SaveSeekServe

Resources

Workshop Preparation Handout

Tips For A Successful Workshop

Foundational Financial Tools

Bankrate Compound Interest Calculator
Fidelity Fund Screener -- A tool ranking over 8400 mutual funds.
Morningstar Market Watch Website
Mortgage Calculator (Calculator.net)

SaveSeekServe Resources

100 Widely Used U.S. Government Programs and Consumer Benefits A Basic Senior Adult Guide to Resources A Simple Adult Guide to Resources A Simple Teen Guide to Resources Biblical Prospectives on Money Credit Scores – Understanding and Improving Them Financial Terms Glossary Free Estate Planning Tools Personal Finances Education Resources Selected Quotes and Thoughts About Money Teen Financial Account Options Thoughts About When to Start Collecting Social Security Top 10 Investing Myths Wages in the USA What Things Should Cost

Banking

# Resource Source How it helps
1 Bank accounts and services Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Provides a broad overview of choosing and using bank or credit union accounts, including account options, common issues, rights, and how-to guides.
2 Checklist for opening a bank or credit union account Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Helps people gather identification, compare fees and services, and understand what to ask before opening a checking or savings account.
3 Opening a checking or savings account Consumer Financial Protection Bureau A practical worksheet covering required documents, opening deposits, account fees, ATM access, online banking, overdrafts, alerts, and interest.
4 Managing your checking account Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Explains how to manage a checking account, avoid unnecessary fees, track balances, understand holds, and reduce account problems.
5 Deposit Accounts Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Defines common bank deposit accounts such as checking, savings, certificates of deposit, and money market accounts, and explains consumer protections.
6 Get Banked Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Introduces the benefits of opening a bank account, how to choose an account, how deposit insurance works, and what information is needed to open an account.
7 HelpWithMyBank.gov Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Offers answers to common banking questions and guidance for customers of national banks and federal savings associations.
8 Consumers National Credit Union Administration Connects consumers to credit union education, share insurance information, fraud prevention resources, complaint assistance, and a credit union locator.
9 Brochures & Publications MyCreditUnion.gov / National Credit Union Administration Provides consumer-friendly publications on credit union basics, account services, share insurance, savings, money transfers, and consumer protections.
10 MyCreditUnion.gov National Credit Union Administration Offers financial education for credit union members, including resources on checking and savings accounts, credit union services, credit, loans, and debt.

Budgeting

# Resource Source How it helps
1 Making a Budget Consumer.gov / Federal Trade Commission Explains what a budget is, how to list monthly income and expenses, and how to use a budget each month.
2 Budget Worksheet Consumer.gov A simple worksheet for entering income, expenses, and the difference between the two.
3 Make a Budget Worksheet Consumer.gov Helps users review this month’s spending and plan next month’s budget.
4 Your Money, Your Goals toolkit Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Includes tools for tracking income, paying bills, cutting expenses, creating a cash-flow budget, and managing debt.
5 Monthly Budget Tool Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Provides a fillable monthly budget format for listing income, spending, and opportunities to reduce costs.
6 Creating a Monthly Household Budget Consumer Financial Protection Bureau A household budgeting activity focused on balancing needs, wants, savings, and monthly living expenses.
7 Money Smart Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation A financial education program with lessons, games, and resources for building money-management skills.
8 Tools MyMoney.gov A federal directory of calculators, budgeting worksheets, planning checklists, and other financial decision-making tools.
9 Creating a Budget University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension Financial Education Offers printable worksheets and spreadsheet tools for monthly cash flow, detailed spending plans, and household expense tracking.
10 Free Excel Budget Templates & Spreadsheets Excelx.com Provides downloadable budget templates for personal, family, weekly, monthly, annual, and life-event budgeting.

Credit and Credit Products

# Resource Source How it helps
1 Credit reports and scores Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Explains credit reports, credit scores, credit errors, protections, and ways to build or improve credit over time.
2 Credit and Debt Federal Trade Commission Provides consumer guidance on credit history, credit reports, borrowing, debt collection, and managing debt.
3 Understanding Your Credit Federal Trade Commission Defines credit history, explains why credit matters, and describes how lenders use credit reports.
4 Credit cards Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Helps users compare credit cards, understand costs, avoid fees, and manage credit card accounts responsibly.
5 Auto loans Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Explains how to shop for vehicle financing, compare loan offers, and understand loan terms and total cost.
6 Mortgages Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Offers tools and guides for comparing mortgage options, understanding closing costs, and preparing for home financing.
7 Student loans Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Provides guidance on borrowing for education, repayment options, servicing issues, and avoiding student loan problems.
8 Payday loans Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Explains payday loan costs, risks, repayment challenges, and alternatives to high-cost short-term borrowing.
9 Debt collection Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Reviews consumer rights, debt collection rules, and steps to respond to collectors or dispute a debt.
10 AnnualCreditReport.com Annual Credit Report Service Provides access to free credit reports from the three nationwide credit reporting companies.

Investing

# Resource Source How it helps
1 Introduction to Investing Investor.gov / U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Explains investing goals, compound growth, risk, diversification, and long-term investing basics.
2 Investing Basics FINRA Covers investment goals, risk, fees, asset allocation, diversification, and evaluating performance.
3 Beginners Guide to Investing U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Provides a starting point for investor education, including questions to ask, checking brokers, and researching investments.
4 Investor.gov U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Offers investing articles, calculators, alerts, quizzes, and fraud-prevention guidance for individual investors.
5 Resources for Investors U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Connects investors to tools for checking investment professionals, submitting questions, and reviewing investor alerts.
6 Investor Education Resources FINRA Provides articles, tools, calculators, quizzes, publications, and scam-prevention resources for investors.
7 Compound Interest Calculator Investor.gov Shows how regular contributions and time can affect long-term investment growth.
8 Fund Analyzer Investor.gov Helps compare mutual funds and exchange-traded products by fees and potential long-term costs.
9 Red Flags of Fraud Investor.gov Teaches warning signs of investment scams, including pressure tactics and promises of high return with little risk.
10 Tools and Calculators FINRA Offers calculators and tools to estimate savings needs, assess knowledge, and research investment decisions.

Consumer Protections

# Resource Source How it helps
1 Consumer Advice Federal Trade Commission Offers practical guidance on shopping, donating, credit, debt, scams, identity theft, privacy, and online security.
2 Consumer Protection Federal Trade Commission Provides information about consumer protection laws, enforcement actions, and FTC work to prevent unfair or deceptive practices.
3 ReportFraud.ftc.gov Federal Trade Commission Lets people report fraud, scams, and bad business practices to the federal government.
4 Scams Federal Trade Commission Explains common scams, how to avoid them, what to do after being scammed, and how to report fraud.
5 Fraud and scams Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Helps consumers recognize, prevent, and respond to fraud, scams, identity theft, phishing, spoofing, and unauthorized transactions.
6 Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Connects consumers to complaint tools, financial product guides, consumer advisories, and education on major money topics.
7 Submit a Complaint Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Provides a channel for submitting complaints about financial products and services.
8 Consumer Complaints USA.gov Explains how to file consumer complaints and find the right agency or organization for common issues.
9 IdentityTheft.gov Federal Trade Commission Guides victims of identity theft through reporting, recovery steps, letters, and customized action plans.
10 National Do Not Call Registry Federal Trade Commission Lets consumers register phone numbers to reduce unwanted sales calls and report unwanted calls.

Financial and Legal Disclaimer

The information contained in this document is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, tax, accounting, or legal advice. Nothing in this document constitutes an offer, solicitation, recommendation, or endorsement to buy, sell, hold, or otherwise transact in any security, financial product, service, or investment strategy.

All financial decisions involve risk, including the possible loss of principal, and past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Any examples, projections, estimates, or forward-looking statements are illustrative only and may not reflect actual outcomes. You are solely responsible for evaluating whether any information, strategy, product, or service discussed is appropriate for your individual circumstances.

You should consult with a qualified financial advisor, attorney, tax professional, accountant, or other licensed professional before making decisions or taking action based on the information in this document. No attorney-client, advisor-client, fiduciary, or other professional relationship is created by the receipt or use of this document.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the author and any associated parties disclaim liability for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, or other damages arising from or related to the use of, reliance on, or inability to use the information contained in this document. Laws, regulations, and market conditions may change, and the information may not be current, complete, or applicable to your specific situation.