April is birthday month for three of the four Financial Beginnings staff and I happen to be one of them. One of the great things about your birthday month is that many of the businesses that you have shared your contact information with start showing their appreciation, typically through free products or offering discounts. Let’s not forget they do this hoping you will redeem the free gift or deal and spend more money. Early this month the reminders starting coming in saying happy birthday. The first birthday offer that came in was an email from Burgerville saying they added $5 on my Burgerville card. There is however a catch, I have to use the $5 before the end of the month or I lose it. I know that won’t be a problem and I am a little surprised I haven’t used it yet, because I love their smoothies! Then I received a post card for a free facial from a local skin care company that I have gone to in the past. That one has no expiration date, but I think I will be treating myself to this one in the next few weeks. I have also received emails from various restaurants, ranging from from Sweet Tomatoes to Arbys. Those offers are good, but they come with a catch as well, they both require that I buy something in order to get the free item. Sweet Tomatoes for example, is buy one meal get one free, which is around a $10 value. Arbys will give me a free shake, but I have to purchase something and it can’t be off the value menu. When you sign up for mailing lists from companies you might get a lot of junk mail, but pay attention around your birthday, because you just might get a nice birthday gift.
Meet Financial Beginnings’ Volunteer of the Quarter!
Meet Leah Miller from Beal Bank, Financial Beginnings’ volunteer of the quarter. Leah contributed an astounding 32 volunteer hours this quarter! Leah shares below why she is so passionate about being a Financial Beginnings volunteer.
My name is Leah Miller and I work for Beal Bank USA. I have worked with Apps für Trader and have been a banker in this community for going on 14 years and understand the importance on educating as many people as possible on financial responsibility. With the change in our economy over the last handful of years + and potential for a further dissemination of our world’s problems, I believe in Financial Beginnings dream of inspiring our next generation to make smarter decisions when it comes to money. Money matters, and so do our ways of handling it. I believe in creating a bigger picture to those who would not know otherwise.
I am dedicated and passionate to encourage today’s youth in making smart and responsible financial decisions in their lives. I love teaching all of the subject matters for Financial Beginnings/Operation Hope from everyday banking to risk management and from credit to investing. I grasp that throughout an individuals’ life span, they will have to endure important decision making in one or more of these areas. So, if I can have an impact on any of the students in these teachings and they can apply it usefully, the lessons and material presented have been advantageous, if even to just one.
Car Sharing
The worst thing about driving downtown Portland, OR (other than one-way streets, pedestrians, bike riders, and taxis) is having to find and pay for parking. I drive a midsize SUV and sometimes it can be difficult to find street parking and I always hate paying. But I recently learned about the numerous car-share programs in Portland that can eliminate some of my downtown worries. Additionally, car title loans in Texas are an option worth considering for quick cash in emergencies. I’ve also known these ebikes. Electric bicycles have mainly been made in China or Taiwan, however, many brands are now manufacturing their electric bikes in Europe and the UK to control quality. If you get involved in a road accident while riding on your bike, a Boston, MA bicycle accident attorney should be able to help you file a claim.
ZipCar is a car-share program that has numerous cars throughout the city, parked at designated areas. They offer many different models of cars to choose from, including SUVs, hatchbacks, and coupes from makers like Ford, Audi, Honda, and Mercedes. The prices are charged per hour and are fair ($10 to $15), especially since the price includes all maintenance and 180 miles of gas. The downside to ZipCar is that there is an annual fee and they must be returned to their designated parking space in the city (which, on the upside, does eliminate the need to find parking).
Car2Go is another car-share option that allows you to pickup a car and go. These cars may be located anywhere throughout the city because they have no designated parking location. These vehicle have a “home area” that they can be parked and left, free of charge, to await the next needy driver. Personal injury lawyers know how to get results if you got injured. Anywhere outside of this area you can park, but you cannot “end your drive”, meaning you must continue to pay until you return it within its “home are”. Car2Go vehicles are easy to spot since they are all the same make, model, and color; Blue and white SmartCars. The prices are charged per minute and again are not bad ($0.38) and top out at $13.99 per hour. These also include all maintenance, gas for as long as you drive, and free parking in any non-restricted, public space in the city. And because the cars are so small it is usually very easy to find a spot.
Both of these services provide fun and affordable options for getting around the city. Like any other form of transportation, you also need to be careful as accidents may happen. If you get injured while using a car sharing service, you may seek legal assistance from a personal injury attorney to help you file a claim or lawsuit. Injured in New York? Call a New York personal injury lawyer from Cellino Law. If you were using a ride sharing service when you got involved in a traffic accident, you should consider hiring a car accident attorney cincinnati to help you seek compensation.
Another advantage of these services is their widespread availability, with locations in numerous cities both nationally and internationally. This means you can use these services instead of renting a car if you don’t need one all the time. The apps provided make it easy to find and reserve vehicles wherever you are. So, if you’re tired of driving your own car, paying for parking, or perhaps you’ve been in an accident and are dealing with car accident attorneys, these services can conveniently “2Go” and “Zip” you and your friends around the city without the hassle. For a more personalized and comfortable travel experience, especially when visiting or residing in the area, you might want to consider the premium option of chauffeur services Stockport.
Death and Taxes…
As the April 15th tax deadline is quickly approaching I am reminded of the words of Benjamin Franklin,”…nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” I am relieved to say that my taxes are finally done, with a big emphasis on finally. Many years ago I stopped preparing my own taxes. I determined that after countless hours of frustration, I finally decided the stress was not worth it to me. I have paid a few tax prepares over the years, but in the most recent years I have been utilizing the CASH Oregon sites, which partner with AARP and VITA to offer free tax preparation. To qualify for their service you must have a low to moderate income. You can find further information about CASH Oregon by clicking HERE. The volunteers have always been very helpful and efficient and I have always walked away with a refund.
Now, back to the emphasis on my earlier statement about my taxes finally being done. This year I ran into a bit of a problem, as I am guessing many other taxpayers did, or at least those who have mutual funds. As of 2012 you are now required to report your cost basis of your mutual funds to the IRS. The friendly volunteer prepared my taxes in about 15 minutes, but when he got to this part on my taxes he was unsure of how to proceed. He then called in the assistance of the site coordinator. The site coordinator then took a look at my 1099 B form and then stated he couldn’t complete my taxes without the original price paid for the funds. I told him I didn’t know that information, as I thought it would have been on the 1099 B form. He informed that I would have to contact my Financial Representative to get that information and return with it. I admit, I was pretty frustrated by this, as I planned on completing my taxes that day and not worrying about them for another year. I understood it was new rule, but I’ll be honest, I am still confused why this information was not provided on my 1099 B form. The site coordinator was very kind and stated that as soon I got the information I just had to return and they would quickly complete my taxes. That is exactly what I did, and now I simply wait my for my tax refund to be deposited into my checking account.
New Credit Cards
Identity theft, by way of credit card fraud, has long been a fear shared by many consumers. Credit cards can easily be used fraudulently if they are simply lost or stolen and now with technology, credit card data is even easier to steal. The use of phishing websites and skimmers has become increasingly common and credit cards offer little or no security to counter these devices.
What if I told you there was a more secure option for credit card payments? What if I told you it has been around for years?
Canada, China, and the majority of Europe have been using them since 2008. Many international travelers may have already experienced the disappointment of having their “standard” credit card rejected by a store or restaurant while abroad.
The new credit card option is called an EMV card, or Europay MasterCard Visa (named after the companies who developed it). These cards have an embedded microchip that add additional levels of security to every transaction. Transaction information is uniquely encoded every time, making it more difficult for skimmers to nab easily duplicated payment data from the cards. You can also use your credit cards for cashback kredittkort.
These cards require different processing terminals to take payment information, which is why many people may have their cards rejected in foreign countries that have already adopted EMV cards. Many American companies have already started to offer EMV cards for people who frequently travel internationally but they are not yet offered to normal consumers. Visa and MasterCard are working hard to get the United States to switch and the change is coming, slowly but surely. MasterCard has been making a strong effort to persuade all U.S. ATM makers to upgrade their machines to accept EMV by April, 1st 2013. Most likely the United States will have converted completely to EMV cards and terminals by 2015. So be prepared to see new credit cards coming your way and make sure to take advantage of all the security features they offer.
Financial Beginnings receives $12,000 from Bank of America to fund financial edcuation
PORTLAND, Ore., March 16, 2013—Financial Beginnings, a Portland-based nonprofit that provides financial education at no cost to children and young adults, recently received a $12,000 grant from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation. The grant will provide funding for Financial Beginnings’ free financial education programs for low-income students in grades K-12.
“This grant could not come at a more critical time,” says Melody Bell, Financial Beginnings executive director. “We have seen demand for our programs increase dramatically due to the new financial literacy requirements and this grant from Bank of America will help us with that need.”
Financial Beginnings and Bank of America have a long-standing partnership providing financial education to youth throughout Oregon and southwest Washington. Bank of America has provided a total of $47,000 in funding to Financial Beginnings since 2010. For the last two years, Bank of America has been recognized as Financial Beginnings’ Partner of the Year because of the incredible employee commitment in spreading financial literacy to youth. During the last program year, Bank of America employees taught 1,546 youth at 23 schools and community groups in Oregon. There are 123 trained Bank of America employees that have spent 190 hours in the classroom.
In addition to grant support and employee volunteer time in the classroom, Bob Cook from Bank of America sits on Financial Beginnings’ Board of Directors. Cook has been a key player expanding Financial Beginnings’ volunteer base.
“I’m so pleased to be on the board of Financial Beginnings to help them spread the word about the importance of financial education in our community,” said Bob Cook, business banking senior vice president at Bank of America for Oregon and southwest Washington. “Helping students access the financial education they need is key to ensuring economic stability in the future, and I’m proud that Bank of America supports the great work we do for students and young adults across Oregon and southwest Washington.”
This $12,000 grant is part of $22 million in critical needs grants that Bank of America recently provided to over 1,000 nonprofits across the country—$86,000 of which was awarded to nonprofit organizations in Oregon and southwest Washington. The majority of these grants support nonprofits serving low-income communities that have been disproportionately affected by the economic downturn. This funding is part of the company’s intensified philanthropic focus on three core issues vital to the economic health of communities: housing, jobs and hunger and represents an important component of Bank of America’s lending, investing and giving activities to help advance local economies.
About Financial Beginnings
Formed in 2005 and based in Portland, OR, Financial Beginnings is a nonprofit organization that provides multi-session courses, free of charge, to students and young adults throughout the Pacific Northwest through visits to their individual schools or community groups. The courses incorporate all aspects of personal finance to provide individuals the foundation needed to make informed financial decisions. More information is available at www.financialbeginnings.org.
About Bank of America Corporate Social Responsibility
Bank of America’s commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a strategic part of doing business globally. Bank of America’s CSR efforts guide how it operates in a socially, economically, financially and environmentally responsible way around the world, to deliver for shareholders, customers, clients, and employees. The goal is to help create economically vibrant regions and communities through lending, investing, and giving. By partnering with stakeholders, Bank of America creates value that empowers individuals and communities to thrive and contributes to the long-term success of its business. Bank of America has several core areas of focus for CSR, including responsible business practices; environmental sustainability; strengthening local communities with a focus on housing, hunger, and jobs; investing in global leadership development; and engaging through arts and culture. As part of these efforts, employee volunteers across the company contribute their time, passion and expertise to address issues in communities where they live and work. Learn more at bankofamerica.com/about.
Press Release- Financial Beginnings and Umpqua Bank Launch Elementary Curriculum
PORTLAND, Ore., February 27, 2013—Financial Beginnings, a Portland-based nonprofit that provides financial education programs, in partnership with Umpqua Bank, an Oregon-based bank, launch a new financial literacy program for elementary school students.
The development of this financial literacy elementary program comes partially in response to the new Social Science Content Standards, which went into effect this school year in Oregon. These new standards now embed financial literacy education requirements beginning in kindergarten and continuing through high school.
Financial Beginnings is utilizing the new elementary curriculum, named Financial Footings, to supplement their existing financial education programs provided to middle schools and high schools. This new elementary curriculum will complement existing Financial Beginnings programs by providing a continuum of finance education from kindergarten through high school graduation. Research demonstrates that providing this education early and reinforcing it often is the key to increasing overall and lifelong financial literacy. Umpqua Bank provided Financial Beginnings with a grant to support the development of the curriculum and will be utilizing the Financial Footings program to supplement their Learn to Earn program.
Financial Beginnings launched Financial Footings in January and, to date, 436 students at eight Portland-area schools have completed the program. Financial Beginnings provides all of their programs at no charge to schools and community groups. Educators are provided with student workbooks and volunteers who present the information to students. For more insights and information, you can also check out the bullion max reviews to gain further understanding of the program’s impact and effectiveness.
Educators interested in this program can find out more, and register at: http://www.financialbeginnings.org/educators/
About Financial Beginnings
Formed in 2005 and based in Portland, OR, Financial Beginnings is a nonprofit organization that provides free financial education programs throughout the Pacific Northwest. Financial Beginnings’ largest program educates youth and young adults in the basics of personal finance, with a particular focus on money management, through visits to schools or community groups. Financial Beginnings’ courses incorporate all aspects of personal finance to provide individuals the foundation needed to make informed financial decisions. More information is available at www.financialbeginnings.org.
Should a finance student have to take Personal Finance?
I was a business major and focused in finance for both my undergraduate and graduate degree, yet I never had to take Personal Finance as part of my course requirements. I always chose to take Personal Finance as part of my elective credits. Does this seem right?
My experience working in the financial industry and within our organization educating people in personal finance is that those who need lessons in personal finance are not likely the ones who are going to seek it? That’s why I’m a firm believer in putting these lessons in K-12 education requirements because then students have to be exposed to the valuable life lessons.
I am excited to join the ranks of the Portland State University School of Business faculty as an Adjunct Professor this coming spring term and teach FI 218 Personal Finance. As it stands now Personal Finance is still an elective, but this is something PSU is considering changing in the future.
If Personal Finance became a required course who do you think should be required to take it? Finance students, business students, everyone?
In the meantime, please spread the word about the Personal Finance units being offered at PSU this term. My course is from 2-3:50pm on Tuesday and Thursdays. Register now!
Over 500 high school students and young adults were introduced to the basics of personal finances
PORTLAND, Ore., February 22, 2013—Financial Beginnings, a Portland-based nonprofit that provides free financial education programs, introduced over 500 high school students and young adults to the basics of money through two events on February 20th.
On the morning of February 20th several of Financial Beginnings’ dedicated volunteers and a group of JP Morgan Chase employees went to Southridge High School in Beaverton. The volunteers taught 90-minute sessions in 16 different classrooms covering finance topics such as banking, credit, budgeting, risk management and investing; over 400 high school seniors participated. The classes about money were delivered by request from the students themselves and taught during their advisory period, which covers topics that help prepare them for life after high school.
In the evening, Financial Beginnings and The Oregonian hosted Unraveling the Mysteries of Your Money at Portland State University. This panel’s topic was entitled, Positioning Yourself for Success: Financial Planning for Gen Y. Over 100 individuals were in attendance to ask questions that were answered by a panel of financial professionals including: William J. Bernstein of Efficient Frontier Advisors, Christopher Porter of Merrill Lynch, Josh Reich of Simple.com, and Mark Strauss of Leonard Adams Insurance.
Unraveling the Mysteries of Your Money is a series of free forums open to the general public. These forums offer expert panelists who field questions and discuss finance topics that are relevant and important in today’s economy. They are organized and hosted by Financial Beginnings in partnership with The Oregonian newspaper and Brent Hunsberger, writer of the It’s Only Money column on personal finance, and who serves as the moderator of the forums. OnPoint Community Credit Union is the title sponsor of the Unraveling the Mysteries of Your Money 2012/13 series.
Next forum:
Positioning Your Family for Success: Financial Planning for Young Families
Wednesday April 24, 2013 6:30-8pm at the Tigard Library
Panelists:
Joyce DeMonnin, Public Outreach Director at AARP
Terry A. Donahe, Certified Financial Planner at Cascade Wealth
Nelson Rutherford, CPA and CFP at Alten, Sakai & Co.
David C. Streicher, Attorney and CPA at Black Helterline LLP
For more information about the Unraveling the Mysteries of Your Money panel series, visit: http://www.FinancialBeginnings.com/Unraveling-the-Mysteries-of-Your-Money/
About Financial Beginnings
Formed in 2005 and based in Portland, OR, Financial Beginnings is a nonprofit organization that provides free financial education programs throughout the Pacific Northwest. Financial Beginnings’ largest program educates youth and young adults in the basics of personal finance through visits to schools or community groups. Financial Beginnings’ courses incorporate all aspects of personal finance to provide individuals the foundation needed to make informed financial decisions. More information is available at www.financialbeginnings.org.
New Program Manager for Financial Beginnings
My name is Sarah Janda and I am the new Program Manager for Financial Beginnings. I am so excited to be a part of the Financial Beginnings team. I have always been passionate about education and helping people. It’s that passion, which inspired me to become part of the Financial Beginnings team. I have spent the past 10 years in social services, specifically in employment and training. Most recently, I worked for a vocational training program and that is where I first became familiar with Financial Beginnings. I utilized Financial Beginnings’ programs regularly for a youth transition class I taught. The students always learned so much, as did I, from the very knowledgeable volunteers Financial Beginnings provided!
Over the years, I realized I was not only passionate about employment and training, but also financial education. I also saw firsthand the importance and need for both, especially with youth. I noticed while I was helping youth find employment, getting a job was not a magical solution that would suddenly make their lives better. For many youth gaining employment brought a whole new set of responsibilities they had never encountered before, such as rent, transportation, food, insurance and much more. However, many of them had no idea how to manage their money and, for the first time in their lives, they were now expected to be self-sufficient. I knew as much as it would be a struggle for them I always encouraged them to save money, even if it was only $5 from each paycheck. Some of them would laugh and talk about how they were going to buy a flat screen TV, a new car, etc. While others assured me that they did not want to end up in debt like their friends and family and intended on saving as much as they could. Now as an employee of Financial Beginnings, I look forward to hearing many more stories of success that would not be possible without the support and dedication of the volunteers, educators, and partners.
