Schedule

Roland “Arty” Arteaga, Defense Credit Union Council

Leslie E. Linfield, Esq., Institute for Financial Literacy

Money Makes Me Crazy! How About You? 

Presenter: Edward McLyman, Apexx Behavioral Solutions GroupAn entertaining perspective on behavioral finance based on the presenter’s own fieldwork and published observations in Money Makes Me Crazy! A Prescription for Money Sanity. This energetic session will discuss how people are not  physiologically hardwired to work well with money. Human biology, culture and social beliefs prevent sound money management. Attendees will gain insight into the field of behavioral finance, as well as become introduced to a behavioral model for better money management outcomes for use with their students/clients.

Concurrent Session I:

Investing in Our Future: The FUNdamentals of Teaching Children About Money

Presenter: Robin Yang, Prosperity Prana, LLC

Elementary school students retain more of what they learn when they are excited about the subject being taught. By utilizing stimulating educational material combined with innovative and inspiring teaching techniques, educators can lay a solid foundation for students to build a strong financial future. This fun and information-filled session will equip attendees with proven tips and tactics to engage and retain a child’s attention in the classroom.

Serving Those Who Serve: Effective State Policies for Protecting Military Families

Presenters: Kate Sylvester, America’s Promise

Katherine Gale, America’s Promise

Military service members have long been targets for predatory lenders. Financial stability is a key to mission readiness and when service members worry about financial problems they may not be focused on their mission. This instructive session will include case studies and best practices from states that have taken corrective action to curb predatory lending, and will give attendees valuable information about what types of financial protection are available for service members and their
families.

The Road to Financial Recovery: Measuring Security: The Basic Economic Security Tables (BEST) Index

Presenter: Matt Unrath, Wider Opportunities for Women

The true cost of the basic expenses and savings needed by workers and their families can be difficult to calculate without the right tools. Session attendees will be introduced to the Basic Economic Security Tables™ Index (BEST) and how it can be used to address several pieces of the larger basic economic security picture for Americans and their families. The tool provides educators and individuals an improved understanding of income needs, a point of comparison when constructing a family budget, and a benchmark for long term financial planning.

Concurrent Session II:

Investing in Our Future: Meeting the Financial Education Needs of Postsecondary Students

Presenter: Jessica Compton, The Urban Institute

Some experts are predicting that student loan debt will be the next financial bubble to burst. College students have been accumulating greater amounts of student loan debt over the past decade, though many lack the financial knowledge to manage their loans wisely. This timely and informative session will cover key points of a report prepared for the U.S. Department of the Treasury summarizing research on students’ financial behaviors and attitudes, and provide attendees with real-world examples of promising approaches to addressing this growing problem.

Serving Those Who Serve: The Great Numbers Game: What You Really Need to Know About Credit Scores but Aren’t Being Told

Presenter: Rod Griffin, Experian

The financial regulatory environment continues to change and it is becoming increasingly more difficult to remain informed and up-to-date. For many financial educators and counselors, these changes can be difficult to interpret and convey to their clients. This timely and informative session will provide attendees with everything they need to know about credit scores in easy to understand language.

The Road to Financial Recovery: VITA: How VITA Provides Financial Opportunities

Panelists: Catherine Ro, National Community Tax Coalition

Joe Doyle, Goodwill Industries of West Michigan

Gene Brown, Internal Revenue Service

Hundreds of Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) programs across the nation have helped hardworking families build a better, more secure financial future. Often this offers an opportunity for the taxpayer to understand the importance and basics of tax preparation and asset building opportunities. Attendees will walk away with a stronger understanding of VITA sites and how they can be used to help better connect clients with mainstream financial services and products.

Cassandra McConnell, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Financial Literacy Around the World 

Panelists: Linda Jack, Financial Educator and Youth Policy Advisor

Michael Reyes, Money Tree Asia Pacific, LTD

Hidde van der Veer, Aflatoun Foundation (Child Savings International)

We often hear about financial literacy efforts in the U.S., but what about abroad? This engaging panel will discuss three different international efforts (United Kingdom, Malaysia and Ghana) and the results they have produced. Reviewing their experiences and research findings, the panelists will also discuss the common pedagogy used in financial education as well as emerging ideas in the field being tested in other countries. Attendees will come away with new strategies and tactics for implementing effective financial education in their communities.

Concurrent Session III:

Investing in Our Future: Financial Literacy Role Reversal: Students as Teachers

Presenter: William Sweeney, CORE Federal Credit Union

Children learn best by doing. This session will spotlight an innovative and award-winning financial literacy program where high school students act as teachers for their peers and mentors to younger students by sharing the personal finance training they are receiving themselves. Attendees will learn specific, and already tested, ideas of programs and K-12 teaching techniques that can be implemented in any school in the country, and what is required to establish and operate student-driven financial literacy partnerships.

Serving Those Who Serve: The Asset Platform: A Pathway for Those Who Serve

Presenter: Sally Parker, The Aspen Institute

The Asset Platform is one of the newest tools in the asset-building field. It provides direct access to a comprehensive set of financial tools, training, products and services for nonprofit and governmental organizations working to build financial security for low- and moderate-income individuals and households. Session attendees will gain in-depth exposure to a new and innovative way to educate using effective online money management tools.

The Road to Financial Recovery: The Great Numbers Game: What You Really Need to Know About Credit Scores but Aren’t Being Told

Presenter: Rod Griffin, Experian

The financial regulatory environment keeps changing and it is becoming increasingly more difficult to remain informed and up-to-date. For many financial educators and counselors, these changes can be difficult to interpret and convey to their clients. This timely and informative session will provide attendees with everything they need to know about credit scores in easy to understand language.

Laura D. Adams, Author of Money Girl’s Smart Moves to Grow Rich

Ms. Adams is a personal finance expert, education advocate, new media enthusiast, and author. Her most recent book, Money Girl’s Smart Moves to Grow Rich, was published by St. Martin’s Press and won the prestigious “EIFLE” Award for Excellence in Financial Literacy Education in 2011. Laura is the host of the Money Girl podcast, a weekly top-10 business show on iTunes with over 500,000 downloads per month. She is a freelance writer, blogger, and trainer who is frequently featured in the media.

Concurrent Session IV:

Investing in Our Future: Financial Education: Beyond the Facts

Presenter: Ornella Grosz, Author of Moneylicious: A Financial Clue for Generation Y

Research shows one’s chances of making sound money decisions as an adult are rooted in childhood experiences; yet many parents are more prepared to talk to their kids about drugs, alcohol, sex and dating than money. As such, it’s more important than ever to include educators in the development and implementation process of financial education. This interactive session is designed specifically for educators to ensure they possess the required knowledge to effectively teach financial education to their students and to improve their own confidence on personal finance concepts.

Serving Those Who Serve: Grind and Brew: Understanding Investments

Presenter: Kristiann Saunders, FINRA Military Spouse Fellow

There are few topics that can scare a soldier. Personal finance is one of them. The thought of balancing a checkbook or working on the family finances is enough to make even the most seasoned soldier break out into a sweat. It is more important than ever for educators to take tough topics and bring them into the realm of understanding for our military members. This session will help educators connect with their audience on the issue of investments…not to make them day-traders, but to teach them to be informed investors.

The Road to Financial Recovery: The Missing Piece: Financial Literacy as a Key Component in the Employment Search

Presenters: Lynda Kugel, PathWays PA

The end of 99-week unemployment compensation will dramatically increase the number of
job-seekers with diminished resources. This thought provoking session will offer attendees proven strategies for building financial literacy and resources among the displaced/unemployed and demonstrate how a collaborative relationship between one-stops and nonprofits can improve financial stability for the unemployed.

Concurrent Session V:

Investing in Our Future: Encouraging Critical Thinking About Money Matters

Presenters: Kelly Banks, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

Jennifer Ransom, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

It’s not easy talking about money to culturally and socioeconomically diverse children, especially when the audience is middle school students. With little or no parent-led financial instruction at home, educators today are increasingly faced with the task of identifying effective ways to help kids make thoughtful money decisions. This session will cover key success factors in children learning basic economic principles and will provide attendees with a wealth of financial literacy resources available to support them in their efforts.

Serving Those Who Serve: One Size Does NOT Fit All: Beyond the Cookie Cutter Approach to Financial Education

Presenter: Anna Frank, First Commonwealth Bank

Those who serve have different financial education needs than the rest of the general population. In this subset, individuals are often dissimilar, so a one-size-fits-all approach to financial education will not work. During this entertaining and interactive session, there will be audience participation, games and friendly competitions to facilitate learning. Attendees will use what they learn to create their own strategies to incorporate the National Standards for Adult Financial Literacy Education into effective financial education for this deserving audience.

The Road to Financial Recovery: ID Theft and Account Fraud: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You!

Presenter: Linda Williams, Consumer Action

Consumer identity theft is on the rise! Last year, it affected nine million Americans and in many cases it was preventable. Using the ID Theft and Account Fraud module, this informative session will provide attendees with an awareness of the different types of identity theft and account fraud, tools fraud victims need to recover and important steps one can take to avoid having their identities stolen.

Michael S. Gutter, Florida Jump$tart Coalition

Managing Credit: The “New Normal” 

Presenter: Caryn Kaiser, Chase Card ServicesAs research continues to show changing consumer sentiment and financial behavior, how can and should financial educators work with consumers to help ensure they are borrowing mindfully? Consumers are thinking differently about their financial habits: paying down their debts, saving more and adopting practical spending approaches. To succeed, consumers need game plans that work for them. This informative session will provide insights on helping consumers manage their spending and credit card usage, highlighting available tools and resources that financial educators and counselors can use to guide consumers toward responsible spending and borrowing habits.

Concurrent Session VI:

Investing in Our Future: Youth IDAs and Creating Buzz-Worthy Programming

Presenters: Christopher Jones, IMPACT Community Action

Latisha Chastang, IMPACT Community Action

Individual Development Accounts (IDA) are a great way for youth to build assets and learn the importance of budgeting, saving and investing. Using a case study approach, this session will guide attendees in how to implement a youth IDA program that is captivating, relevant, effective and accessible. Attendees will learn of proven “buzz” techniques which can also be applied to other youth financial literacy programs and how to use Web 2.0 to reach and interact with young people.

Serving Those Who Serve: Uncovering Asset Development and Accumulation Resources for Veterans

Presenter: Me’Shae Brooks-Rolling, Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University

Veterans bravely and sacrificially serve our country, putting service to our country above their own families and personal financial affairs. Unfortunately, many men and women returning from a tour of duty, oftentimes with a disability, face unemployment, sub-standard housing, lack of supportive resources and personal financial crises. This information-filled session will highlight what resources aiding in asset accumulation/development and financial literacy are readily available to veterans, veterans with disabilities and servicemen and women.

The Road to Financial Recovery: From the Ground Up: Financial Literacy Education in Action

Presenters: Kim Manturuk, Center for Community Capital, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Don Milne, Zions Bank

This session will provide attendees with important takeaways from two highly influential financial literacy programs: $aveNYC, a matched tax-time savings program which capitalizes on the tax refund windfall to help low-income families build savings and prepare for emergencies, and a program for which Zions Bank partnered with area businesses, schools, nonprofits, government and churches in Utah and Idaho to teach more than 33,000 people how to save and eliminate debt.

Leslie E. Linfield, Esq., Institute for Financial Literacy