Montana Financial Education Coalition Conference

Every other year the MFEC hosts a financial education conference aimed at arming participants with knowledge, resources, and information to make sound financial decisions.

Thank you to those who joined us for the 2024 MFEC conference. It was an honor to bring people across Montana together to discuss financial education and how we can move forward together in a meaningful and impactful way. 

2024 Conference Photo

The conference is your opportunity to:
Strengthen your partnerships and build new capacity for the delivery of financial education programs in your community and across our state.
Learn about best practices and discuss a variety of financial education programs, designed for all ages and demographics.
Attend numerous workshops to receive practical instruction for implementation.
Visit the resource fair to find a wide range of financial education resources that may help you broaden and strengthen your curriculum.
Discuss and compare curricula and products with other financial education experts.
Apply for a MFEC mini-grant that will allow you to facilitate a well-planned and promoted financial education program in your community.

Follow our Facebook page and LinkedIn to learn about exciting developments, coalition updates and learning opportunities.

Past Conferences

Thank you to all who attended the 2022 Conference!
Our keynote speakers at the 2020 Conference were
  • Sarah Newcomb, Ph.D., Behavioral Economist for Morningstar and Author 
  • Jon Bennion, Chief Deputy Attorney General, MT DOJ 
  • Casey Lozar, Vice President of FRB Helena Branch
Other Links:
Our keynote speakers at the 2018 Conference were:
  • Billy J. Hensley, Ph.D., Senior Director of Education, National Endowment for Financial Education
  • Jenefer Duane, Senior Program Analyst, Office for Older Americans, Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB)
  • Tami Sieckman, Outreach Coordinator, Office for Older Americans, CFPB
  • Carly Urban, Ph.D., MSU Associate Professor of Economics
Click the link to the agenda to view the conference sessions and to download the PowerPoint from each presentation.
Special presenters at the 2016 MFEC Conference included Montana Governor Steve Bullock, Assistant Director Service member Affairs Holly Petraeus, and Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta Vice President and Senior Economist Paula Tcak. Take a look at the conference booklet for more details on the speakers and the conference sessions.
In 2014 MFEC was proud to have The TODAY Show's Jean Chatzky as a keynote speaker. Ms. Chatzky is AARP's Finanacial Ambassador, a best-selling author, an award-winning personal finance journalist, finance editor for NBC's TODAY show, and the host of Money Matters with Jean Chatzky on RLTV.  Chatzky believes knowing how to manage our money is one of the most important life skills for people at every age and has made it her mission to help simplify money matters, increasing financial literacy both now and for the future. Chatzky is the founder of Jean Chatzky's MONEY SCHOOL and teaches this series of money classes at jeanchatzky.com.
Conference Highlights:
  • Jean Chatzky - Keynote Presentation: Making Money Make Sense
  • Gene Natali will present The Missing Semester: Your Financial Choices Have Consequences.
  • Carroll College Professor Belle Marie will present Using Metaphors to Understand the Complex Phenomenon of Financial Literacy
  • Participate in a panel discussion about the greatest challenges to achieving financial security for a lifetime with Jean Chatzky and Montana's leaders of Commerce and Finance.
  • Breakout sessions and mini-grant panel from 11:45am to 5:00pm, plus lunch on Tuesday, April 29.
  • Come learn about the latest issues and programs in financial education. Choose from a broad range of workshops covering topics for all age groups, from youth to seniors, retired military members and baby-boomers.
  • Learn in depth about issues of fraud and abuse, school-based instruction, how to retire with dignity and how to empower low and moderate income households by attending multiple workshops on these topics.
Below are workshop presentations given by partners at the 2010 MFEC Conference. Click the titles to view the PowerPoint presentation.  

BizKid$

Presented by Heidi Knudson, Altana Federal Credit Union An overview of the PBS show Biz Kid$, where kids teach kids about money and business. More information on Heidi Knudson and her use of the BizKid$ program can be found here. 

Free to Choo$e

Presented by Claudine Maroon and Galen Amy, Community Action Partnership of Northwest Montana Describes the financial education course developed by CAP. Upon completion, participants are provided with a financial mentor and a line of credit from a partnering credit union. The course is designed to ensure that participants put into practice the financial skills learned in the course. 

How to Host a Volunteer Income Tax Site

Presented by Wendi Castle, Internal Revenue Service Details the eligibility requirements, approval process, and responsibilities for hosting a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site. Also includes references to helpful resources and publications. 

Train the Trainer

Presented by Jolene Bach, MFEC and Rural Dynamics, Inc. Identifies the considerations that go into creating a great train-the-trainer session, as well as techniques to ensure audience engagement. 

You and Your Money

Presented by Heidi Knudson, Altana Federal Credit Union Describes a collaborative financial education program developed by a group of credit unions, offered to all members of those credit unions. 

Choice and Chance Finance

Presented by Molly Rose Fehringer, First Interstate Foundation Describes the board game developed to teach teenagers about personal finance, entrepreneurship, and the free market economy.