Financial Literacy for Everyone
Introduction to First Command Educational Foundation
This 30-minute presentation is designed to introduce audiences to First Command Educational Foundation's history, mission, vision, capabilities, and services.
Balancing a Checkbook
All bank customers should know how to manage their accounts. This presentation provides step-by-step instructions on how to balance a checkbook. It can be paired with the Types of Bank Accounts presentation.
Bankruptcy
Filing for bankruptcy must be a well-informed decision. This presentation delivers information on bankruptcy that can be helpful in determining if it is the right course of action. It discusses the differences between filing bankruptcy under Chapters 7, 11, 12, and 13. It explains the impact of bankruptcy and lists the advantages and disadvantages of filing.
Basic Banking
This presentation explains how to choose a bank or credit union and how to open, use, and balance and track activities of a checking account. Debit cards and online banking are discussed, and personal security measures are highlighted.
Car Buying
Discuss the steps to take when purchasing a car, to include researching prices, negotiating a sale, and financing the vehicle.
Cash Management
This presentation discusses the proper use and maintenance of a checking account and debit card, the importance of debt and credit management, reviewing credit reports, preventing identity theft, setting goals, using a spending plan, and utilizing the power of compounding to reach goals.
College Funding
This presentation delivers information on financial aid for college: grants, scholarships, and loans. It discusses various resources and the need for thorough research and complete paperwork. This presentation can be combined with College Savings Options as one presentation.
College Savings Options
There are different ways to plan and prepare for children’s college education while the children are young. Learn about the Coverdell Education Savings Account, 529s, UGMA & UTMAs, savings bonds, and the various tax considerations involved with saving and investing for college.
Creating a Small Business
Learn the resources available to you through funds, grants, loans and other assistance; Learn to create a budget and manage your money.
Debt Management
This presentation discusses the impact of excessive debt, the importance of financial planning and management, methods of debt elimination, and helpful tips on how to live within means and build a secure financial future.
Estate Planning
The effects of not having an estate plan can be devastating. This presentation describes the benefits of estate planning, the types of tools available, and special considerations.
Financial Planning & Your Future
Financial Planning and Your Future stresses to audiences the importance of personal financial management by explaining the impact of debt and the benefits of financial goal-setting and planning, using savings, insurance, and investments.
Giving to Charities
Giving to charities is a worthwhile endeavor. It should be undertaken with caution and research. This presentation provides information on different ways to help charitable organizations, how to identify reputable charities, and how to make effective contributions.
Home Buying (Pre-Purchase)
Buying a home is among the ten most stressful events of life. Realistic, careful preparation can reduce the anxiety of the home buying experience. This presentation highlights things to consider when choosing your home including features, location, and costs associated with home ownership. It discusses types of financing, mortgage terms, and the purchase process.
Home Buying (Avoiding Foreclosure)
A home is usually the most costly purchase of a lifetime. Learn how to protect this precious, wealth-building resources, or to fight foreclosure when it’s just around the corner.
Identity Theft
The Identity Theft presentation offers statistics on identity theft, as well as discussing why, how, and where identity thieves can target someone. It teaches about the different types of identity theft, as well as prevention and response procedures.
Insurance
In order to have appropriate insurance, consumers must have some understanding of the types of insurance products and coverage available. This presentation includes information on health, homeowners, auto, and life insurance. There is a military version that also discusses SGLI and VGLI.
Investments
This presentation offers comprehensive discussion of investment options. It defines stocks, bonds, and mutual funds and explains how they work, the advantages and disadvantages of the various investment tools, and what factors to consider when choosing how to invest. It also explains dollar cost averaging and retirement account options, including Thrift Savings Plan.
Making It on Your Own
High school juniors and seniors should be prepared to begin life on their own beyond high school graduation. This presentation teaches them about the responsibilities of independence, from handling their bank accounts to saving for the future. It emphasizes the need for a spending plan, commitment to savings and investments, and good credit management. It demonstrates that small compromises now can reap big rewards over the long term. There is also discussion of identity theft protection.
Managing Cash Flow
Includes more sophisticated, in-depth look at banking and how it can be managed for wealth building.
Planning for Life
Financial planning is not and should not be a “man’s world.” Women, in general, possess personality traits that make them as good or better investors than their male counterparts. This presentation is designed for female audiences, to encourage them to be assertive in taking responsibility for their financial futures, and it emphasizes the need to get started now.
Retirement Planning
Long-term retirement planning offers the opportunity to have a financially secure life beyond your working years. This presentation delivers detailed information on several types of retirement accounts available for long-term planning: Traditional and Roth IRA, SEP, SIMPLE, Traditional and Roth 401k & 403b, and annuities. It encourages the audience to start thinking about retirement goals early in life. The more resources held at retirement, the more options available. The sooner you start planning for what you want out of life, the likelier you are to get it!
Retirement Planning for Mature Workers
More than half of American workers over age 50 do not have enough available resources to sustain them through retirement. This presentation examines the possible causes of this phenomenon and reassures the audience that hope is not lost. It explains how to realistically determine retirement needs and evaluate potential courses of action. It explores the advantages and disadvantages of the different retirement planning tools available to those who are addressing their retirement goals close to the retirement years. It discusses asset allocation and ways to make investments last.
Rights & Responsibilities of Renting or Buying a Home
This presentation explains the basic rights and responsibilities of both renter and landlord, including rent and lease agreements. It also discusses homebuyers’ rights and the prohibited practices associated with mortgage lending and housing sales.
Starting a Small Business
Initiating a small business can be risky and challenging, but chances for success can improve with good planning and preparation. This presentation helps potential business owners determine if they possess the right skills to become a successful small business owner and provides information on getting started, selecting a business, developing a business plan, financing the business, and marketing the product or service.
The Stock Market and Investment Options
This presentation provides information on the stock market and the different investment vehicles available to potential investors, including stocks, bonds, ETFs, and mutual funds. It identifies and defines the vocabulary necessary to understand the language of investing.
Transition from Renting to Buying a Home
This presentation helps you determine if you are ready for home ownership by listing the pros and cons of renting and owning a home. It also identifies the immediate costs associated with purchasing a home and provides tips on how to determine if the cost of home ownership is feasible.
Types of Bank Accounts
This presentation provides information on types of bank accounts and banking products available. It can be paired with the Balancing a Checkbook presentation.
Types of Loans
There are many different types of loans available for consumers. This presentation provides information on different types of loans and examines credit reports, credit scores, how the scores are calculated, and how to raise the scores.
Understanding Interest: Avoiding and Eliminating Credit Card Debt
This presentation lists ways to using credit wisely, the pros and cons of using credit cards, and tips for avoiding and reducing excessive credit card debt.
Your Growing Family
Your growing family is the most important thing in your life. This presentation is designed to prepare you for the financial aspect of this stage of your life and for your family’s future. It discusses the new expenses involved in the first year of parenthood, the effects of credit card use, the need for savings and insurance, and the value of long-term planning. You can start now (with “baby steps,” if need be) to build a successful future for your family.
Your Spending Plan
This presentation takes the participant step-by-step through the process of developing a personal/family spending plan. From recognizing the need for a spending plan to organizing personal information to setting goals, using the plan, and evaluating progress, it covers every aspect of creating and using this essential financial tool.