Programs

There are several programs available that represent initiatives for financial literacy. Many of these programs are tied to the insurance industry and offer a wide variety of multi-media and print materials.

Lenox Money-Smart Kids Program

Lenox Advisors wants to help clients raise money-smart children. To that end, we built the Lenox Money-Smart Kids™ Program, a platform for our clients and their children that includes recommendations on and access to: Books, Web sites, Newsletters, Age-specific lesson plans, Seminars with authors, Trusts & Estates attorneys and money managers. This program is a direct outgrowth of client requests for more information to assist them in raising financially literate children.

Gallo Consulting

Helping you clients become financially intelligent parents. The Most Important Service Financial Professionals Can Offer Clients Is Helping Them Educate Their Children About Money!

Financially Intelligent Parent

Financially intelligent parents know how to emphasize healthy, positive money behaviors that communicate strong values to their children. They also know how to minimize negative money behaviors that send the wrong messages. They are able to identify teachable times that help them talk to their children about money, answer their questions and teach them to reflect on financial decisions. As a financially intelligent parent you understand that money is neither good nor bad; it's what you do with it and what you teach your children about it that is important

Student Debt Alert

In the wake of the student loan crunch, the Student Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), a national student consumer interest group dedicated to making education more affordable through media and political influence, launched its Web site Student Debt Alert in early April. Visitors to the site are educated about Student Debt Alert's campaign for increasing grant aid and improving student loan programs. Students are also encouraged to bring Student Debt Alert to their campus, and can borrow campaign materials, such as a large inflatable ball-and-chain prop meant to represent the hindrance placed on students by debt.

Student Loan Borrower Assistance Project

The National Consumer Law Center also reaches out to students in debt with its Student Loan Borrower Assistance Project (SLBA) Web site, at which financially stressed students with student loan repayment problems can research their available options and rights. They can learn through a list of frequently asked questions, and can contact the SLBA with general questions if they don't find their answer online. The SLBA Web site does not provide legal assistance firsthand, but does provide visitors with contact information for qualified legal help.

Ask Dr. Debt

Consumers seeking solutions to debt problems have a new online resource through Ask Dr. Debt, a financial education Web site that ACA International -- a nonprofit credit association -- unveiled April 15. "It's ... essentially an online version of 'Dear Abby' for consumers with credit and debt questions," John Nemo, public relations director for ACA International, said in an e-mail. Nemo said visitors to the site will be able to search a database of frequently asked questions and submit their own. Ask Doctor Debt also contains interactive tools to educate consumers, such as budget calculators and a free personal financial management Web course.

Teach Children to Save Campaign

Meanwhile, the American Bankers Association (ABA) launched the Teach Children to Save Campaign, which aims to give students a head start on financial literacy, and targets students of all ages. Officially launched April 9, the site is an extension of the ABA financial literacy campaign, which has been taught in classrooms since 1997. It offers children and their parents easy access to advice on how to create a budget, start a savings account and make deposits. The ABA also announced its lofty goal to to teach 1 million new students about saving. More than 900 banks have accepted the "Million Child Challenge," in which participating bankers can visit students in their classrooms to teach them about interest growth, budgeting, and how to prioritize needs versus wants.

The U.S. Financial Literacy and Education Commission

The U.S. Financial Literacy and Education Commission is the U.S. government's website dedicated to teaching all Americans the basics about financial education.  By partnering with other government agencies and the private sector, the Commission and its member agencies further raise the level of the nation's financial literacy.
 
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) initiated a national financial education campaign in 2001 by launching Money Smart, a comprehensive financial education curriculum designed to help individuals outside the financial mainstream develop financial skills and positive banking relationships. 

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC)

This site provides consumer insurance information for those considering or buying insurance.

The Hartford

The Hartford has been working closely with the NCAA to give a jump start with its Playbook for Life Web site - a basic guide on personal financial planning for college students to prepare finances for the future.

Financial Literacy Partners

Financial Literacy Partners works with corporations to offer employees preventative, unbiased financial information that is easy to learn and simple to use.  The Money Management System has helped over 250,000 individuals across the U.S. get in control of their finances.  

The Griffith Foundation for Insurance Education

The Griffith Foundation for Insurance Education offers a program to promote the teaching and study of risk management and insurance at colleges and universities nationwide. Its mission is to provide education programs for public policymakers on the basic principles of risk management and insurance.

The LIFE Foundation

The LIFE Foundation has two programs.  Next Generation: Insuring Your Future is a multimedia insurance education program designed to educate high-school students about the basics of life, health and disability insurance, as well as financial planning fundamentals. Since its introduction in 1997, the program has been incredibly successful, reaching more than 23 million students.  Since its 1997 launch, it has been used by nearly 50,000 educators and reached an estimated 23 million students. Roughly 6,000 kits are put into circulation each year and it is distributed to educators free-of-charge.

Insurance Matters

Insurance Matters is a web-based insurance education program designed to supplement the tools and teaching techniques that community college professors use to educate their students about important risk management and insurance planning concepts. Funded through a generous grant from the US Department of Education, the program was developed by LIFE, in partnership with Somerset Community College (Kentucky). Insurance Matters covers all of the major types of insurance: life, disability, health, auto, homeowners and long-term care insurance.

The Financial Education Partners Foundation

The Financial Education Partners Foundation provides educational programs and individual counseling that will enhance the financial literacy and financial planning abilities of the program participant.  They have over 600 volunteers and any financial services professional can sign up today at www.financialpro.org/foundation.  

Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago

This website offers a GREAT list of all national organizations that offer financial education programs.

American Association of University Women (AAUW)

Discusses all Financial Literacy Programs offered (WOMEN)

The 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy

The 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy Web site offers general information for managing personal finances and does not recommend specific financial actions

smartaboutmoney.org

On this website, consumers can take a financial assessment and then, on the basis of their answers, be directed to appropriate resources. There's also a life events and financial decisions section that helps consumers think about the financial issues that are relevant to a variety of life events and stages. In addition, you'll find here the NEFE Financial Literacy Resource Centers, a collection of free materials contributed by many organizations and reviewed by NEFE to provide credible and unbiased information on topics such as insurance, college planning, and health and medical issues, among many others.

National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE)

The mission of NEFE is to help Americans acquire the knowledge and skill necessary to take control of their financial destiny. The Endowment sees itself as having "nothing to sell and a lot to tell". NEFE provides informative and user-friendly articles, tools, and other resources. There's a financial planning program offered to high schools that over five million high school students have been exposed to.

The InCharge Education Foundation

The InCharge Education Foundation provides award-winning products and materials, including a variety of innovative personal finance tools, from content-rich magazines and websites to print, CD, and web-based educational programs. All support the personal financial literacy needs of consumers worldwide. There are programs providing credit report education, and several financial education programs, including programs for K-12 children, 18-24 year olds, military families, new home buyers, the Hispanic population, and those going through bankruptcy. www.inchargeradio.com provides general financial education in an audio format.

The Delaware Money School

The Delaware Money School, the signature program of the nonprofit Delaware Financial Literacy Institute, offers more than 500 free, no-hassle personal finance classes a year. Classes are held throughout Delaware, and there are online courses for people throughout the country. There are periodic workshops for shopaholics as well.

Common Cents

This website, developed by the State Farm Insurance Company, introduces kids to good money habits with lively, interactive games. There's a financial education program for teachers and parents to use.

U.S. Financial Literacy and Education Commission

This governmental website is dedicated to teaching all Americans the basics about financial education. Whether your questions relate to budgeting and taxes, credit, financial planning, home ownership, kids, paying for education, retirement planning, or saving and investing, mymoney.gov has useful and detailed information (in Spanish and English).

America Saves

Stories, tools, and articles on saving encourage consumers to put away money for the future.

National Council on Economic Education (NCEE)

NCEE offers courses and resources for teachers to help them incorporate financial instruction into other subjects, such as explaining taxation during a lesson on the Boston Tea Party.

Schwab MoneyWise

Information and games for kids and parents are designed around encouraging family discussions about money.

Minyanville

This site targets financial newbies as well as regular investors with animated videos and articles. Its related site for kids lets participants decide how to eat, buy clothes, furnish a home, and invest using an avatar.

Money Math

The Treasury Department offers free lesson plans for teachers that revolve around budgeting, taxes, and wealth building.

Practical Money Skills for Life

VISA: Practical Money Skills for Life leads the way in proving that financial literacy education works. Available in both online versions and print with CD-ROM, Practical Money Skills for Life is targeted at adults and youths, consumers and educators. It is offered in three languages - English, Spanish and Chinese - and consists of award-winning curriculum that has been teacher tested and approved. Topics include how to plan for buying a car, saving for college, vacation budgeting, a Women Savings Initiative, including the joint publication of What Women Need to Know About Retirement with the Heinz Family Philanthropies, and preparing for life events such as marriage and retirement.

Financial Football

VISA: Creative and interactive approach to financial literacy education in the classroom. Financial Football is available in three versions: a High School edition, the Advanced edition aimed at college students, and a free cell phone version targeting "screen of choice" for today's teens. Each fall semester, Practical Money Skills for Life teams with NFL players and an independent financial facilitator to visit one high school per week. During these Financial Football classes, students received testimonials from NFL players, information about financial management, and partner with the NFL players in playing Financial Football. Financial Football has been officially endorsed and distributed to all high schools and public libraries in 15 states in the U.S.

What's My Score

VISA: Program includes free online tools aimed at the unique needs of college students and young adults. What's My Score resources include credit facts, free credit score tools, user created videos, online games, a complete university financial tools curriculum, and a series of money guides designed to help young adults stay on firm financial ground.

Wells Fargo

Teacher and program, all ages & adults (4 age buckets)

The Institute for Financial Literacy

The Institute for Financial Literacy offers, at no cost, a personal
fiscal fitness online course providing key information and skills to successfully manage money, one's financial future, and achieve personal financial independence.  The course is holistic in design, completely objective and void of any conflicts of interest. The fiscal fitness course introduces the "Fiscal Fitness Life Cycle" and the essential "Six Elements of Personal Finance" that must be carefully balanced and considered throughout
life.

Financial Literacy Foundation (FLF)

FLF is thrilled to have forged partnerships with several public and public charter high schools across D.C. The results have been spectacular as our students open bank accounts and check their credit reports for the first time in their lives. We look forward to partnering with other community focused organizations that are working together to prepare D.C. students for success in college and life.

First Command Educational Foundation

To be nationally recognized as a leader in financial literacy and education by partnering with educational institutions, organizations / corporations within the community, and the military to provide an opportunity for financial freedom and knowledge through objective financial education, information, and tools in the form of presentations and seminars.

Jump$tart

Jump$tart is a national coalition of organizations dedicated to improving the financial literacy of kindergarten through college-age youth by providing advocacy, research, standards and educational resources. Jump$tart strives to prepare youth for life-long successful financial decision-making.

The Institute for Socio-Financial Studies (ISFS)

The Institute for Socio-Financial Studies (ISFS) is an independent  non-profit organization that conducts feasibility, benchmarking, strategic development, and evaluation studies of consumer financial education programs. 

ISFS takes a uniquely cross-disciplinary research approach that illuminates the socio-financial factors influencing consumer financial decision-making in today's changing marketplace. 

Armed with this information, organizations and professionals can create counseling, education, and planning activities that benefit their companies, clients, and employees.