University of Missouri Extension
       East Central Missouri Region


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Financial Fitness
     

A series of workshops to help individuals improve their financial well-being by providing strategies for managing their money and building assets. The series is scheduled as seven, 2-hour workshops or five, 2.5-hour workshops.

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For more information, contact:

Suzanne Zemelman Gellman, Consumer Economics Specialist
gellmans@missouri.edu, 636.970.3000
 

 

Workshop 1 – Financial Plan

  • Learn how to set realistic and measurable financial goals.

  • Learn how to develop a spending plan that includes savings for goals and emergencies.

  • Become aware of strategies for bringing income and expenses into balance.

Workshop 2 – Getting Organized and Understanding Taxes

  • Understand how planning your finances and keeping good records can reduce your taxes.
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Workshop 3 – Understanding Contracts

  • Learn about types of contracts that exist, contract terms and how to evaluate whether or not to sign a contract.

  • Become aware of consumer rights, lender rights and predatory lending practices.

 

Workshop 4 – Credit

  • Learn about different types of credit, how to get credit and how to rebuild credit.

  • Learn how to compare credit terms and evaluate their own credit situation.

  • Learn about credit reports, credit reporting agencies and identity theft.

 

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Workshop 5 – Financial Services

  • Learn about the different types of financial institutions and services offered and how to pick accounts that best meet their needs.

  • Learn how to write checks and manage their checking and savings accounts.

 

Workshop 6 – Saving and Investing

  • Learn how to plan and save for retirement.

  • Become aware of investment principles such as risk, diversification and dollar-cost averaging.

  • Become aware of different types of investment vehicles.

Workshop 7 – Insurance

  • Learn ways to evaluate insurance policies and companies.

  • Become aware of the different types of risk and the insurance designed to protect against related financial loss.

 
The Financial Fitness curriculum is being used in collaborative efforts to offer classes in the St. Louis area.

Gateway to Financial Fitness is offered by Catholic Charities Housing Resource Center. For more information about Gateway to Financial Fitness or upcoming classes contact Jane Schoeck, 314.241.5600 ext 7106.

Beyond Housing provides quarterly classes primarily to individuals enrolled in Individual Development Account programs. For more information on these sessions, contact Eric Zegel, 314.533.0600 ext 41.

The following organizations were part of the collaborative effort that resulted in Gateway to Financial Fitness and the Financial Fitness curriculum:
 
Catholic Charities Housing Resource Center
Beyond Housing/Neighborhood Housing Service
University of Missouri Extension
Allegient (National City)
Commerce Bank
Bank of America, N.A.
First Bank
State Farm Insurance
Safeco Insurance		 FDIC
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Office of Thrift Supervision
US Bank, N.A.
Southwest Bank
Fannie Mae Partnership Office
UMB Bank
HUD - St. Louis Region
 
 

University of Missouri Extension does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status in employment or in any program or activity.
University of Missouri Extension   East Central Regional Director's Office
Bud Reber, Regional Director
Page Maintained By: Carol Grote
Last revised: 02/19/09

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