Firms and representatives in the financial services industry occasionally encounter situations where a client’s vulnerability causes the client to make decisions that are contrary to his or her financial interests, needs or objectives or that leave him or her exposed to potential financial...
In this report, The Common Cents Lab and MetLife Foundation share findings from the experiments we have run over the past several years with VITA providers to improve tax-related outcomes. We encourage you to consider implementing these ideas and engaging in additional conversations about how to...
As financial educators know, making day-to-day decisions on spending money is one of the biggest challenges consumers face in keeping their financial lives in order. Many people find it difficult to manage their household finances on a daily basis, let alone over the long term. This brief from the...
There may be resources to help us with the expenses of taking care of our departed. Often these resources are never tapped into but could have helped with the costs taken on by the surviving family or friends. We need to “look under every stone” to ensure that we have found all of these...
This educational brief from CLEO explains what a credit report is, and what to do if you want to fix your credit report or work with a credit repair...
Scammers are sneaky and sly. They can target anyone, from youngsters to retirees. They can also target businesses. No one is immune to fraud. Our group of superheroes has found a way to see through the scams. Their secret is simple: knowledge is power! Read this booklet to find out how you can...
This comprehensive resource from Prosperity Now supports organizations in developing a participant-centered financial coaching program. Grounded in a field survey, over 100 interviews, expert advice and beta-testing with six new financial coaching programs, the Coaching Guide highlights the...
This document explains the basics of group RESPs, including what they are, what they may cost, what you need to know about your group RESP if you are already enrolled in a plan, and how to figure out your...
Canadian investors need more and better information to protect themselves both when they act on their own and when they retain lawyers. This handbook is intended to help Canadian investors better understand the choices they face when making a complaint and the impact of those choices. It can also...
This is a document from the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada explaining tips on how to manage your refund at tax time to make the most of...
Nouveaux arrivants: Le saviez-vous? Il y a des prestations et des crédits auxquels vous pourriez avoir droit si: Vous avez un numéro d’assurance sociale. Vous produisez votre déclaration de revenus chaque année même si vous n’avez aucun revenu. Nous utilisons les renseignements qui...
While it is clear that the topic of learning remains of great importance to the social sector, many organizations, including those in the public and private sectors, seem to be stuck on operationalizing what it means to engage in and support intentional learning in their organizations. We hope this...
About half of households are considered financially fragile, which means they’re not sure they could come up with $2,000 in 30 days if they had to. Lack of emergency savings is common. It affects about half of households that earn $25,000 to $75,000 a year, and about a quarter of households that...
Many service providers work with clients who are financially unstable. Financial instability can vary depending on the person, but common characteristics include having limited or unpredictable income, being behind on rent, not having enough money for food and other basics, and having...
Many service providers work with clients who are financially unstable. Financial instability can vary depending on the person, but common characteristics include having limited or unpredictable income, being behind on rent, not having enough money for food and other basics, and having...
Immigrants face many of the same challenges that low- and moderate-income communities experience (e.g., low and unstable incomes, poor credit or lack of a credit history, and limited ability to access loans). But they also face a set of unique challenges. For example, immigrants may be hesitant to...
A registered disability savings plan (RDSP) is a savings plan that is intended to help parents and others save for the long-term financial security of a person who is eligible for the disability tax credit...
Many consumers live paycheck-to-paycheck. Bills and financial notices arrive by mail and e-mail at different times of the day and month. Consumers typically don’t act on them immediately. Research shows that consumers have many reasons for their actions. To gain insight into why it’s so hard...
Surveys are a great way to answer some of the questions you have about the people you serve and their thoughts and feelings about the services you provide. Surveys can help you decide which new services will have the greatest impact on your clients and help you evaluate the impact of your existing...
Deciding which financial capability services to provide clients begins with understanding how clients currently manage their financial lives. Tool 1 in Building Financial Capability: A Planning Guide for Integrated Services (http://1.usa.gov/1FxrLnE) helps you analyze clients’ current financial...
This is a list of 27 indicators of effectiveness for backbone organizations, produced by FSG and Greater Cincinnati Foundation. This includes topics like strategy, alignment, shared measurement practices, and...
There has been a resurgence of political interest in Canada in the rather old idea of a universal basic income, sometimes called a guaranteed annual income. Essentially, a basic income is a “no strings attached” transfer from government to individuals or families that can be simpler to...
This manual is intended to help tribal leaders and their attorneys, financial advisors, and money managers in Native communities in the US think about innovative ways to structure minor’s trust programs. It turns out there are a lot of simple things that can be done to help kids make good...
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has unveiled its latest savings tool. “my Retirement Account”—myRA for short—is a retirement savings account designed for individuals who may not have access to a saving plan through their employers. It costs nothing to open a myRA account, and there...
This guide contains 12 recommendations on how to design pilot projects with scaling up in mind, as well as a checklist that provides a quick overview of the scalability of a project that is being planned, proposed, or in the process of implementation. Based on a combination of a comprehensive...