One of my passions is financial education. As a CPA and estate planning attorney, I believe financial education is one of the most important parts of education. It literally can change your life.
A Chinese proverb pertains to financial planning. “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” No matter where you are in your journey, taking a little time to further your financial knowledge will pay dividends.
Today is National Financial Awareness Day. I volunteer on the board of the National Endowment for Financial Education, NEFE, and they have developed some of the best free resources around. I want to share those, as well as a few others.
These include Money Management for Adult Learners, Family Money Skills, Rebuilding Financially after Domestic Violence, and Working Women.
This page is full of independent information for looking at maximizing your resources, and exploring your retirement decisions. (Make sure to look at this page’s navigation column on the left, too – there’s lots more there.)
These free financial education courses are about 45 minutes each and cover basic and advanced topics.
A wonderful pragmatic collection for young adults, covering everything from budgeting, to credit, to starting a business.
Investopedia is exactly what it sounds like – quick, one sentence definitions for a myriad of investment vehicles. The website also has good articles.
Nerdwallet.com has a huge editorial team, and the website houses a collection of resources and ideas.
If you have a local credit union, you may find that they offer classes and workshops.
Just for fun and slightly off-topic economic tie-ins, enjoy Freakanomics Radio and podcasts.
And, of course, I must mention the Durable Power of Attorney document. If you become incapacitated and there’s no one with legal authority to handle your affairs, your financial situation can tank. Make sure you have an up-to-date Durable Power of Attorney.