Financial Literacy
Personal financial literacy is not just being able to balance a checkbook or compare prices. It also includes skills like long-term vision, planning for the future, where to locate resources and the discipline to use these skills every day. The websites listed below are some great sources to get you started.
Banking and Credit
Annual Credit Report
https://www.annualcreditreport.com/index.action
Frequently asked questions about credit and credit reports/scores. Allows you to view and print your free credit report.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Know Before You Owe: Credit Cards
http://www.consumerfinance.gov/credit-cards/
Provides a basic guide to navigating the credit card process.
Consumer.gov (from the FTC)
http://www.consumer.gov
Consumer protection basics including money management, using credit/loans carefully and protection tips.
FDIC’s Money Smart – A Financial Education Program
http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/moneysmart/index.html
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.
Federal Reserve
http://federalreserve.gov
Consumer information, credit reports, A-Z list of Board Publications, economic research and data, federal reserve reporting forms and more.
Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago: Consumer Resources
http://www.Chicagofed.org/education/index
Links to a variety of agencies and tools intended to aid consumers navigate an increasingly complicated banking landscape.
HelpWithMyBank.gov
http://www.helpwithmybank.gov
Answers and solutions for most banking and credit card issues.
Budgeting & Spending
360 Degrees of Financial Literacy
http://www.360financialliteracy.org/
360 Degrees of Financial Literacy is a national volunteer effort of the nation’s Certified Public Accountants to help Americans understand their personal finances and develop money management skills.
Choose to Save
http://www.choosetosave.org/
A comprehensive “calculator” website with calculations for credit cards, mortgages, car loans and other topics.
GCF Learnfree.org Money Basics
http://gcflearnfree.org/moneybasics
Short tutorials on money management, banking and retirement, and money in the marketplace topics such as shopping, renting, budgeting.
Money As You Grow: 20 Things Kids Need to Know to Live Financially Smart Lives
http://www.moneyasyougrow.org/
Age-appropriate financial lessons with corresponding activities that kids need to know as they grow. Families can use Money as You Grow to start a dialogue about money and teach kids important lessons about saving, making choices, and avoiding debt.
My Money
http://www.mymoney.gov
U.S. government website with a wide range of topics focusing on the basics. Financial education includes tips on earning, saving, investing, and spending with both short and long term goals.
Practical Money Skills
http://www.practicalmoneyskills.com//
Financial literacy for everyone. Consumers, educators, parents, students and policymakers can access free educational resources, including personal finance articles, games and lesson plans.
Identity Theft
Federal Trade Commission Consumer Education
http://consumer.ftc.gov
Everything you need to know about different kinds of identity theft and how to protect yourself.
Identity Theft Info
http://www.identitytheft.info/federal.aspx
Presentations, workshops, consultation, news, videos, and information about identity theft, scams, data breaches, and other information security threats.
Identity Theft Resource Center
http://www.idtheftcenter.org/
Provides best-in-class victim assistance, at no-charge, to consumers throughout the United States, and to educate consumers, corporations, government agencies, and other organizations on best practices for fraud and identity theft detection, reduction and mitigation.
Identify Theft Victim’s Complaint and Affidavit (PDF)
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/pdf-0094-identity-theft-affidavit.pdf
Link to the official FTC form that identity theft victims can use to report an identity theft crime to creditors, financial institutions, and others.
Privacy Rights Clearinghouse
http://privacyrights.org
Fact sheets on privacy topics of all types, short videos, identity theft quiz.
Insurance & Investments
Evaluate Life Insurance (Consumer Federation of America)
http://www.evaluatelifeinsurance.org/
This website describes a resource for evaluating the rate of return on a cash value life insurance policy.
FINRA Investor Education Foundation
http://www.finrafoundation.org/
The FINRA Investor Education Foundation provides underserved Americans with the knowledge, skills and tools necessary for financial success throughout life.
Life Insurance Needs Calculator
http://www.lifehappens.org/insurance-overview/life-insurance/calculate-your-needs/
This online calculator helps people determine how much life insurance they need based on personal variables.
Long Term Care (LTC) Information (Department of Health and Human Services)
http://longtermcare.gov/
This website discusses types of long-term care services, how much they cost, and how to plan ahead for LTC needs.
Morningstar
http://www.morningstar.com/
Provides information and performance analyses of mutual funds and other securities.
Social Funds.com
http://www.socialfunds.com
Socially responsible investing: Features over 10,000 pages of information on SRI mutual funds, community investments, corporate research, shareowner actions, and daily social investment news.
US SEC’s Information for the Individual Investor
http://www.sec.gov/investor
Provides a variety of services and tools to address the problems and questions you may face as an investor. Assistance in investing wisely and avoiding fraud.
Mortgages
Bankrate
http://bankrate.com
Quick and easy comparison of mortgage and home equity rate offerings. News and analysis of mortgage rate trends.
FannieMae KnowYourOptions
http://www.knowyouroptions.com
If you are struggling with your mortgage payments or facing foreclosure, Fannie Mae has created KnowYourOptions.com; so you can find the information you need, and get help before it's too late.
Interest.com: Mortgage Advice and Information on Home Financing
http://www.interest.com/mortgage/
Mortgage advice and determining which type of mortgage is right for you and car loan rates.
Retirement
About Money: Traditional IRA vs. Roth IRA
http://beginnersinvest.about.com/cs/iras/f/tradvsrothira.htm
Describes differences between traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs, which is best for you.
FINRA
http://apps.finra.org/Calcs/1/RMD
Required minimium distribution calculator from a traditional 401(k) or IRA. Also provides other research tools, savings and loan calculators, and analyzers.
Get Rich Slowly: How to Start a Roth IRA
http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/06/07/how-to-start-a-roth-ira-and-where-to-do-it/
Describes how to start an IRA and where to start it.
Social Security
https://www.socialsecurity.gov/
U.S. Social Security Administration…..it is all there, how to apply, how to estimate your social security income, Medicare etc. Sign in or create your My Social Security Account.
Social Security Retirement Estimator
https://www.socialsecurity.gov/retire/estimator.html
Allows any individual to estimate Social Security benefits online.
Social Security Retirement & Survivors Benefits: Life Expectancy Calculator
https://www.socialsecurity.gov/OACT/population/longevity.html
This calculator shows the average number of additional years that a person is expected to live based only on their age and gender. Lifestyle factors, health status, and family health history are not considered.
United States Department of Labor: Retirement Plans. Benefits & Savings
http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/retirement/index.htm
Explains different types of retirement plans, ie. 401ks, 403bs
Annual Credit Report
https://www.annualcreditreport.com/index.action
Frequently asked questions about credit and credit reports/scores. Allows you to view and print your free credit report.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Know Before You Owe: Credit Cards
http://www.consumerfinance.gov/credit-cards/
Provides a basic guide to navigating the credit card process.
Consumer.gov (from the FTC)
http://www.consumer.gov
Consumer protection basics including money management, using credit/loans carefully and protection tips.
FDIC’s Money Smart – A Financial Education Program
http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/moneysmart/index.html
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.
Federal Reserve
http://federalreserve.gov
Consumer information, credit reports, A-Z list of Board Publications, economic research and data, federal reserve reporting forms and more.
Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago: Consumer Resources
http://www.Chicagofed.org/education/index
Links to a variety of agencies and tools intended to aid consumers navigate an increasingly complicated banking landscape.
HelpWithMyBank.gov
http://www.helpwithmybank.gov
Answers and solutions for most banking and credit card issues.
Budgeting & Spending
360 Degrees of Financial Literacy
http://www.360financialliteracy.org/
360 Degrees of Financial Literacy is a national volunteer effort of the nation’s Certified Public Accountants to help Americans understand their personal finances and develop money management skills.
Choose to Save
http://www.choosetosave.org/
A comprehensive “calculator” website with calculations for credit cards, mortgages, car loans and other topics.
GCF Learnfree.org Money Basics
http://gcflearnfree.org/moneybasics
Short tutorials on money management, banking and retirement, and money in the marketplace topics such as shopping, renting, budgeting.
Money As You Grow: 20 Things Kids Need to Know to Live Financially Smart Lives
http://www.moneyasyougrow.org/
Age-appropriate financial lessons with corresponding activities that kids need to know as they grow. Families can use Money as You Grow to start a dialogue about money and teach kids important lessons about saving, making choices, and avoiding debt.
My Money
http://www.mymoney.gov
U.S. government website with a wide range of topics focusing on the basics. Financial education includes tips on earning, saving, investing, and spending with both short and long term goals.
Practical Money Skills
http://www.practicalmoneyskills.com//
Financial literacy for everyone. Consumers, educators, parents, students and policymakers can access free educational resources, including personal finance articles, games and lesson plans.
Identity Theft
Federal Trade Commission Consumer Education
http://consumer.ftc.gov
Everything you need to know about different kinds of identity theft and how to protect yourself.
Identity Theft Info
http://www.identitytheft.info/federal.aspx
Presentations, workshops, consultation, news, videos, and information about identity theft, scams, data breaches, and other information security threats.
Identity Theft Resource Center
http://www.idtheftcenter.org/
Provides best-in-class victim assistance, at no-charge, to consumers throughout the United States, and to educate consumers, corporations, government agencies, and other organizations on best practices for fraud and identity theft detection, reduction and mitigation.
Identify Theft Victim’s Complaint and Affidavit (PDF)
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/pdf-0094-identity-theft-affidavit.pdf
Link to the official FTC form that identity theft victims can use to report an identity theft crime to creditors, financial institutions, and others.
Privacy Rights Clearinghouse
http://privacyrights.org
Fact sheets on privacy topics of all types, short videos, identity theft quiz.
Insurance & Investments
Evaluate Life Insurance (Consumer Federation of America)
http://www.evaluatelifeinsurance.org/
This website describes a resource for evaluating the rate of return on a cash value life insurance policy.
FINRA Investor Education Foundation
http://www.finrafoundation.org/
The FINRA Investor Education Foundation provides underserved Americans with the knowledge, skills and tools necessary for financial success throughout life.
Life Insurance Needs Calculator
http://www.lifehappens.org/insurance-overview/life-insurance/calculate-your-needs/
This online calculator helps people determine how much life insurance they need based on personal variables.
Long Term Care (LTC) Information (Department of Health and Human Services)
http://longtermcare.gov/
This website discusses types of long-term care services, how much they cost, and how to plan ahead for LTC needs.
Morningstar
http://www.morningstar.com/
Provides information and performance analyses of mutual funds and other securities.
Social Funds.com
http://www.socialfunds.com
Socially responsible investing: Features over 10,000 pages of information on SRI mutual funds, community investments, corporate research, shareowner actions, and daily social investment news.
US SEC’s Information for the Individual Investor
http://www.sec.gov/investor
Provides a variety of services and tools to address the problems and questions you may face as an investor. Assistance in investing wisely and avoiding fraud.
Mortgages
Bankrate
http://bankrate.com
Quick and easy comparison of mortgage and home equity rate offerings. News and analysis of mortgage rate trends.
FannieMae KnowYourOptions
http://www.knowyouroptions.com
If you are struggling with your mortgage payments or facing foreclosure, Fannie Mae has created KnowYourOptions.com; so you can find the information you need, and get help before it's too late.
Interest.com: Mortgage Advice and Information on Home Financing
http://www.interest.com/mortgage/
Mortgage advice and determining which type of mortgage is right for you and car loan rates.
Retirement
About Money: Traditional IRA vs. Roth IRA
http://beginnersinvest.about.com/cs/iras/f/tradvsrothira.htm
Describes differences between traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs, which is best for you.
FINRA
http://apps.finra.org/Calcs/1/RMD
Required minimium distribution calculator from a traditional 401(k) or IRA. Also provides other research tools, savings and loan calculators, and analyzers.
Get Rich Slowly: How to Start a Roth IRA
http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/06/07/how-to-start-a-roth-ira-and-where-to-do-it/
Describes how to start an IRA and where to start it.
Social Security
https://www.socialsecurity.gov/
U.S. Social Security Administration…..it is all there, how to apply, how to estimate your social security income, Medicare etc. Sign in or create your My Social Security Account.
Social Security Retirement Estimator
https://www.socialsecurity.gov/retire/estimator.html
Allows any individual to estimate Social Security benefits online.
Social Security Retirement & Survivors Benefits: Life Expectancy Calculator
https://www.socialsecurity.gov/OACT/population/longevity.html
This calculator shows the average number of additional years that a person is expected to live based only on their age and gender. Lifestyle factors, health status, and family health history are not considered.
United States Department of Labor: Retirement Plans. Benefits & Savings
http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/retirement/index.htm
Explains different types of retirement plans, ie. 401ks, 403bs