Last week I covered the basics of what clients need to know about pay day loans; I explained that 15 states have banned pay day loans and others have developed regulations designed to reduce the amount of money and damage they can wreak on the men and women who need and/or use them. Unfortunately, as [...]
Graduate Blog: Helping Clients Help Themselves
The majority of my clients are on a fixed income; they are either on Social Security, Unemployment, Disability or are employed at jobs with little opportunity for promotion or additional hours. They receive public assistance for SNAP (supplemental nutrition assistance program), TANIF (temporary assistance of needy families), or WV WORKS (a cash assistance program). Some [...]
The Basics of Predatory Lending: What your clients need to know!
In the early 1990′s there were approximately 200 pay day loan companies in the U S; today there are over 12,000. They are located predominantly in poor neighborhoods because that is where men and women are most likely to need and to access them. Theoretically, pay day loans exist to help consumers who don’t have [...]
Simplifying Financial Literacy
Who cares about financial literacy? I hope you do. I know I do, and think everyone should too. Financial literacy is for anyone who wants to have a more emotionally and financially stable life. It isn’t a course you have to take in school (although it could be, and it definitely should be in all public schools — [...]
Webinar Recording: The Financial Literacy Conundrum
Originally recorded Wednesday, April 17, 2013. Receive Webinar Invited by Email If it surprises you that the value and efficacy of financial education is still part of the financial literacy dialogue in 2013, you won’t want to miss this webinar recording as the Center for Financial Social Work addresses the need for rethinking and reframing [...]
Goal Wednesday: Be Smart With Credit Cards
Every purchase made with a credit card is a loan. When you spend money you don’t have you are borrowing that money with the intention of repaying it in the future. It is a common practice and acceptable throughout society but poses a serious threat to every man and woman. The accessibility to credit makes [...]
Announcement: Financial Social Work Certification Now Includes 20 CEs!
The Center for Financial Social Work is proud to announce that the National Association of Social Workers has approved the Financial Social Work Certification for 20 continuing education contact hours to be awarded to all CFSW students who complete the certification program and pass the FSW certification final exam to become graduates. The NASW CE Approval requires [...]
Exercise: Beginning Steps to Reconnecting Clients to Their Money
The “Money Disconnect” presents a real threat to the financial well-being of every American; particularly to men and women living in poverty or those already struggling with debt and/or other financial problems. While technology may heavily contribute to this disconnect, human behavior can also do this as well. Although it seems counter-intuitive, if someone with financial problems [...]
New eBook: How and Why to Engage Clients in Financial Behavioral Change
I am very excited to announce the release of our newest free ebook entitled “How and Why to Engage Clients in Financial Behavioral Change,” available now for free download! Please continue reading for instructions on how to download the ebook for free, and a copy of the ebook’s preface. To download the ebook right now, [...]
Goal Wednesday: Financial Goals for Teenagers
As young children become teenagers, their responsibilities will increase as they come face-to-face with the reality and necessity of managing their money. This particular transition should be one that they have prepared for (hopefully) since they were four or five years old, as you, their parent, have provided them with the opportunities to interact with [...]
