Money Smart Week is here!

I hope that the posts from the past month or so have been helpful as you think more about the future of your finances. With Money Smart Week upon us, I want to give another reminder that tomorrow, April 23 @ 6:45 PM here in the Grand Blanc branch, we will join a national simulcast of "Be a Money Smarty." 

This event will include fantastic money advice from leading experts from across the county. Please take advantage of this opportunity to gain from their experience. To make a reservation click over to the GDL's calendar of events HERE and choose "join." In addition to the seminar, there will be a wide selection of print material available compliments of various financial institutions.

The GDL Business Center exists in part to increase the financial literacy of our patrons of all ages. Have questions? Don't hesitate to call or email the business librarian.

Upcoming April Events!

April is a busy month filled with activities here in Grand Blanc. Not only is Money Smart Week April 21-27, but the library is welcoming both Genesee/Shiawassee Michigan Works! and GreenPath Debt Solutions. The details for each event are below.

Set of 3 FREE Seminars

Monday, April 15, 22, and 29th

10:00 AM - Noon

Grand Blanc - McFarlen Library

 April 15: Forces Impacting Your Job Search

April 22: Resumes' that Work

April 29: Breaking the Hidden Job Market

Please pass this information along to anyone who is struggling to find work, and wants more information on the current status of the job market. These are local hiring experts who know this area well. 

After being cancelled back in March due to weather conditions, the debt professionals from the Flint office of GreenPath Debt Solutions will return to present "How to Understand Your Credit Report." This is another FREE event. Please register online by clicking HERE. 

Date: Thursday, April 18th

Time: 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Grand Blanc - McFarlen Library

Bring your questions for a post seminar Q & A session!

Money Smart Week is fast approaching and I hope the previous posts regarding some of the free resources available have been helpful. Keep checking back for posts, there is so much more to share! The highlight of Money Smart Week will be Tuesday, April 23 at 6:45 PM here at the Grand Blanc branch, as we will join a live webcast which includes more tips and information from finance experts from across the country. The library has also received a great deal of excellent resources from FINRA that will be available at this time.

Please register for this event through the GDL's event calendar, available on our website, thegdl.org, very soon.

Investing for Beginners: Money Smart 2013

Unbiased Investor Information Freely Available

This week I want to focus on fundamental investment information that everyone should know, whether or not they are currently investing. Because many people go beyond a traditional savings account for their long-term financial planning, educating yourself on some basics will be an asset if you decide to speak with someone who invests for a living, a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), for example. These investment professionals can be verified through BrokerCheck, which will be discussed below. Whether you decide to employ a professional to offer investment advice, or opt to self-manage your money, the unbiased financial information found through the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) is a great place to start. Again, this organization regulates financial institutions and is it not an investment firm. The advice they publish can be trusted!

Before looking further into investment information, be sure to read through the FINRA's page discussing Bank Products. It explains how savings and checking accounts operate, how your money is secure with federally-backed insurance, and other savings tips. This is great information at any age, and would be particularly useful if you're looking to speak with children or teens about money. 

Before you decide what and where to invest I highly recommend the Getting Ready to Invest page through FINRA. It takes a step-by-step approach and highlights aspects to consider. What are your goals? What are your monthly expenses? What impact does your credit score have on your finances? Why do I need an emergency fund? FINRA recommends that if your net worth is positive (you own more that you owe) it is safer to invest than if your net worth is negative. Figuring your net worth is step two of "Getting Ready to Invest" and a sample worksheet is available. The Securities and Exchange Commission also has a useful page entitled Beginners' Guide to Investing where they list numerous SEC publications available online, including questions every investor should ask.

 Both the SEC and FINRA suggest checking the background of a financial professional before you invest with that person. BrokerCheck, a FINRA tool, can be used to locate individuals and firms in your area and ensure they are licensed and in good legal standing. 

Clicking the "BrokerCheck" link above will take you directly to this resource. As you can see from the screenshot, you can locate an individual or firm and limit the search by a given radius to your location. Once the search is completed you can view a profile of the individual, where they are permitted to do business and possibly see a background report. If you're in a position where you're not sure the credibility of an individual or a company that offers investment advice, this is a way to put your mind at ease before you hand over any money.

In addition to these free online resources, the Business Center has a wide range of print resources focused on helping you get your finances in order, including "Finding a Financial Advisor," 332.024 J. Looking to create a budget or find ways to save money around the house? We have books which will help with that, too. With the vast amount of information available to you involving your finances, please take advantage of it and pass the information along to those who might benefit from it.

Be sure to mark April 23rd on your calendar, as we will join a live webcast of "Be a Money Smarty" at 6:45 PM here at the Grand Blanc branch. It will include financial tips from a range of professionals. All are welcome1

GreenPath Event Rescheduled

Our seminar with the Flint office of GreenPath Debt Solutions has been rescheduled!

Date: Thursday, April 18

Time: 6:00 - 7:00 PM

Location: Grand Blanc - McFarlen Branch

515 Perry Road

 

These debt experts will be discussing why your credit score is important to watch, and how to interpret your score when you request a copy. Please bring your questions, there will be time for a Q & A session at the end of the presentation. Click HERE to make a reservation. 

More New Books!

The Business Center received the following new books just yesterday. Books can be requested from the "My Account" link on our homepage (click the Genesee District Library tab above), and sent to any of our 19 branches in Genesee County!

1. The Art of Being Brilliant

2. The Benefit and the Burden: Tax Reform, Why We Need It and What It Will Take

3. Beyond the Call: Why Some of Your Team Go the Extra Mile and Others Don’t Show

4. Business Plans Handbook, vol. 25

5. Cheaper, Better, Faster: Over 2,000 Tips and Tricks to Save You Time and Money Every Day

6. Conscious Capitalism: Liberating the Heroic Spirit of Business

7. Creative Conspiracy: The New Rules of Breakthrough Collaboration

8. The Do-It-Yourself Bailout: How I Eliminated $222,000 of Credit Card Debt in 18 Months and Saved Nearly $150,000.

9. The Encore Career Handbook: How to Make a Living and a Difference in the Second Half of Life

10. Get Your Shift Together: How to Think, Laugh, and enjoy Your Way to Success in Business and in Life
11. Harvard Business Review Guide to Better Business Writing

12. How to Make Money in Stocks Success Stories: New and Advanced Investors Share Their Winning Secrets

13. How to Retire Happy: The 12 Most Important Decisions You Must Make Before You Retire

14. I’m Sorry I Broke Your Company: When Management Consultants Are the Problem Not the Solution

15. Leading the Learning Revolution: The Expert’s Guide to Capitalizing on the Exploding Lifelong Education Market

16. Ninja Innovation: The Ten Killer Strategies of the World’s Most Successful Businesses

17. The Secret Financial Life of Food: From Commodities Markets to Supermarkets

Event Announcement

Greenpath Debt Solutions (of Flint) will be speaking at the Grand Blanc branch on Tuesday, February 26th at 6:00 PM. Please join us for this free event, and bring your questions. After a discussion of Credit Reports and how to understand them, there will be a time for Q & A with these experts.

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED, visit GDL's homepage to register through our calendar of events or call 810-694-5310. Program will last 1 hour.

Date: Tuesday, February 26th

Time: 6:00 - 7:00 PM

Location: McFarlen Library 515 Perry Rd., Grand Blanc

 

Back to School

Many parents and students will have financial aid in mind as the school year begins.  The Wall Street Journal has published two articles so far this week concerning students, parents, and aid. The first addresses common mistakes regarding student financial aid while the other offers the negative aspects of Parent Plus Loans. Check them out. 

Wondering if you qualify for financial aid from the federal government? You can read more about the types of aid and the application that must be filed each year (FAFSA) on the federal government's student aid website, or ask your college or university financial aid office.