Victoria Padilla

Victoria Padilla is a proud New Mexican and first-generation college graduate. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from The University of New Mexico in 2014. Her career began in Albuquerque’s nonprofit sector, focusing on food justice and community advocacy. This passion for equity led her to work with youth at NM Tech’s Upward Bound program before transitioning to financial aid at UNM. In this field, she discovered her true calling—helping students access financial resources to pursue higher education. Now serving as an Outreach Executive for the New Mexico Educational Assistance Foundation (NMEAF), Victoria is dedicated to expanding financial aid awareness and accessibility for students and families across New Mexico. Contact me at victoria@brant.one.

Southern New Mexico Outlook: Jobs Grew, Wages Rebounded, Trade Weakened in Late 2025

Southern New Mexico closed 2025 with solid job growth and improving wages in Las Cruces, even as year-over-year trade values through Santa Teresa fell sharply. Dallas Fed data also point to continued exposure to energy and commodity swings across the broader region.

Los Alamos Visiting Nurse Service to Close, Showing Rural Home Health Funding Issues

Los Alamos Visiting Nurse Service, a decades-old home health and hospice provider in Northern New Mexico, is shutting down after citing falling insurance reimbursements and rising operating costs. The closure underscores growing pressure on rural home-based care models that depend on Medicare and Medicaid payment rates that often don’t cover travel time.

Tribal Land Returns and Chaco Protections Put Oil-and-Gas Royalty Income in Focus

Tribal land-return efforts are accelerating across the West, but in northwestern New Mexico the debate is colliding with the energy economy. A federal buffer zone around Chaco Culture National Historical Park is now at the center of legal and political fights that could affect future leasing activity and the royalty checks some local residents depend on.

Banks’ Methane Targets Lag As New Mexico Lawmakers Reject Emissions Caps

Banks and investors are still uneven in how they address methane in transition plans, with limited sector-specific target-setting tied to financed emissions. Meanwhile, New Mexico lawmakers rejected legislation that would have codified statewide emissions caps, affecting regulatory clarity for energy-sector investment decisions.

New Mexico HM59 (2026): CYFD to Study Foster Parent Pay

New Mexico’s 2026 House Memorial 59 asks CYFD to study whether foster parent reimbursements reflect current costs, including the possibility of a cost-of-living adjustment. Confusion around the HM59 label stems from the fact that the same bill number has been used for unrelated memorials in prior years, including one tied to financial literacy.

Santa Fe’s Budget Process Overhaul: What It Could Mean for Taxpayers

Santa Fe is moving to overhaul how it builds its annual budget after city documents acknowledged recent budgets were not tied to long-term goals and focused more on line items than service outcomes. For taxpayers, the process matters because it can shape service reliability, the pace of tax or fee changes, and long-run borrowing costs that filter into future bills.

Director of New Mexico Wildfire Claims Office Placed on Leave Amid $500,000 Compensation Controversy

FEMA placed the director of New Mexico’s wildfire claims office on administrative leave after reporting revealed he and his wife received more than $500,000 from the program he oversees. The $5.45 billion compensation fund has paid out about $3.4 billion so far, as some claimants continue to wait years for relief.

How To Make an Investing Plan for 2026, With Tips Just for New Mexico Residents

A practical 2026 investing checklist starts with cash flow and an emergency buffer, then shifts to contribution increases, automation, tax organization, and disciplined rebalancing. For New Mexico taxpayers, state-specific deductions—such as the New Mexico 529 benefit—can influence which accounts to prioritize.

EP Wealth Advisors Expands to New Mexico to Enhance Client Services: Broader Planning and Local Expertise Await

EP Wealth Advisors has added Santa Fe-based LongView Asset Management, a $390 million AUM registered investment adviser, in a deal that closed January 30. The move expands EP Wealth’s New Mexico presence and brings LongView’s sustainable-investing focus under a larger platform offering broader planning services.

Everfi and Its Partners Are Giving Students a New Way To Pay for College: Over $1.5 Million in Scholarships for Those Who Finish Financial...

Everfi said it and nine partners are committing more than $1.5 million in student scholarships tied to completion of financial and life-skills education. The initiative comes as college affordability remains a leading barrier to enrollment, according to data cited in the announcement.

New Mexico Homebuyers Face a “Lock-In” Market as Sellers Sit Tight on Low-Rate Mortgages

New Mexico’s housing market is being shaped by a “mortgage lock-in” effect: homeowners with ultra-low rates are reluctant to sell into a higher-rate environment, limiting resale supply and keeping affordability tight for buyers.

New Mexico is considering expanding its R&D tax credit to attract more tech investment and create better-paying jobs.

New Mexico lawmakers are considering expanding a technology jobs R&D tax credit as the state competes for advanced energy, aerospace, and computing investment. HB 27 would revisit incentives that currently offer up to 5% of qualified R&D spending—10% in rural areas—according to an LFC assessment.