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CONSUMER EDUCATION: PERSONAL FINANCE


AnnualCreditReport.com

• “This central site allows you to request a free credit file disclosure, commonly called a credit report, once every 12 months from each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion”
• Includes instructions for requesting reports
• Provides extensive explanations on site security features, its privacy policies and government safeguards for the protection of consumers’ credit/financial information
• Excellent; one of the best resources for accessing secure information about a consumer’s credit history/rating


BanxQuote

• Sponsored by BanxCorp
• “Provides comparison shopping and daily market rates on deposits and loans from financial institutions in all fifty states and Washington, DC, with state-by-state, regional and national composite benchmarks”
• “Real-time updates. 24/7. Anytime. Anywhere.”
• “Latest Rates” for money markets, certificates-of-deposit, mortgages, home equity loans, lines-of-credit, auto loans; provides “best rates,” “national average”
• Provides interactive capability for calculating location-specific quotes/rates
• Outstanding; one of the best resources for constantly updated information regarding banking and financial information on a national or state basis


Consumer Information

• Maintained by the Federal Reserve Board
• Directory of links to the following personal finance categories: bank accounts/services, consumer credit, identity theft, leasing, mortgages
• Each category’s guide is produced by federal agencies, including the Federal Reserve Board, various Federal Reserve banks, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Federal Citizens Information Center
• Guides are very well-written and consumer-friendly
• Many of the guides are available in Spanish
• Excellent; not as comprehensive as the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s “Consumer Resources” (see below), but does a great job covering the topics it includes


Consumer Resources

• Maintained by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta (FRBA)
• Directory of links to 27 categories of personal finance information/protection, including banking, credit, debt, investing leasing, loans, retirement planning, saving
• Each category’s guide is produced by federal agencies, including the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, various Federal Reserve banks, the Federal Trade Commission, Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Consumer Information Center, Security & Exchange Commission (SEC); also includes a limited amount of information from industry sources
• Guides are very well-written and consumer-friendly
• Some guides are available in Spanish
• Outstanding; one of the best federal sites for personal financial information


Disaster Recovery: A Guide to Financial Issues

• “Offered to you as a public service of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), AICPA Foundation, the American Red Cross, and the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE)”
• “This booklet is written to help you regain a sense of financial balance following a disaster by offering suggestions on steps to take immediately, what to do in the initial weeks and months, and how to begin planning again for the future”
• Discusses such topics as collecting important documents, cash flow, medical/disability benefits, income sources, debt, lost records, insurance claims, tax relief, estate settlement
• Includes numerous links to government agencies, professional associations/organizations which may be of assistance in dealing with these problems
• Outstanding; “one-stop shopping” for advice and information on dealing with the financial issues which arise during a time of crisis


Financial Education and Tools

• Sponsored by Bank of America
• Provides advice for managing the following personal finance categories: savings/budgeting, home purchase, car purchase, credit management, investing, loans/credit cards, financing education, retirement planning, online tax preparation, estate planning
• Includes “Planning Tools,” which provide interactive capability for calculating a wide variety of the categories listed above
• Outstanding; this is a very well-written, consumer-friendly resource for planning one’s personal finances


Financial Facts Tool Kit

• Maintained by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
• Directory of links to sites which discuss the basics of financial planning/investing; some of these sites address specific types of investments (mutual funds, corporate bonds, municipal bonds, market risks)
• Sites include federal agencies and professional associations/organizations
• Last updated April 2005
• Excellent; not extensive but one of the best sites for an introduction/overview of personal financial planning and investing


Financial Planning and Retirement

• Sponsored by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
• Guide for personal financial and retirement planning; “Sessions” include “Creating a Plan,” “Checking,” “Budgeting and Record Keeping,” “Saving Money,” “Investing,” “Retirement Planning,” “Insurance,” “Who Can Help You”
• Each “Session” includes an overview and detailed examination of factors and procedures involved in successful implementation of the specific “Session” topic at hand
• Includes interactive tools (online calculators, worksheets) to assist users in the planning process; when appropriate, links to government agencies or professional associations/organizations for additional advice/assistance
• Includes information on AARP’s initiatives, membership, policies, programs, publications and services
• Outstanding; this is an extensive, well-written guide to the complexities of financial/retirement planning, sponsored by America’s largest, most pre-eminent non-profit organization serving the needs of the middle-aged and “senior citizens”


National Consumer Law Center (NCLC)

• “America’s consumer law expert, helping consumers, their advocates, and public policy makers to use powerful consumer laws to build financial security and assure marketplace justice for vulnerable individuals and families”
• “Action Agenda” links to articles and information on a variety of consumer issues, with an emphasis on such credit/personal finance issues as banking, bankruptcy, debt collection, loans, medical debt, predatory mortgage lending
• Each “Action Agenda” topic includes a brief statement about the topic, “policy analysis;” also may include “Background Information and Resources”
• Also links to over 140 sites for general legal and general consumer associations/organizations, legal services/resource centers, travel law, retail law, federal agencies
• Includes information on NCLC’s initiatives, policies, programs, conferences, training, services
• Outstanding; one of the best sites currently available for general/specific consumer law issues and information; great place for “one-stop shopping” for legal advice for credit/personal finance issues


National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC)

• Established in 1951, the NFCC is the “… nation’s largest and longest serving nonprofit credit counseling organization;” its member agencies are “nonprofit, mission driven, community-based agencies”
• “Consumer Debt Advice” includes “Credit 101,” which provides a “Credit Counseling Checklist,” “Budget & Debt Test,” a link to the “Fair Debt Collection Act,” information on credit reports
• Includes information on services provided by NFCC member agencies: budget counseling, debt management, “financial literacy courses,” “housing counseling”; also includes NFCC news, information on conferences/meetings, directory of local member agencies
• Outstanding; one of the best resources for credit counseling advice and assistance


Quatloos!

“A public educational website maintained by Financial and Tax Fraud Education Associates, Inc.”
• “Covering a wide variety of financial scams and frauds, including wacky “prime bank” frauds, exotic public currency scams, offshore investment frauds, tax scams, “Pure Trust” structures and more…”
• “A clearinghouse for information on the latest scams;” utilized by law enforcement agencies for training
• Exposes many fraudulent ventures; in addition to the ones listed above, it also includes “advance fee” scams, multi-level marketing scams
• Includes articles, news alerts, links to federal/state law enforcement agencies, recommended bibliography (“Reading Room”)
• Welcomes feedback; also provides forums
• Outstanding; one of the best sites for up-to-date information on fiscal fraud; in addition to being very informative, the site presents much of its material in a timely and humorous manner


The Truth About Credit

• Sponsored by State PIRGS, a national coalition of State Public Interest Research Groups
• Provides “The Credit Card Trap: How to Spot It, How to Avoid It,” an extensive (37pp) downloadable guide which outlines general and specific advice/information on a variety of credit issues
• Also provides “Road Map to Credit Card Hazards,” a downloadable guide to recognizing and avoiding credit card “traps;” also includes a glossary and advice for college students
• Includes news, television, and congressional hearings
• Outstanding; offers practical, well-written advice on credit issues


Websites discussed on this page are for informational purposes only. Johnson & Wales University Library is not responsible for the accuracy, content, or stability of any websites linked to this page. When in need of legal, medical or nutritional advice, consult a professional.

Compiled by Rick Keogh 4/06; links last checked 11/07

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