Welcome to the Financial Wellness Center

From choosing a make and model to financing a purchase, topics every consumer should understand when buying a car.

• Buying a Car Introduction
  An introduction to the basics of this major purchase and responsibility.
• Choosing a Make and Model
  A look at four important factors to consider when choosing a car: fuel consumption, insurance rates, reliability, and depreciation.
• The Total Cost of Ownership
  Understanding the many costs associated with owning a car - from financing to taxes.
• Buy or Lease?
  Understanding the pros and cons of vehicle leasing.
• Financing a Car Purchase
  How a loan affects the total cost of buying a car.
• Evaluating a Used Car
  How to "do your homework" before buying a used car.
• Setting a Target Price
  How to set a realistic target price for both new and used vehicles.
• Negotiating Price
  Know what to expect when negotiating the best deal.
• Avoiding Surprises
  Think the negotiating is finished when you agree on a price? Here's how to negotiate dealer extras and extended warranty pitches.
• Common Mistakes When Buying a Car
  Twelve common mistakes to keep in mind when shopping for a car.

From setting goals to paying off loans, the basics of effective budget management.

• Setting Goals
  Setting financial goals offers the chance to step back from everyday pressures, allowing us to think about how we’d like to be rather than as how we are.
• Debt and the Pressure to Spend
  It’s wonderful to have the freedom to buy so many products, but unless you’re rich, the key to happy spending is planned spending.
• Nudging Yourself Toward Your Goals
  No matter what your financial goal, it's important to have an accountability system in place.
• Introduction to Budgeting
  Why budgeting is important, no matter how much money you earn.
• Income and Expenses
  A big part of budgeting is identifying income and listing expenses.
• Making Sense of Your Budget
  After you've identified your income and tracked your spending, it's time to compare the numbers, gain perspective, set priorities, and make changes.
• Tracking Your Spending
  Tracking your money can be a powerful way to spot unplanned spending.
• How to Improve Cash Flow
  Cash flow is a key indicator of your financial health.
• Money Saving Ideas
  Looking for ideas for ways to save money? Almost everyone can find a way to save using at least one of these tips.

An overview of identity theft, including strategies for preventing it and what to do if it happens to you.

• Identity Theft
  Understanding ID theft and how to prevent it.
• Social Media and Identity Theft
  What you reveal online can compromise your personal and financial security.
• Medical Identity Theft
  Medical identity theft is a little-known form of identity theft with consequences affecting more than just your wallet.
• Avoiding Identity Theft
  The three Ds of identity protection: Deter, Detect and Defend.
• Protecting Your Digital Information
  There are many data backup solutions available designed to protect personal information that vary in their security and ease of use.
• Dealing with Identity Theft
  Understanding the different types of identity theft and what to do in each scenario.

The basics of financial aid, including the types of aid, applying for aid, borrower responsibilities, and repayment strategies.

• Financial Aid Introduction
  Whether you're considering higher education for yourself or starting to plan for the education of your kids, understanding the financial aid process is the first step to meeting your education goals.
• Types of Financial Aid
  The main types of financial aid are education loans, grants and scholarships, work-study, and service programs.
• Creating an Aid Strategy
  Considerations when planning to pay for school, including school choice, employment options, accounting strategies, and the importance of borrowing wisely.
• Understanding Financial Need
  Some aid is based on financial need and some is not. What exactly is "financial need?"
• Applying for Aid
  The aid application process, including descriptions of the FAFSA and Profile forms.
• Education Loans
  A description of the main types of student loans, including government loans, consolidation loans, and private loans.
• Choosing the Right Loan
  Questions every student should be able to answer before taking on a student loan.
• Selecting a Private Loan Lender
  When federal loans are not enough, private lenders such as banks, credit unions, and non-profit lenders can help to fill the gap.
• The Master Promissory Note
  An introduction to the agreement that specifies your rights and responsibilities when accepting a student loan.
• Repaying College Debt
  A look at common repayment plans, including how different plans affect your monthly payment and overall cost.
• Borrowing Wisely
  Making smart choices about student loans, including a description of the impact of loan capitalization.
• Independent Student Status
  Understanding your financial aid dependency status, including a discussion of what to do if the parents of dependent students refuse to help them pay for college.
• Dealing with Too Little Aid
  Why some students find themselves with too little aid and what can be done to make ends meet.