Banking
A Guide to Your First Bank Account
This Federal Reserve Bank web page describes the advantages of having a bank account, outlining the types of accounts available and how to open and manage an account. The brochure also answers some basic questions about information security, privacy protection, and banking resources for non-English speakers.
Money Smart – A Financial Education Program
Money Smart is a comprehensive financial education curriculum designed to help low- and moderate-income individuals outside the financial mainstream enhance their financial skills and create positive banking relationships. Money Smart has reached over 2.75 million consumers since 2001. Research shows that the curriculum can positively influence how consumers manage their finances, and these changes are sustainable in the months after the training. http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/moneysmart/
http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/moneysmart/overview_program.html
Money Smart – Bank on It
An introduction to bank services
http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/moneysmart/overview_program.html#boi
Money Smart – Check It Out
How to choose and keep a checking account
http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/moneysmart/overview_program.html#cio
Paying for It: Checks, Cash, and Electronic Payments
This web page from the Federal Reserve Bank provides information about the most common methods of making payments and describes the Federal Reserve's role in the nation's payment system. The document describes how checks and electronic payments work and discusses how currency is processed and distributed. Available only online.
Budgeting
Money Smart – Money Matters
How to keep track of your money
http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/moneysmart/overview_program.html#mm
Consumer Protection
Investment Fraud
According to a recent survey by AARP, nearly 1 in 5 Americans who use the internet, or as many as 34.1 million people, engage in at least seven of the 15 behaviors, or experience life events, that may put them at increased risk of being victimized by online fraud.
http://asec.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=14de5a3d7722912bdf80a12bd&id=7d2783f4ae&e=7292f6bc1c
Fighting Scams and Fraud
As the nation’s consumer protection agency, the FTC takes complaints about businesses that don’t make good on their promises or cheat people out of money. We share these complaints with our law enforcement partners and use them to investigate fraud and eliminate unfair business practices.
http://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-consumer-protection
Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the nation’s consumer protection agency. The FTC works to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace.
Money Smart – Keep It Safe
Your rights as a consumer
http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/moneysmart/overview_program.html#kis
FBI Cyber Investigations
Don’t Be an On-line Victim: How to Guard Against Internet Thieves and Electronic Scams
Identity theft continues to be one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States, and has ranked as one of the top consumer concerns for the past several years. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has produced a multimedia presentation to help consumers protect themselves from identity theft. The presentation provides information on steps consumers should take to secure their computer and protect themselves from identity theft, as well as actions consumers should take if they become a victim of identity theft. Financial institutions are encouraged to make the link available to their customers from their websites.
How To Avoid Investment Scams That Target Groups
Affinity fraud refers to investment scams that prey upon members of identifiable groups, such as religious or ethnic communities, the elderly, or professional groups. The fraudsters who promote affinity scams frequently are - or pretend to be - members of the group. They often enlist respected community or religious leaders from within the group to spread the word about the scheme by convincing those people that a fraudulent investment is legitimate and worthwhile. Many times, those leaders become unwitting victims of the fraudster's ruse.
Credit
Credit Repair: How to Help Yourself
You can improve your credit report legitimately, but it takes time, a conscious effort, and sticking to a personal debt repayment plan.
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0058-credit-repair-how-help-yourself
The Credit Process: A Guide for Small Business Owners
This booklet provides practical information for small business owners seeking access to credit. From the Federal Reserve Bank
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the nationwide credit reporting companies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months. The FCRA promotes the accuracy and privacy of information in the files of the nation’s credit reporting companies. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, enforces the FCRA with respect to credit reporting companies.
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0155-free-credit-reports
Money Smart – Borrowing Basics
Understanding of How credit works, types of credit that are available, and if one is ready to apply for credit.
http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/moneysmart/overview_program.html#bb
Money Smart – Charge It Right
How to make a credit card work for you
http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/moneysmart/overview_program.html#cir
Money Smart – Financial Recovery
How to recover financially and rebuild your credit after a financial-setback
http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/moneysmart/overview_program.html#fr
Money Smart – Loan To Own
Know what you're borrowing before you buy
http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/moneysmart/overview_program.html#lto
Money Smart – To Your Credit
How your credit history will affect your credit future
http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/moneysmart/overview_program.html#tyc
Financial Planning
Household Financial Planning Survey
The 2013 Household Financial Planning Survey prepared for the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. and the Consumer Federation of America shows that those with a financial plan feel more confident and report more success managing money, savings and investments than those without a plan.
http://www.cfp.net/docs/public-policy/2013-fin-planning-profiles-of-amer-households.pdf
Housing
Facing the Risk of Foreclosure
This PDF from the Federal Reserve Bank provides answers to frequently asked questions on foreclosure prevention.
http://www.frbatlanta.org/filelegacydocs/FacingRiskForeclosure.pdf
Foreclosure Prevention: Hope for Georgia’s Homeowners
These videos from the Federal Reserve Bank offers advice on preventing foreclosure. It features interviews with housing experts and homeowners who have experienced or narrowly avoided foreclosure. DVD available for purchase.
Atlanta Development Authority (ADA)
The Atlanta Development Authority has several down payment assistance programs for qualified borrowers who want to live in the city of Atlanta. Atlanta Development Authority is helping buyers achieve the goal of homeownership.
http://yourhomeownershipteam.com/programs/down-payment-assistance/ga/ada/
Money Smart – Your Own Home
What home ownership is all about
http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/moneysmart/overview_program.html#yoh
Identity Theft
How to Avoid Becoming a Victim of Identity Theft
Identity theft is a serious crime. It occurs when someone uses your personal information, such as your name, Social Security number, or credit card number, without your permission to commit fraud or other crimes. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) estimates that as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year. You should review your credit report and credit card statements often to verify that you made the charges shown.
http://www.occ.gov/topics/consumer-protection/fraud-resources/types-consumer-fraud.html#identity
Identity Theft And Your Social Security Number
Identity Theft
Identity theft happens when someone steals your personal information and uses it without your permission. It’s a serious crime that can wreak havoc with your finances, credit history, and reputation — and can take time, money, and patience to resolve.
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/feature-0014-identity-theft
Protecting Yourself Against Identity Theft
Military
Older Adults (60+)
Area Agency on Aging (AAA)
The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) is the designated Area Agency on Aging (AAA) for the 10-county metropolitan Atlanta region. The AAA is responsible for planning and providing for comprehensive services to address the needs of the region's older population. Visit the website for program and service information such as Transportation, Home-Delivered Meals, In-Home help, Medicare, Housing, Senior Centers, Assisted Living, and Retirement Planning.
Other
2015 VITA Site Listings
VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) Site Listings and Schedules
MAKING THE CASE FOR FINANCIAL LITERACY— 2014
A collection of statistics gathered by Jump$tart from other sources that clearly demonstrate the need for more financial literacy.
http://jumpstart.org/assets/files/Making%20the%20Case%202014_2.pdf
Dollars and Cents: Fundamental Facts about U.S. Money
This series from the Federal Reserve Bank provides historical information and fun facts about U.S. currency and coin. This interactive publication explains how money is designed and made, what some of its features are, how it circulates, and more.
Research
Baby Boom Generation is Driving an Entrepreneurial Boom
Economists know that entrepreneurship will drive the economy back to health, but many people may be surprised to learn that the baby boom generation is behind the wheel, according to a new study by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.
Microbusinesses, Gainful Jobs
Jobs - and more importantly, good jobs - are critical to addressing many of the challenges that face low-income communities. What role do microbusinesses play in providing good jobs? To answer this question, AspenWSI's sister program, FIELD, has launched www.gainfuljobs.org to provide data on the jobs created by clients of microenterprise programs, including statistics on numbers of jobs, wage levels, and return on investment. Also available are findings from FIELD's newest report, "Microbusinesses, Gainful Jobs." This in-depth qualitative study of workers employed by borrowers of microlender Accion East captures data on the most common measures of a "good" job: wages and benefits. It then goes beyond these typical measures to explore other critical components of "good" jobs, such as stable schedules, skill development, advancement opportunities, and job flexibility.
Labor statistics for Georgia
The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) collects, analyzes, and publishes a wide array of information about the state’s labor market.
http://www.dol.state.ga.us/em/get_labor_market_information.htm
Retirement
Tax Deferred Retirement Accounts
Nine out of 10 investors (91 percent) say they want to see an increase in the amount that people can save in a tax deferred retirement account, and most (78 percent) do not support the idea of increasing tax penalties on investors who withdraw money from their accounts before retirement age, according to the Wells Fargo/Gallup Investor and Retirement Optimism Index. A majority of investors (57 percent) also believe the existing retirement vehicles, including the 401(k) and IRA, provide enough options to Americans versus 40 percent who think more choices are needed. However, this gap widens among those with access to a 401(k)-type plan.
EBRI 24th Annual Retirement Confidence Survey
The Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) provides some great information across a lot of topics including the full survey and a series of fact sheets focused on different aspects of the findings.
IRA Required Minimum Distributions
The Internal Revenue Service released this press release reminding taxpayers who turned 70½ during 2013 that, in most cases, they must start receiving required minimum distributions (RMDs) from Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and workplace retirement plans by Tuesday, April 1, 2014. The April 1 deadline applies to owners of traditional IRAs but not Roth IRAs. Normally, it also applies to participants in various workplace retirement plans, including 401(k), 403(b) and 457 plans.
http://asec.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=14de5a3d7722912bdf80a12bd&id=9e10ffdfe4&e=7292f6bc1c
Employer-Provided Retirement Plans
This PDF explains employer-provided retirement plans, such as 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and 457(b)s, as well as individual retirement accounts (IRAs). They are subject to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rules that require withdrawals be made from those accounts once you reach a specific age. If you don’t follow those rules, the penalties on your savings can be significant.
http://asec.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=14de5a3d7722912bdf80a12bd&id=f939da6c97&e=7292f6bc1c
Savings
American Savings Education Council (ASEC)
The American Savings Education Council (ASEC) was started in 1995. ASEC is a program of the EBRI Education and Research Fund. ASEC is a nonprofit national coalition of public- and private-sector organizations undertaking initiatives to raise public awareness about what is needed to ensure long-term personal financial independence. ASEC's goal is to make saving and planning a vital concern of all Americans.
Money Smart – Pay Yourself First
Why you should save, save, save
http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/moneysmart/overview_program.html#pyf
Assess Your Savings
Assess Your Savings: interactive tool from AmericaSaves where you can make a commitment to yourself to save for an identified goal.
http://americasavesweek.org/for-individuals/assess-your-savings-progress
Teachers
Classroom Tools
Federal Reserve Bank offers a host of outstanding resources for classroom teachers including an online newsletter called Extra Credit and an online newsletter.
FDIC Money Smart for Youth
FDIC provides two instructor-led Money Smart curriculum products to teach young people ages 12-20. Curriculum for ages 5-8 also available.
http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/moneysmart/young.html
Outreach
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