One of the best things you can do is educate yourself on the different financial options you have available to you.
Website from Equifax, Experian, TransUnion
This is the only source to get free credit reports authorized by federal law. This law requires each of the three largest consumer credit reporting agencies to give you a free copy of your credit report every 12 months.
Website from Commodity Futures Trading Commission
Run by the U.S. CFTC, SmartCheck connects investors to tools to check the registration, license, and disciplinary history of certain financial professionals.
FINRA Professional Designations DatabaseWebsite from FINRA
Decode the letters that sometimes follow a financial professional’s name. You can also see whether the issuing organization requires continuing education, takes complaints or has a way for you to confirm who holds the credential.
FINRA Broker CheckWebsite from Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
Search for broker dealers to confirm they are properly registered and check their disciplinary histories.
SaveAndInvest.orgWebsite from FINRA Investor Education Foundation
Unbiased financial tools and information for investors, with special information for military families and help for investors to avoid investment fraud.
Investor.govWebsite from Securities and Exchange Commission
A site to help investors at all experience levels understand how to invest wisely and avoid fraud.
How Diversification Decreases RiskVideo from Financial Literacy Center
To protect your retirement savings, you need to choose a range of investments to avoid the risk of a single asset losing value.
How Tax-Advantaged Accounts Build AssetsVideo from Financial Literacy Center
Saving your money in a tax-free or tax-deferred Roth IRA or 401(k) retirement account will allow you to accumulate funds more quickly over time.
How to Spot an Investment ScamVideo from FINRA Investor Education Foundation
Investment fraud criminals use a wide array of sophisticated and highly effective tactics to get people to part with their money. Learn how to spot those techniques and help protect not just yourself but friends, neighbors and family members.
Website from Department of Treasury, HUD
The Making Home Affordable Program (MHA) ® is a critical part of the Obama Administration’s broad strategy to help homeowners avoid foreclosure, stabilize the country’s housing market, and improve the nation’s economy. Find a Housing Counselor
Website from CFPB
This online tool uses information from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to find HUD-certified housing counselors near you. HUD counselors can provide advice on buying a home, renting, defaults, foreclosures, and credit issues.
Website from 4H
Target audiences: Teens, young adults
Feed the PigWebsite from American Society for Certified Public Accountants
Target audience: Young adults
Financial EntertainmentWebsite from Doorways to Dreams (D2D) Fund
Target audiences: High school and college students and younger adults
For Me, For You, For LaterWebsite from Sesame Street
Target audiences: Young children and parents
Money as You GrowWebsite from CFPB
A resource for parents and caregivers that identifies key stages of childhood financial development and provides essential and age-appropriate money lessons that kids need to know.
Right on the MoneyCourse from Penn State Cooperative Extension and Pennsylvania Office of Financial Education
A four-session course that uses fun children’s books to introduce children to key financial concepts. It also provides parents with tools and information to reinforce their own financial knowledge as well as positively influence their children’s future money management skills.
NEFE High School Financial Planning ProgramCourse from National Endowment for Financial Education
A turnkey financial literacy program offered in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute for Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA) through participating Land-Grant University Cooperative Extension Services (CES) and the Credit Union National Association, Inc. (CUNA).
Elementary School EconomicsCourse from Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Personal finance and economic lessons are paired with popular children’s books. Librarians can read the book to the children and follow the reading with discussions about money decisions, saving, spending, choices, needs and wants and much more. Includes lesson plans and handouts.
Website from Department of Defense, Military Community and Family Policy, and USA.gov
This site helps military members and their families get their finances in order and plan for a healthy financial future.
Website from American Society for Certified Public Accountants
This site focuses on financial education as a lifelong endeavor—from children learning about the value of money to adults reaching a secure retirement.
Ballpark E$timate, Choose to SaveWebsite from Employee Benefit Research Institute’s Education and Research Fund
The Ballpark E$timate is an easy-to-use worksheet that helps you approximate how much you need to save to fund a comfortable retirement.
Social Security Retirement EstimatorWebsite from Social Security Administration
The Retirement Estimator gives benefits estimates based on your actual Social Security earnings record.
Website from CFPB
Tools and information can help you make better informed decisions.
Federal Student AidWebsite from Department of Education
Get information about preparing for college, types of federal aid, how to apply for aid using the free application for federal student aid (FAFSA); and your loan repayment options.
Federal Student Aid – Financial Aid ToolkitWebsite from Department of Education
The Financial Aid Toolkit provides federal student aid information and outreach tools for counselors, college access professionals, nonprofit mentors, and others.
Website from General Services Administration
The official web portal of the U.S. government. USA.gov contains timely and valuable government information and resources on a variety of topics including consumer protection, small business, benefits, health insurance, taxes and more.
MyMoney.govWebsite from Department of Treasury
Publications, information and tools from more than 20 federal agencies that make up the Financial Literacy Education Commission.
ALA Financial Literacy GuideWebsite from American Library Association
This guide lists materials and resources about personal finance suitable for public libraries. The guide helps to address gaps within the personal finance collections of public libraries and, ultimately, enhance financial capability in the community.
MyCreditUnion.govWebsite from National Credit Union Administration
The National Credit Union Administration’s consumer protection website MyCreditUnion.gov, and its financial literacy microsite, Pocket Cents, offer a variety of educational information, resources, and articles designed to help individuals make smarter financial decisions.
Money SmartWebsite from Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.
A comprehensive financial education curriculum designed to help people improve their financial skills and create positive banking relationships.
Consumer.govWebsite from Federal Trade Commission
Includes easy-to-read and understand resources for basic money management, credit, scams, and ID theft.
Submit a complaintWebsite from CFPB
about consumer financial products and services.
Ask CFPBWebsite from CFPB
Provides answers to common money questions.
Employee Benefits Security Administration Consumer AssistanceWebsite from Department of Labor
Provides answers to questions about workplace benefits, and offers links to assist you if you believe you have been denied a health or retirement benefit inappropriately.
Better Money HabitsVideo from Khan Academy
Khan Academy videos on a variety of financial education topics, from basic money management to credit and debt management, to long-term savings and more.
How an Employer Match Boosts SavingsVideo from Financial Literacy Center
If your employer provides a match to what you contribute to a retirement account, your assets will accumulate at a much faster rate.
Income Tax Withholding CalculatorInternal Revenue Service
Are you withholding to much or too little from your paycheck? Did you get married, divorced or have a child? Use this calculator to determine whether or not you need to file a new W-4.
EconlowdownCourse from Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
An online learning platform for more than 25 courses about money, financial decisions and economics. Register free to access the full list of courses. Instructors can select courses for their online “classrooms,” hold online discussions with classroom students, view progress, and present poll questions or surveys.
Money SmartCourse from Federal Deposit Insurance Commission
A comprehensive financial education curriculum designed to help low- and moderate-income individuals outside the financial mainstream enhance their financial skills and create positive banking relationships.
Money Smart for Older AmericansCourse from CFPB, FDIC
An instructor-led training developed jointly by FDIC and CFPB, this module provides awareness among older adults and their caregivers about how to prevent elder financial exploitation and to encourage advance planning and informed financial decision-making.
NEFE Financial Workshop KitsCourse from National Endowment for Financial Education
Customizable workshop kits focus on varied—yet specific—audiences. The 10 main topic areas offer resources and information specific to people’s income level, stage of life, or unique situations.
Take Charge TodayCourse from Take Charge America Institute, University of Arizona
A program and curriculum with a decision-based approach to personal finance that provides a consistent framework for thinking through financial choices in order to improve well-being.
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