Below is a list of resources and tools to help you learn more about financial planning and specific personal finance topics.  If you are attending a Financial Planning Day in your area, we encourage you to review these resources so that you can get the most out of your experience at the event.

General Financial Planning

What You Should Know About Financial Planning
Learn about financial planning and its benefits. The brochure describes what you should expect and highlights the importance of your role in the financial planning process. The answers to some common questions about financial planning are also provided.

Starting Your Financial Plan: A Beginner’s Road Map
Financial planning starts with setting goals and this free guide will help you get started.

Budgeting and Cash Flow

Budgeting: Managing Your Money with a Spending Plan
This guide explains how a simple budget can help you take control of your financial life, get better use of your money and achieve your financial goals.

Budget Worksheet

Living with a Spending Plan

Spending Plan Worksheet - Current

Spending Plan Worksheet - Future

Credit and Debt

Overcoming the Credit Barrier: Clearing the Way to Your Financial Goals
Managing credit is a challenge that cuts across all socioeconomic lines. This brochure offers a step-by-step approach to help you improve your credit record.

Debt Plan Worksheet

Saving and Investing

20 Keys to Being a Smarter Investor
Discusses the wise management of your investments. Not designed to help you predict the next market boom or decline, but to educate about time-tested investing principles and techniques that can allow you to realistically achieve your financial goals.

Get the Facts on Saving and Investing
Use this guide’s helpful tips and worksheets for calculating your net worth, income, and expenses.
 
Saving Fitness: A Guide to Your Money and Your Financial Future 
Create your personal savings plan and prepare for retirement with this step-by-step guide.

Retirement Planning

Financial Planning: Secure Your Retirement
This free guide offers suggestions from financial planners on how to take a big picture, financial planning approach to your retirement plan.

Planning for the Stages of Retirement
This brochure addresses various stages of retirement planning, from starting out in the work world to retirement, in order to help you achieve your dream of a comfortable, fulfilling, financially secure retirement.

Retirement Worksheet

Income Tax Planning

Timeless Tax Planning in a Changing World
Learn how to be a proactive taxpayer. Whether you work with a tax professional or go it alone, you can become a more nimble taxpayer, avoid tax mistakes while employing tax strategies and learn tips that may help you better meet your life’s financial goals.

Estate Planning

Thinking the Unthinkable: What Everyone Needs to Know about Estate Planning 
Learn why you need an estate plan and some of the basic components of an estate plan.

Insurance Planning

Choosing the Right Insurance for Your Life's Stages
This brochure is a guide to help the public become more aware of the variety and costs of insurance available and to ensure proper coverage.

Education Funding and Planning

Planning for the Costs of Higher Education
Provides advice on how to save for your children's education and includes several investment options to consider. Available in Spanish.

Smart Saving for College-Better Buy Degrees
This brochure provides information to help students and parents save and invest wisely for college.  Learn about 529 Plans, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, Savings Bonds, and more.  

Cost of Education Worksheet

Working with a Financial Planner

How a Financial Planner Can Help You ...and How to Choose the Right One
An introductory brochure to the financial planning process. Provides guidance on when to seek the advice of a financial planner and how to find one that's right for you. Available in Spanish.

10 Questions to Ask When Choosing a Financial Planner
This brochure will help you interview and evaluate several financial planners to find the one that’s right for you. You will want to select a competent, qualified professional with whom you feel comfortable, one whose business style suits your financial planning needs. An interview checklist has been included for your convenience.

Why You Should Choose a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Practitioner
Choosing the right financial planner may be one of the most important decisions you make for yourself and your loved ones. Learn why CFP^® certification is widely recognized as the gold standard in the financial planning profession. 

Your Rights as a Financial Planning Client
This brochure describes the kind of treatment you deserve from your financial planner and helps you recognize when he or she is putting your interests and needs first. You can take an active role in shaping your financial future when you know your rights and what to expect from your financial planner.

Consumer Guide to Financial Self-Defense
Learn how to spot ten most common “red flags” to help you avoid incompetent and unethical financial advice when working with a financial advisor.  

En Español

¿Cómo le puede asistir a usted Un Asesor Financiero?

Planificación para las Etapas de la Jubilación

Planificación para los Costos de Educación Superior

Su Dinero y Futuro Economico: Una Guia Para Ahorrar

Other Resources

Money 101
This free, non-commercial software will allow you to create a financial snapshot of your current financial situation.  Upon completion of the step-by-step process, you will get a sense of your financial well being and you’ll receive a comprehensive report of your current financial situation. 

If you plan to attend a Financial Planning Day in your area, we encourage you to bring a copy of your report so that the financial planners can give you advice tailored to your personal situation.  (Money 101 will not sell, rent, distribute, disclose or share personally identifiable information with anyone.)