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Welcome to the Financial Wellness Center

New resources each week for the South Metro Federal Credit Union community.

This Week

Buying a Car

A car purchase is a high-stakes deal for just about anyone. This week, we'll cover strategies for finding the best car and successfully negotiating the best overall price.

Explore Articles

Featured Topics

Explore content and videos from the South Metro Federal Credit Union team.

Tools and Resources

Try our calculators, assessments and data tools.

Financial Wellness
Compare your financial health with a national sample.

College Explorer
Details on thousands of institutions across the country.

Mortgage Calculator
Quickly estimate monthly payments and total cost.

Identity Theft Prevention
How well do you protect your identity?

Financial Wellness Courses

Make real progress in less than an hour.

Young woman, and on chin, looking up to left, question marks on chalkboard, wondering.

Choices About Money

10 minutes

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Financial decisions almost always involve a trade off - getting something now usually means giving up something else.

  • Choices About Money
    Financial decisions almost always involve a trade off - getting something now usually means giving up something else.
  • Financial Values
    While each of us may have different values, we all make financial decisions based on them.
  • Setting Financial Goals
    Setting financial goals gives us 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.
Dad tossing baby in air.

Having a Baby

23 minutes

Get Started

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.
Computer screen with many numbers in green and shadow hand grabbing the word

Identity Theft

14 minutes

Get Started

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.
  • Avoiding Identity Theft
    The three Ds of identity protection: Deter, Detect and Defend.
  • Protecting Your Digital Information
    There are many data backup solutions 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.
Kid on a bike heading down a long road. Word START is next to boy.

Financial Basics

26 minutes

Get Started

Learn the basics of managing money, including financial health, budgeting, managing credit, plus more.

  • Financial Health
    The concept of financial health is the foundation of any financial plan.
  • Introduction to Budgeting
    Why budgeting is important, no matter how much money you earn.
  • Choosing a Bank or Credit Union
    Key factors to consider when choosing a financial services provider.
  • Credit vs. Debit Cards
    Credit and debit cards each have pros and cons. When should you use each?
  • Credit Reports and Scores
    Credit reports and scores determine the rates you pay when borrowing and can affect your ability to get certain jobs.
  • Managing Accounts
    Account management strategies for checking and savings.
  • Building Credit
    Understanding the decisions and behaviors that can lead to improved credit scores.
  • Identity Theft
    Understanding ID theft and how to prevent it.
  • Financial Goals Exercise
    A goal-setting exercise that includes weekly, monthly, yearly, and long-term goals.

About South Metro Federal Credit Union

Our suite of Financial Education Services (FES) is founded on providing a thorough education and consistent guidance with a confidential personal representative. With this relationship in place, we’ll work with you to determine your broad goals and set tactics for direct outcomes that build credit and help manage debt. We’ll empower you with the mindset, tools and products it takes to make an impact on your financial health.

A photo of Alyssa Walford.

Have a question?

Alyssa Walford
952-358-9738
fes@southmet.com

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