Personal financial literacy is the ability to read, analyze, manage, and communicate the personal financial conditions that affect ones material well-being. In real terms financial literacy education can help provide individuals with the knowledge necessary to create household budgets, initiate savings plans, manage debt, and make strategic investment decisions for their retirement or for their children’s education. Developing these basic financial planning skills can help individuals and families to meet their near-term obligations and to maximize their long-term financial well-being.
ALISON, in conjunction with the Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board (TRWIB) and the Heinz Endowments, both of Pittsburgh, created an online interactive financial literacy course, available to individuals for free at http://alison.com. Each partner recognized the need for a financial literacy program that would equip youth, the workforce and families with the skills needed for success in today’s economy. With this goal in mind, the course was designed to address the fact that a large and growing number of people lack the basic financial knowledge needed to manage their money effectively.
The Financial Literacy course meets seven of the eight elements noted by the US Treasury Department’s Office of Financial Education for a successful financial education programme. The ALISON team attended the Financial Literacy National Strategy meetings held in Washington D.C., and have taken care to include their recommendations in developing this course. The materials were fully reviewed and approved by the Society of Financial Service Professionals (FSP) . Course content was also reviewed and contributed to by Kirk Okumura author and editor of the LUTC Program at The American College. Kraig Kast, CEO of Atherton Trust, and Scott Stapf, Senior Partner of The Hastings Group, both reviewed specific modules within the course.
The course has been piloted and well received in the Pittsburgh area. At the Jewish Family Crisis Center, and at Hosanna House, the course has met with enthusiasm from instructors and students alike. In collaboration with TRWIB, the programme is now available to workforce investment boards, schools, faith-based and community-based organizations and others. Any individual learner worldwide can also access the course for free on ALISON.
