Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise (CNE) will host the Second Annual Money School on Saturday, April 9 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Brainerd Crossroads. Money School is a free financial education day open to the public. The event will include speakers and exhibitors providing hands-on learning opportunities regarding money management, debt elimination, increased savings, as well as retirement and estate planning.
"Building a strong neighborhood requires financially empowered citizens. Money management skills and financial knowledge play an integral role in creating a strong neighborhood," says Martina Guilfoil, president and CEO of CNE. "Money School provides the necessary tools and resources for Chattanoogans to feel empowered with their finances."
Money School will offer a range of related workshops covering four crucial financial areas: making informed financial Choices; financing your future; managing financial products; and money skills for teens and tweens. These workshops will be led by experts in the field. There will also be five panel discussions specifically targeted to financial issues facing baby boomers, gen Xers, millennials, homeowners, and entrepreneurs. Attendees may register in advance to obtain free tax preparation, credit report analysis, mortgage assessments, and one-on-one personal finance advice.
"Research shows that last year, American households racked up more the $57 billion of new credit card debt. On top of that Americans, owe more than $1.2 trillion in student loan debt," says Jennifer Holder, communications and special projects manager for CNE. "In order to understand money, you must understand how to manage it and know how it works in real-world applications. We believe Money School will help the public gain confidence with their financial decisions moving forward."
The goal of Money School is to help Chattanoogans improve their understanding of financial concepts and services so they are empowered to make informed choices and take action to improve their present and long-term financial well being.
At Money School 2015, 95 percent of survey respondents said they were more knowledgeable about financial products and felt more confident in knowing the steps to achieve financial security. In addition, 75 percent of respondents set new financial goals such as paying off credit card, school, or other debts, diversifying investments, and setting retirement, estate, and long-term care plans.
Other local participating organizations will include: Partnership for Families, Children & Adults' Consumer Credit Counseling Service; Junior Achievement; Common Cents Financial Literacy; Tennessee Saves; Martin Pierce Law Firm; UT's Cooperative Extension; Empower Chattanooga; New York Life Insurance Company; The Company Lab; LAUNCH; SCORE; Foresight; Chattanooga Hamilton County Health Department; Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation; Public Education Foundation; U.S. Small Business Administration; Chattanooga Public Libraries; Bridge Financial Planning; and Grassroots Midtown.
Sponsors include: Lyndhurst Foundation; Volkswagen Chattanooga; BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Community Trust; Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union; Grant Konvalinka & Harrison; BB&T Bank; Citizens Tri-County Bank; HHM Certified Public Accountants; Smart Bank; Cohutta Banking Company; EPB Fiber Optics; Pinnacle Bank; Schultz and Associates; and more.
For more information about Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise's Money School event, including the schedule, visit www.MoneySchoolCHA.org.
Source: Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise