Welcome to the Financial Wellness Center

Why and how to invest, including how to save money now.

• Saving and Investing
  The difference between investing and saving, and how to tell what's the best option for your needs.
• Types of Investments
  The pros and cons of stocks, bonds, and cash. The concept of asset allocation is explained.
• Investment Accounts
  The types of accounts available to investors, including both taxable and tax advantaged accounts.
• Saving for Retirement
  Why save for retirement and the impact of fees on investment performance.
• Retirement Saving Strategies
  How to develop a comprehensive retirement savings strategy.
• Retirement Accounts
  An overview of the major retirement accounts, include Individual Retirement Accounts, Simplified Employee Pensions, and 401(k) plans.
• Retirement Savings Ideas
  A few simple things to keep in mind when starting a retirement savings plan.
• Individual Development Accounts
  Understanding the benefits of IDAs, how to qualify, and where to find a program.

An introduction to student loan repayment choices and strategies. Visit the Library for in-depth coverage of repayment plan options.

• Making Smart Repayment Decisions
  Flexible federal student loan repayment plans can help you avoid financial trouble and reach your financial goals.
• Repayment Strategies
  To repay your student loans, you need a comprehensive strategy to put your education debt in a larger financial picture that includes your income, non-education debt, and long-term goals.
• How Repayment Plan Choices Affect Loan Cost
  Your repayment plan choice can greatly affect your monthly payment and the total cost of your student debt.
• Deferment and Forbearance Options
  Both deferment and forbearance can help you avoid financial trouble. If you think you might qualify, reach out to your loan servicer as soon as you first experience financial difficulty.
• Managing Loans in Times of Financial Distress
  You can’t always prevent financial stress, but how well you manage it will make all the difference in how successful you’ll be in meeting your repayment obligation.
• Grace and Deferment Period Strategies
  Federal education loans all offer a grace or deferment period – a set amount of time during which repayment is not required. How you manage loans during your grace period can make a big difference.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness
  If you work in certain fields or for certain employers, a portion of your Direct Student Loan debt may be eligible for forgiveness.
• Loan Consolidation
  Loan consolidation can simplify the loan repayment process, but you must review the loans you plan to consolidate carefully – once consolidated, there’s no going back.

Key topics for those transitioning from school to the workplace.

• From College to the Workplace
  No matter what your financial outlook is after leaving school, the concept of financial health is an important step toward long-term financial success.
• Salary Expectations Versus Reality
  Most young people tend to overestimate their starting salaries.
• Earning a Paycheck
  A brief overview of common paycheck deductions and how to increase earning potential.
• Employer Benefits
  There are four main types of employee benefit programs: health insurance, retirement plans, tax-advantaged savings, and supplemental benefits such as life and vision care insurance.
• Making Decisions About Employee Benefits
  Employee benefits vary between employers, so it’s up to the employee to make the most of whatever benefits are offered.
• Day One of a New Job
  First impressions are important. New employees should take the time to prepare for the first day to ensure that they start off on the right foot.
• Time Management
  To be successful in today’s workplace, you need to know how to manage the limited amount of time you have to accomplish all of your tasks.
• The Concept of Professionalism
  Being a “professional” paves the way for both current and future success, no matter what career you choose. Professionalism requires you to draw upon a set of skills that may seem outside the specific skills required for your job.
• Networking in the Workplace
  Effective networking can lead to success in your career both now and in the future.

A look at the financial challenges of raising a child.

• Introduction
  Having a baby is not just a family decision, it's a financial decision too.
• Babies and Budgets
  How to get your finances in shape before a baby arrives, including a budget review, paying down debt, making sure you're getting the best rate on any long-term debt, and creating an emergency fund.
• Paying for the Baby Years
  The non-childcare costs you can expect when having a baby, from cribs to health insurance.
• Managing Risks
  Life is filled with unexpected events. Learn how to ensure the financial security of your child in the worst case scenario.
• Children and Taxes
  A review of the tax benefits that can help you manage the expenses incurred with children.
• Childcare Choices
  An overview of different childcare choices and the financial implications of each.
• Growing Up - Childhood and Beyond
  A look at the additional costs of raising a child beyond the first few years including the indirect costs.