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Wherever you arein life, wherever you are in Montana.

Money isn’t everything.  But having enough money can be the difference between worrying about the future and feeling secure.  Too many Montanans don’t know enough about money; especially about how to make it work as hard as they do.  Monica Lindeen, Montana’s Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, wants to change that.  She is promoting online financial courses provided by MSU’s Extension Services.

It’s called Solid Finances.  It’s financial education for real life.  The courses are webinars that can be downloaded & watched at your convenience, presented by Montana’s leading financial experts, and all are under an hour.  If you complete 10 courses CSI will send you a $10 gift certificate.  You’ll also get the knowledge you need to manage your investments (or the courage to start).

It’s OK to be picky.  MSU offers 29 courses.  Complete any 10 to get the gift certificate.  The classes are varied and geared toward solving – or avoiding – real problems.  They have titles like:  What’s Your Credit Score and What Does it Mean or When Should I Claim Social Security Benefits.  The best part is the cost:  absolutely nothing.  Begin now; the courses are available on MSU’s website at www.msuextensiuon.org/solidfinances.

When you complete 10 courses email CPalmer3@mt.gov to receive your gift certificate.

Presented by Commissioner of Securities and Insurance – Montana State Auditor and Investor Protection Trust.

Three New Projects Funded By Wfm In 2015

The Women’s Foundation of Montana (WFM) funded three new projects throughout 2015 with a focus on financial capacity building: the Prosperity Club (sponsored by Rural Dynamics), Start Smart wage negotiation and financial education workshops for young women, and the upcoming Penny Conference for women in Missoula, MT on January 20, 2016.

Prosperity Club is a group of highly motivated, goal-oriented individuals and their families who come together to give and receive support from their peers who share in the same goals of family financial security, to increase their skills and knowledge, and to take part in a free, family-style meal. RDI staff and guest speakers from the community provide educational presentations, information on resources in the community and referrals.

Start Smart workshops prepare college women who are approaching the job market with the confidence, knowledge, and skills they need to negotiate salaries and benefits. This AAUW-MT Grant Project supports Montana Governor Bullock’s Equal Pay for Equal Work Task Force mission to eliminate the gender pay gap in Montana. Nationally and on average, women presently earn 78 cents for every dollar that a man earns. In Montana the average is between 67 cents to 71 cents, well below the national average. This project, funded for another year by a second grant from the Women’s Foundation of Montana provided workshops during the last academic year (2014-15) and is also providing workshops during the current 2015–16 academic year. Additional project funding was also received from the Montana Governor’s Commissioner of Higher Education (OSHE), the Presidents’ Offices at MSU and UM, and the MSU Women’s Center.

The Penny Conference will be held in Missoula, Montana on January 20, 2016 at the University of Montana School of Business Administration. This conference focuses on helping women grow their wealth one penny at a time. This free event will run from 7 am to 5 pm.

PennyConference

It’s inspiring to see these events available to the women of Montana. Thank you, Women’s Foundation of Montana, for providing enriching financial educational programs throughout our state!