Financial Education Workshops

This series consists of four in-person, 90-minute classes, using learning circles, activities and group discussions.

You will learn how to:

• Budget to create savings.
• Strategically reduce debt and build assets.
• Understand credit scores.
• Protect yourself as a consumer.

This workshop is only available to Financial Choice Partners, learn more about becoming a Financial Choice Partner.

This is a series of five, sixty-minute virtual classes using interactive tools to increase learning and engagement.

You will learn financial concepts and strategies to: 

• Spend less than you earn.
• Reduce debt.
• Increase assets and wealth.
• Increase your buying power with improved credit.
• Protect your financial well-being by learning about insurance, avoiding scams and preventing identity theft.

Budgeting puts you in the driver’s seat towards reaching your financial goals. You wouldn’t take a trip without planning out your path; a budget is your map to reach your financial destination. Whatever that may be for you.

In this workshop you will: 

• Set at least one financial goal.
• Identify ways to maximize your income.
• Learn how and why to track your spending.
• Discuss different budgeting styles to find the one that works for you!

Credit scores affect the terms of loans you receive, employment, housing and insurance rates.

Find out:

• How your credit report affects your credit scores.
• The components of a high credit score.
• How a high score makes things cost less.
• How to establish or rebuild scores.

Transform a financial life that is controlled by debt with a solid plan to become free of that burden.

In this workshop you will:

• Explore specific strategies that repay debt faster. 
• Learn about options that may reduce the burden of debt when money is tight. 
• Discover trusted resources to turn to for help.

Seventy-two percent of Americans struggle to pay for a surprise $1,000 expense without taking on debt. Beat the odds with this workshop — you will set your savings goal and create your step-by-step plan to reach it!

This is an informational course only. LSS cannot provide investment advice.

An introduction to the following concepts and tips to help you grow your assets to reach a financial goal:

• Compound interest and how it builds wealth.
• Dollar-cost averaging and how it might benefit your investment strategy.
• The importance of diversifying your assets.
• Ways to find trusted experts to help you with future planning.

Everywhere you turn these days there are new ways to spend, budget, and borrow money. From online retail shops to FinTech, the way we shop, bank, and borrow is changing rapidly. If you don't know the difference between "Buy Now, Pay Later" and Layaway, this workshop will help you understand the benefits and pitfalls of the digitization of spending and borrowing.

*For Parents who have children ages pre-K through middle school.

Get started with concepts and actions that help children at each age build the skills they need to develop life-long money smarts.

Parents will learn:

• The three concepts all kids need to know.
• How their own money story influences their children’s attitudes about money.
• The different ways children receive money.
• Tips for maximizing money lessons regardless of how money is received.
• Strategies for teaching kids about needs vs. wants.

Get started with concepts and actions that help teens at each age build the skills they need to develop life-long money smarts.

Parents will learn about:

• Tools that help to start a conversation about money.
• Incorporating values into setting goals with teens.
• Concepts that help with decision making, including needs vs. wants.
• Budgeting, spending and credit basics to pass on to teens.

Many borrowers are confused about their options when it comes to repaying federal student loans. If you are one of them, this workshop is for you.

You will learn about:

• The different types of federal student loans and payment plan options.
• What to do if you can’t afford your payments. 
• Default resolution. 
• Loan forgiveness and cancellation programs.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) is a federal student loan program that forgives the remaining balance of any federal student loan after 120 payments for borrowers who work in the public sector. Up until recently very few have successfully achieved loan forgiveness through this program due to a lack of understanding of the policies and processes guiding it. 

This workshop is designed to teach public sector employees how to:

• Start the payment count towards loan forgiveness.
• Understand how to ensure payments qualify.
• Define qualifying employment.
• Request loan forgiveness once 120 payments have been made.

Identity theft costs Americans tens of millions of dollars every year and is difficult to prevent. There are, however, steps you can take to minimize your harm if you are victimized.

You will learn:

• The different ways your information can be compromised.
• Tips for being safe online and protecting access to your information.
• How to access free, effective resources to turn to if you are a victim of identity theft.
   

Essential information for everyone in the digital age.

In this workshop you will learn:

• How to recognize the most common forms of fraud and the tactics used to deceive targets.
• The skills to respond assertively to the pressures of phone and online con artists.
• When where and how to report fraud.
• How to protect your finances from future vulnerability.

Just like with our physical health, building financial health requires steps that we take daily, monthly, and annually.

You will learn how to:

• Assess your financial health on an annual basis with a financial health checkup.
• Determine your “fin-metrics” that indicate financial health so you can set monthly goals to improve your stats.
• Identify daily habits to practice that will help you build resiliency and achieve financial wellness.

The rising cost of living demands tough choices from everyday spending to reaching bigger life goals, like buying a home, saving for college, or retiring. Considering decision fatigue, rising interest on debts, and low levels of saving, it’s no surprise money has become one of the top stressors for many of us.

Learn methods to regain a healthy sense of control, including:

• Stress reduction strategies.
• Recognizing and challenging money beliefs.
• Prioritizing debt payments. 
• Behavioral tips to change old money habits into new ones.

If you find yourself worried about what you will do in the case of an unexpected crisis, preparing can set your mind at ease and help you weather the storm. Resiliency is defined as the mental ability to recover quickly from illness or misfortune. In this workshop we will focus on preparing for periods of financial challenge so you can bounce back quickly.

You will learn:

• About the different layers of savings.
• How to budget flexibly. 
• Strategies to intentionally pay down debt.
• What types of insurance you may want to have.

If you or those you know are uncertain about your current financial situation or what may happen in the future, this workshop will assist you in building financial resiliency and establishing a sense of security and control so that you can manage any financial challenges you face.  

If you are trying to recover from unemployment, the dissolution of a relationship, a significant health event or any one of life’s unexpected changes — this workshop will help you take control.

You will learn strategies to: 

• Prioritize expenses to reestablish control over your finances.
• Deal with creditors and tackle debt.
• Build financial resiliency through rebuilding savings.

We all need to learn to talk about money, whether it’s with ourselves, our partner/spouse, and/or our friends and family. Transparency about money can lead to stronger relationships and a higher level of financial health.

In this workshop you will learn:

• Communication skills and ground rules for talking about money.
• Common money beliefs and scripts and how they influence financial behavior.
• Money management strategies that can be implemented on your own or with others.

Women have all the skills, knowledge, and tools they need to be successful with money and finance. The biggest thing lacking? Confidence.

In this workshop you will:

• Explore money personalities and how to overcome common scripts learned in childhood.
• Discuss money management skills that you can incorporate into reaching your financial goals, including salary negotiation, debt reduction and investing basics.
• Build confidence through sharing powerful information about women's essential role in the economy.

If you are nearing retirement this is the workshop for you. Everyone knows that saving for retirement is important, but there are other factors to consider the closer you get.

In this workshop you will:

• Learn about the four phases of retirement.
• Consider lifestyle scenarios that affect your costs.
• Make a plan to eliminate debt that may drain your funds more quickly.
• Talk about how to spend your long-saved funds in proven ways that lead to happiness.
   

Transition from a life of conspicuous consumption, debilitating debt and over-scheduled calendars.

• Explore what living a minimalist life might look like for you.
• Declutter your finances.
• Combat external messages about identity and success that may be holding you back from living the life you want to live.

During the winter holidays, society pressures us to spend heavily. Many people find that their spending does not create happiness, but stress and debt instead.

You will learn about:

• Stress reducing techniques.
• Planning ahead to take control.
• Three core principles of personal finance that will help you get more fulfillment out of your holidays.

Changing behaviors around money is never easy but to reach your goals it's necessary.

In this workshop you will learn:

• Proven strategies to organize your finances.
• The art of setting achievable goals.
• Techniques to help you change financial beliefs and habits that keep you stuck.

In person only.

A fun and creative way to teach teens about money concepts and skills they all need to learn! One of our financial educators will lead as the bingo announcer while answering teens’ questions about budgeting, saving, credit, debt, and investing. A great way to engage teens in learning about money and personal finance.