often generate recurring earnings through lending, investing, and wealth management activities, allowing them to support stable dividend payments even during uncertain market conditions.

Two Canadian financial stocks that stand out right now are AGF Management (TSX:AGF.B) and Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSX:TD). Both companies offer attractive dividends backed by solid financial performance and long-term growth strategies. In this article, I’ll explain why these two financial stocks could be worth considering for income-focused investors right now.

AGF Management stock continues to reward shareholders

AGF Management is a Toronto-based asset manager with businesses across investments, private markets, and wealth management. Through these divisions, the company offers equity, fixed income, alternative, and multi-asset investment strategies to retail, institutional, and private wealth clients.

Advertisement

Following a 59% rally over the last 12 months, AGF stock currently trades at $16.67 per share with a market cap of roughly $1.1 billion. At current levels, the stock offers a quarterly dividend yield of 3.3%.

One reason behind AGF’s strong recent performance is its increasingly diversified business model. The company has expanded its investment capabilities and broadened its geographic reach, helping it perform well across varying market environments.

In the first quarter of its fiscal 2026 (ended in February), AGF posted free cash flow of $36 million, up 14% year over year (YoY), driven mainly by higher management, advisory, and administration fees. These fees climbed to $92.5 million as demand for the company’s investment offerings strengthened.

AGF has also been focusing on expanding its alternative investment business and introducing new investment products. With strong cash generation and growing demand for alternative investments, AGF Management looks well-positioned to continue rewarding investors over the long term.

TD Bank stock remains a dependable dividend giant

Toronto-Dominion Bank, or TD Bank, is one of North America’s largest banks, serving millions of customers through its Canadian banking, U.S. retail banking, wealth management and insurance, and wholesale banking operations.

Advertisement

Following a 70% jump over the last year, TD stock currently trades at $148.14 per share and carries a massive market cap of $247 billion. It’s also continuing to provide investors with a quarterly dividend yield of 3%.

TD’s latest results show why it remains a dependable dividend stock. In the February 2026 quarter, the bank’s reported net income jumped 45% YoY to $4 billion, while adjusted earnings rose 16% to a record $4.2 billion.

Similarly, the bank’s Canadian personal and commercial banking segment delivered record revenue and earnings with the help of higher loan and deposit volumes. Meanwhile, its wealth management and insurance business also posted record earnings, while wholesale banking benefited from strong trading and fee income growth.

Notably, TD ended the quarter with a strong Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 14.5%, giving it a solid capital cushion. While the bank continues to spend on U.S. anti-money-laundering remediation and control improvements, its strong earnings base, large customer network, and diversified operations continue to support its dividends.

Advertisement

The post What is Considered a Good Dividend Stock? 2 Financial Stocks That Fit the Bill appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada.

Should you invest $1,000 in Agf Management right now?

Before you buy stock in Agf Management, consider this:

The Motley Fool Canada team has identified what they believe are the top 10 TSX stocks for 2026… and Agf Management wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could potentially produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider MercadoLibre, which we first recommended on January 8, 2014 … if you invested $1,000 in the “eBay of Latin America” at the time of our recommendation, you’d have over $18,000!*

Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor Canada’s total average return is 94%* – a market-crushing outperformance compared to 85%* for the S&P/TSX Composite Index. Don’t miss out on our top 10 stocks, available when you join our mailing list!

Advertisement

Get the 10 stocks instantly

* Returns as of April 20th, 2026

More reading

Fool contributor Jitendra Parashar has positions in Toronto-Dominion Bank. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

2026

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Finance

UK watchdog says car finance legal challenge hearing unlikely before October

Published

on

UK watchdog says car finance legal challenge hearing unlikely before October
Britain’s financial watchdog said on Friday a tribunal hearing on ‌legal challenges to its compensation scheme for mis-sold car loans was unlikely before October, and told lenders to prepare for a possibility that the scheme could be scrapped entirely.
Continue Reading

Finance

Martha Aguirre, former El Paso ISD interim superintendent, resigns as CFO as district finds ‘key financial challenges’

Published

on

Martha Aguirre, former El Paso ISD interim superintendent, resigns as CFO as district finds ‘key financial challenges’

El Paso Independent School District Chief Financial Officer Martha Aguirre, who served as interim superintendent last year, resigned this week as the district said it had discovered “key financial challenges.”

The district issued a news release late Thursday afternoon that lacked details but indicated that a recent review had raised questions about the district’s fund balances, a key indicator of financial health.

“Through this process, key financial challenges were identified that must be addressed prior to closing out the 2025-26 school year including a current budget shortfall that is being actively addressed ahead of the district’s final financial presentation to the Board of Trustees in June,” the news release said. 

A CFO is charged with developing a school district’s budget and overseeing its finance department. The EPISD Board of Trustees must adopt a budget for the 2026-27 school year by the end of the fiscal year June 30. The operating budget for the current school year is $547 million.

EPISD Deputy Superintendent David Bates will oversee the budget while the district searches for an interim and permanent CFO, district officials said in a statement. 

Advertisement

EPISD Board President Leah Hanany said trustees were notified about Aguirre’s resignation this week. She said the district plans to give the public more information on the current year’s budget during a board meeting later this month.

“The board was also notified of a potential budget shortfall for the 2025 budget, but we don’t have final numbers yet. My understanding is that we are still primed to pass a balanced budget for fiscal year 2026-27 in June,” Hanany said in a statement.

Aguirre could not be reached for comment. EPISD’s CFO makes $148,200 to $209,900 a year, according to the district’s administrative pay plan.

She served as EPISD’s interim superintendent from June to December 2025 after the district’s former superintendent, Diana Sayavedra, resigned under pressure from the board. She returned to her position as CFO when Brian Lusk was hired as EPISD’s new permanent superintendent.

Aguirre’s resignation comes amid an uncertain budget season after a state funding calculation error tied to school property tax breaks caused EPISD to lose out on $17 million in projected revenue. In late April, EPISD officials estimated it would cause the district’s spending to exceed its revenue next year by $10 million.

Advertisement

The district is also considering calling for a bond election in November to upgrade its aging campuses as part of the larger 2024 Destination District Redesign initiative to close schools and improve the ones that remain open.

El Paso Teachers’ Association President Norma De La Rosa said Aguirre’s departure was unexpected.

“We’re right in the middle of the committee meetings for a possible bond and getting ready to get that budget to the June board meeting for next school year. So, to say that I’m highly surprised is an understatement,” De La Rosa told El Paso Matters.

Aguirre started working with the district in 1996 as a general clerk, according to a video published by the district.


Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending