Reach Your 2024 Financial Resolutions

• This workshop will help you identify key areas of your financial life to focus on and improve. You will understand the causes of common money mistakes and leave with an action plan to help you achieve financial wellness.
• Key topics: 1) What are the four factors of financial health? 2) Common money mistakes to avoid. 3) How to create financial goals using the S.M.A.R.T. technique.

Ten Steps to Better Budgeting

• Understand the importance of creating a home budget (or spending plan). Through budgeting, you will clearly see how your money is being spent which will help you avoid or get out of debt. You'll leave this workshop with a first draft of a trackable home budget.
• Key topics: 1) The importance of a home budget. 2) Budgeting examples, tools, and templates. 3) Tips on how to increase income and reduce expenses.

Saving for Your Future

• Having a clear plan for both short- and long-term savings is an essential part of building your finances. This workshop will provide the fundamentals of how to get started with a savings strategy, tips to build and sustain your accounts, and the basics of personal investing and saving for retirement.
• Key topics: 1) Three core strategies of personal savings accounts. 2) Understanding investment options (401Ks, IRAs, bonds, mutual funds). 3) The basics of Social Security.

Dealing with Debt

• Excessive, high-interest credit card debt can derail even the best laid financial plans, so it's important to understand your options and commit to a strategy that positions you on a path to becoming debt free. This workshop will cover the options available, provide valuable tools, and help you understand how to compare the pros and cons of each approach.
• Key topics: 1) Debt Snowball, Debt Avalanche, Debt Management, Debt Settlement, Debt Consolidation. 2) On-your-own approaches vs. receiving assistance.

Nine Ways to Beat Inflation!

• Rising prices caused by inflation can really put stress on the monthly budget. Are there some smart money management strategies that can help you navigate these challanging times? Yes! This workshop will help uncover important actions and behaviors that will provide you with some needed breathing room in your monthly spending plan. Learn about ways to reduce everyday expenses, and discover helpful resources that will help keep more of your money in your pocket.

How to Overcome Financial Challenges: From Mindset to Action

• Financial problems are one of the most common sources of stress.  If you or a loved one have experienced some stress in this area this year, you are not alone. This workshop will first examine the importance of changing how you think about money, and how you can create real-life habits you can use every day. Even small steps add up to big changes! Second, we’ll focus on the current economic environment and tangible actions you can and should take to position yourself for success. With changes in perspective and a clear action plan, you can take control of your finances for good!

Investing for Beginners

• Most people want to start investing but have no idea where to begin. How much do you need to start? What is a 401K? What is an Individual Retirement Account? What is the difference between stocks and bonds? What is a mutual fund? We'll cover the common terms, such as risk tolerance, asset allocation, and dollar-cost averaging. This workshop will not provide any individual investment advice or guidance - it's purely educational and meant for individuals with no prior experience with investing. 

On Deck with Credit

• This workshop is an introduction to how credit works in our society. Many people need and use credit to purchase items and services in order to maintain their lifestyle. While credit is often an important component of building wealth, it can be dangerous if not handled wisely.
• Key topics: 1) Options for establishing and/or rebuilding credit. 2) Secured vs. unsecured credit. 3) Factors to consider when applying for credit. 3) Avoiding predatory loans.

Be Credit Smart!

• Your credit reports and scores are vital components of your overall financial health. Good credit can result in lower interest rates and also plays a factor in many other areas of your financial life. This popular workshop will help you understand how it all works and how to achieve excellent credit.
• Key topics: 1) What information appears on a credit report and how does it get there. 2) How to dispute inaccurate information. 3) Credit scoring formula. 4) Tips on how to improve and maintain a credit score. 5) Protecting your credit data.

Credit Expert: Common Truths and Myths

• This interactive workshop will provide you with in-depth information about how credit truly works, while uncovering the most common misunderstandings. Students will go through a series of forty multiple choice and true-and-false questions, all focused on credit knowledge. You will have fun while learning in a challenging, fast-paced environment.
• Key topics: 1) Types, terms, what to watch out for, etc. 2) Credit Reports and Scores: What is true vs. false. 3) ID Theft – Mistakes with credit that could cost you.

Credit Report Reviews

• Regularly pulling and reviewing your personal credit reports is one of the best financial habits to practice. Our experienced Financial Education Team will access your credit report with you on www.annualcreditreport.com. Once the report is generated, we will provide helpful tips and strategies for how to read and understand the data and how to maintain a high credit score. These reviews only take about 20 minutes and you will leave with a wealth of important information about your credit history.

Stay Safe: Avoiding Identity Theft and Financial Fraud

• In 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) received 1.4 million reports specific to identity theft.  It's important to know the most common scams and how to avoid falling victim to them. This workshop will teach you the essential steps to protect yourself, tools available to help consumers, and provide you with an action plan to implement immediately.
• Key topics: 1) How identity theft happens. 2) Common financial scams. 3) Protecting your credit. 4) Options when a data breach occurs.

Financial Fitness for College Students

• This workshop is perfect for students who are just beginning their financial journey. We will cover the essentials of money management and establishing credit, and you will leave with an action plan to start building your financial future.
• Key topics: 1) Importance of using a monthly spending plan. 2) How to establish credit. 3) Common money mistakes to avoid. 4) Tips on saving money. 5) The power of investing money early.

Homebuyer Education

• Buying a home is one of the most important emotional and financial decisions you will make.  This is why financial experts recommend taking a homebuyer education course before diving into the purchasing process. This workshop will help prepare you with all of the essential information you need to make it a smooth, stress-free, and financially sustainable process.
• Key topics: 1) Renting or Buying: Which is best for me? 2) Preparing your credit for the mortgage process and determining an affordable home price. 3) Choosing the right loan and evaluating various loan terms and fees. 3) Understanding the various roles in the home buying process (realtors, lenders, inspectors, appraisers, and underwriters). 4) Organizing your finances and preparing for successful long-term homeownership.

• This workshop provides great ideas and suggestions for popular websites and apps to help you manage your finances. You will walk away equipped with essential tools and innovative sites - many available for free or at a very low cost.
• Key topics: Best sites and apps for budgeting, earning money on everyday tasks, selling unwanted items, helping jumpstart your savings, and paying down debt.

• Key topics: 1) What are the benefits of Michigan's 529 plan? 2) Investment options 3) The process and considerations for multiple children 4) The types of qualifying expenses
• This presentation is applicable to students attending any college or university and is facilitated by a staff member from TIAA - 529 Savings Program Manager

•  This presentation is excellent for parents and students to review the costs of college. You will receive key information on what to consider when finalizing college choices.
• Key topics: 1) Overview of the entire financial aid process. 2) Types of financial aid available for college students, such as scholarships and how to apply for them. 3) Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) - the application students fill out annually to receive federal assistance for college.
• This presentation is applicable to students attending any college or university and is facilitated by a staff member of the U-M Office of Financial Aid.

• Drop by the branch during business hours and visit with our Financial Education Team!
• Staff is available to answer questions and provide free credit reports from annualcreditreport.com.
• Pick up free resources such as youth and adult financial education books and handouts covering budgeting, credit, and savings.
• Pick up the FTC Guide on Identity Theft.

Town Hall Investing Q&A

• Join us for this valuable, interactive Town Hall style event focused on investing, retirement, and the market. Our special guest will be Jay Hokanson, CFP, who provides wealth management services to many UMCU members.
• Key topics: 1) The outlook for the market for 2024. 2) How Social Security and Medicare fit into your retirement plans. 3) Traditional IRA vs. Roth IRA – which is better for me? 4) How to determine the best asset allocation and much more

Financial Major League (ages 14-17)

• Young people need to know how to spend wisely, prioritize savings, and plan for the future. Educating teens about money is essential to helping them avoid common financial vulnerabilities and build economic stability. Students will leave the Financial Major League workshops prepared for the responsibility of managing their own money.
• First Inning Topics: 1) How to safely and correctly use checking and savings accounts. 2) How to develop a plan for saving and spending. 3) How to make financial decisions objectively and not based on peer pressure
• Second Inning Topics: 1) How credit impacts your financial future, including student loans. 2) Resources available to help with employment and earning potential. 3) How to safeguard financial information, including avoiding financial fraud and identity theft.

Financial Minor League (ages 10-13)

• Teaching youth about money is a critical step in preparing them for the future. Through UMCU’s fun and engaging Minor League workshop, students will learn about finances and be ready to make decisions at pivotal points in their development and financial lives.
• Key topics: 1) Functions and purpose of a credit union. 2) Breaking down needs vs. wants. 3) Applying consumer skills to saving and spending decisions. 4) Understanding opportunity cost. 5) Evaluating their strengths and passions vs. future jobs.

Financial Little League (ages 5-9)

• It is never too early to start learning about money and finances which is why our fun and engaging Financial Little League workshop is a perfect introduction to financial education.
• Key points: 1) The differences between spending, sharing, and saving. 2) The value of money. 3) How money is earned. 4) Why and how to save. 5) Smart Shopping 6) Tour of the branch