A Point In Time Survey Because Everyone Counts

On January 29th, at 6:30pm we invite you to join Challenge Helena in the “point in time” survey in partnership with the United Way of Lewis and Clark Area. We will gather on the lower level of the Carroll College Commons (directions here), then disperse throughout assigned neighborhoods in Helena to conduct community canvasing on the night of January 29th. This effort is a part of a national campaign (learn more here). We will conduct a 15-20 question survey and make sure that “Everyone Counts.”

3 reasons we are doing this to address Homelessness:

  1. The Practical Reason: Because the total number of individuals and families that we count is directly connected to the amount of federal funding distributed. The federal government distributes funding to organizations in our state and community that work hard every day to alleviate poverty and homelessness. It is important that they receive the appropriate and adequate amount of funding to sustain and grow their work.
  2. The Philosophical Reason: Because the way that we define the problem determines the scope of our imagination for creative solutions. By conducting a comprehensive survey, we will be able to paint an increasingly realistic picture of the scope of homelessness in our community and contribute to the conversation locally and nationally about how we define homelessness and, in turn, imagine and implement solutions.
  3. The Real Reason: Because everyone counts. Volunteers matter because we can never have enough community champions to advocate for those experiencing homelessness. Most important, the people that we are seeking to count- veterans, children, families, men and women young and old – are part of our community and they matter.

Training is required; contact Penny Cope at 406-841-2846 or pcope@mt.gov to arrange training or with any questions.
www.challengehelena.org

 

Serving Our Rural Veterans Barriers Challenges And Needs

The Army OneSource Resource Center Combat to Communities Web Events feature top experts in planning and delivering programs and
services that provide support for Service members, Veterans and their Families.

Each web event is a ninety-minute presentation, with expert discussions and interactive components designed to advance state and local efforts.

Targeted to state and local policy makers, association leaders and key volunteers, programs directors and collaborative community efforts.

Serving Our Rural Veterans: Barriers, Challenges and Needs

Recent research shows an increase in the number of rural Veterans, to include a growing rural, female Veteran population.

As Service members reintegrate into rural communities, it is vital that local agencies and providers partner to identify their barriers, challenges and needs in order to build support and services that adequately serve our Military community.

Join this FREE web event to explore issues impacting rural Veterans and strategies to build a community of support and care to address their needs.

Presenters will explore:

  • Rural Culture: A History of Service to the Nation
  • Changing demographics of rural Veterans
  • An increasing female Veteran population
  • Challenges and barriers impacting access to services
  • Strategies and resources to support rural Veterans

Want to participate? You can register or invite someone to participate HERE.

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Heard Off the Street: A financial planning lesson for youngsters

December 22, 2013 12:00 AM By Len Boselovic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pretty soon, some area high school students will have something their parents lack: a financial plan.

Junior Achievement and the CFA Society of Pittsburgh are teaming up with the co-author of a book on financial literacy and two local universities to offer high school students a course on how to manage their finances.

The course, based on a five-class course JA already uses, will be taught either by a high school teacher or a volunteer from the CFA Society. As part of it, students will prepare a five-year financial plan that will include information on possible career choices, what kind of education they will need and how much they can expect to pay — and borrow — for school, as well as what to do about credit cards and other forms of debt.

The financial plans will be critiqued by business school students from the University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne University.

“If you’re a principal or high school teacher, you’re hard pressed to think of a subject that impacts 100 percent of your students, but this one does. One hundred percent of them make choices about money,” said Gene Natali Jr. of C.S. McKee, a Downtown investment firm.

Mr. Natali and his high school friend, Matt Kabala, co-authored “The Missing Semester,” a short, breezy primer on financial planning that will be required reading for the course. Mr. Natali has spoken on the topic at several local high schools and colleges since the book was published in 2012. Junior Achievement and the CFA group run educational programs for high school students and contacted Mr. Natali about teaming up.

Len Boselovic: lboselovic@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1941.

Read the full article at: http://www.post-gazette.com/business/Biz-opinion/2013/12/22/A-financial-planning-lesson-for-youngsters/stories/201312220115#ixzz2oJSBRMz2

Retirement Saving and Investing 101

By Michael Guillemette

Saving and investing for retirement can seem very complicated, but following a few simple rules can make a significant difference in the long run:

 1.      Save early and often
The earlier you start saving for retirement the less you will need to save.  For example, if a 25 year-old wants to have 2 million dollars in 40 years he or she would need to save $1,004 per month for 40 years, assuming a 6% annual rate of return.  If that same person waited until they were 35 to begin putting money away they would need to save $1,991 per month for 30 years, or almost double the amount! 

It is advisable to setup automatic contributions from a checking or savings account into a retirement plan like an individual retirement arrangement (IRA).  This is because when people have to think about whether to save they often delay the decision.  Setting up automatic contributions is a great way to put retirement savings on “autopilot” and avoid the temptation to spend the money.

2.      Diversify in stocks and bonds
When it comes to investing, diversification is vital to earning the best possible risk-adjusted return.  The concept is simple.  You want to invest in products that tend to do well during good economic times (like stocks) and also bad economic times (like bonds).  This way you do not put all of your eggs in one basket and the result is a steadier return over time.  It is important to invest in low cost mutual funds or exchange traded funds (ETF) that hold a large number of stocks or bonds (or both).  

When people are young and have a greater level of human capital they can afford to invest a higher percentage of their retirement savings in stock funds.  This is because they have a larger amount of future earnings that can offset the risk associated with stocks.  However, as people age and their human capital declines it is more difficult to offset the risk associated with stocks. Therefore, a higher percentage of retirement assets should be allocated to bonds as people age. A target-date (or age-based) fund is a mutual fund or ETF that holds a mix of stocks and bonds.  Target-date funds automatically increase the percentage allocated to bonds over time to account for the decline in human capital and are good “autopilot” investment products. 

3.      Understand your risk tolerance
It is important to consider your risk tolerance, or willingness to take risk, prior to investing in stocks and bonds.  The key thing to remember is that if an investment keeps you up at night, it is too risky.  The amount of money someone has is irrelevant in relation to how much risk they are willing to take.  Many retirees who grew up during the Great Depression have saved significant sums of money but are not willing to lose any of it, and therefore do not invest in stocks.

4.      Don’t time the market!
The easiest way to lose money investing in stocks and bonds is to try and time the stock market, or jump in and out based on the current economic environment.  Research has shown that investors lose significant returns by trying to time the stock market.  Since retirement is a long-term goal, the daily, monthly and even annual performance of your stock and bond funds does not really matter.  This is because over the long-run, a mix of stocks and bonds provides steady growth.  Warren Buffett provides similar investment advice in this video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idr6c8NHuWs

Michael Guillemette, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Personal Financial Planning
University of Missouri

FRED Is Now Online! Add Your Resources to Montana’s First Searchable Online Database of Financial Education Resources!

It has taken a little longer than planned, but the debut of the Financial Resource Education Database of Montana (FRED to friends) has arrived. FRED makes it easier for the consumers in need of your particular services to find you. It also connects you to other providers, making it easier to share referrals and best practices. A simple interface enables visitors to search for classes, programs, services, and materials by life stage and financial need.
 
Why doesn't fredmt.org show any resources yet? This is our first call for financial educators to register and submit their resources. The goal is to fully populate FRED before a planned publicity campaign to bring consumers to the site. Registration and submission are easy. Follow the "create account" link and provide the requested profile information. Organizational information will enable visitors to make informed choices, and user information will allow other registered financial educators to contact you. Once registered, you may begin submitting your resources, using the "add resource" link. Resources are vetted in a timely manner, and then published. That's it!

Hope to see you at fredmt.org!

MFEC Poster Contest

At the 2011 MFEC conference we announced the winners of our poster contest.  Students from K-5 were asked to draw a poster representing their take on the title "A Penny Saved is…"  MFEC received over 80 submissions from across the state.  Submissions were divided into two categories:  K-2 and 3-5.  Click on the Photo Gallery link at the top to peruse the submissions or on the links below.  Note:  Our website and photo galleries are best viewed using Mozilla Fire Fox.  We are having some technical difficulties with Internet Explorer.

Poster Contest Winners

K-2 Finalists

3-5 Finalists

All Submissions