Personal Finance
Looking for ways to make the most out of your money? Check out the staff-curated money management resources below.
The library also offers other money-related resources on topics including taxes, jobs and careers and businesses and nonprofits.
Personal Finance Resources
Your Money
Your Money
- University of Illinois Extension provides information about personal finance topics.
- How Money Smart Are You? is a series of games from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to help you learn about everyday financial topics.
Consumer Help
Consumer Help
- Citizens Utility Board offers tips to lower utility bills and avoid scams.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau offers information on topics like auto loans, bank accounts, credit cards, credit reports, mortgages and more.
- Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) maintains stability and public confidence in the nation's financial system.
- Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) protects investors and safeguards the integrity of capital markets to ensure that everyone can invest with confidence.
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides information on avoiding foreclosure, housing resources and finding shelter.
- Illinois Attorney General offers information about student loan debt assistance, consumer and health care complaints, crime victims compensation and more.
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission provides information about product recalls. There is also the option to report or search for unsafe products.
Investing
Investing
- There are several online resources from government and regulatory agencies that can help you learn about investing. The library subscribes to two online resources, Morningstar Investment Research Center and Value Line Research Center, that have investment education sections with courses, videos and quizzes.
- Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)
- FINRA for Investors
- FINRA Learn to Invest
- FINRA Personal Finance can help with making financial goals before you start investing.
- FINRA BrokerCheck is a free tool to research the background of financial brokers, advisers and firms.
- Tools and Calculators
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) offers a free tool to check the backgrounds of investment professionals.
- Investor.gov provides information from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission about investment products, crypto assets, fraud, and more.
Financial Planning
Financial Planning
- Guides for Financial Decisions including buying a house, paying for college and answers to commonly asked financial questions.
- Budgeting
- Credit & Debt
- Retirement Calculator
- Illinois Secure Choice is a state-facilitated retirement program that makes it easy to save for retirement.
Teaching Children About Money
Teaching Children About Money
- Money as You Grow offers activities to help you teach your children about money.
- Thinking Money for Kids Game
- Money Genius Activity Kit by Beth Kobliner
- Consumer.gov provides consumer information for teens.
Personal Finance Resources
First bank account and first investments smarts
The book provides approachable advice for sound investing. Saving and investing are important parts of planning for a person's future. They are ways of increasing an individual's wealth, in addition to working and earning a salary. This book discusses banking and bank accounts (how to open an account, the types of accounts that are available, simple and compound interest, how to make a deposit and to write a check, how to use ATM cards, budgeting strategies, and managing accounts, including online). It also explains investing both for retirement and to increase wealth. Readers learn about a variety of investment types and how to analyze a stock
Slash your retirement risk : how to make your money last with a simple, safe, and secure investment plan
When it comes to retirement investing, too much emphasis today is on investment returns, which often come at the expense of income dependability and peace of mind. Slash Your Retirement Risk redefines how to invest for retirement to maximize your reliable income and stabilize your financial future. Rather than the typical approach to portfolio management-focusing on returns and ignoring dramatic market downswings that can decimate portfolios-author Chris Cook shows investors how to create income reliability without sacrificing reasonable growth. Instead of chasing uncertain returns, Slash Your Retirement Risk's strategy will help ensure your retirement portfolio will capitalize on opportunities for growth while weathering the inevitable economic ups and downs. You will achieve reliable returns and suffer fewer sleepless nights worrying about whether your money will last as long as you do. Slash Your Retirement Risk is your step-by-step guide to create a retirement portfolio that will provide true financial peace of mind, one that features: - The broad diversification essential in today's globally interconnected marketplace. - A built-in ability to capitalize on market upswings to generate growth. - Automatic protections against inevitable market downswings. - An investing strategy that minimizes fees and costs to maximize portfolio gains
Wealth on Autopilot : Mastering Daily Habits for Financial Success
Transform Your Financial Future, One Habit at a Time Discover a revolutionary approach to financial freedom. If you've ever dreamed of a life where your money works for you, propelling you toward your goals with minimal effort, this is the guide you've been waiting for. "Wealth on Autopilot Mastering Daily Habits for Financial Success" equips you with the knowledge and tools to turn dreams into reality. Intrigued by the thought of automating your wealth-building journey? You'll delve into chapters that explore the critical role of daily habits in shaping a successful financial mindset. Learn how to take the intimidating out of investment, make budgeting a breeze, and grasp the true power of compound interest. This isn't just another personal finance book; it's your blueprint to a better, more prosperous life. Visualize a future where money no longer causes stress. By understanding the profound influence of emotional and behavioral traps, and mastering credit and debt, you'll develop a healthier relationship with your finances. Picture yourself engaging in meaningful financial discussions with loved ones, building passive income streams, and even crafting a legacy of generosity and impact. With insights into leveraging technology and navigating economic changes, this book is timely and actionable. Are you ready for a journey toward financial independence? Take action now and embark on a path that aligns your financial reality with your aspirations. From novice to experienced, this book offers value to anyone committed to growth. Reflect on inspiring success stories, and gain clarity on the tangible steps needed to achieve your goals. Embrace this opportunity to transform every facet of your financial story and start living your best life today!
How to Plan for the Perfect Retirement. Episode 2, How Much Money Do You Need to Retire?
You might have heard some "rules of thumb" about financing your retirement, and they might point you in the right direction. But in this episode, learn why no generality, statistical average, or one-size-fits-all answer will work for you. Instead, learn how to accurately estimate how much money you will need by creating a series of personalized expense, income, and withdrawal timelines
Summary of Brandon Turner (1)'s the Book on Investing in Real Estate with No and Low Money Down
Get the Summary of Brandon Turner (1)'s The Book on Investing In Real Estate with No and Low Money Down in 20 minutes. Please note: This is a summary & not the original book. Brandon Turner's book provides a comprehensive guide to creative real estate investing, focusing on strategies that require little to no initial capital. Turner shares his personal journey, starting with no credit or cash, and building a portfolio of nearly 300 rental units through creative financing and minimal personal
Clinton cash : the untold story of how and why foreign governments and businesses helped make Bill and Hillary rich
Peter Schweizer follows the Clinton money trail, revealing the connections among their personal fortune, their 'close personal friends,' the Clinton Foundation, foreign nations, and some of the highest ranks of government. He raises serious questions of judgment, of possible indebtedness to an array of foreign interests, and ultimately, of fitness for high public office
Real estate/mortgages
The popular TODAY financial editor Jean Chatzky helps you navigate through the critical challenges and potential catastrophes of personal finance.You've just lost your job. You've got a baby on the way. Your parent has had a stroke. Most people seek financial help not because they're planning for the future but because they need it . . . right now! If you have money problems or are seeking immediate help to solve a dire, unanticipated financial emergency, then you need Money 911. In this invaluable guidebook, financial expert Jean Chatzky provides answers to today's most pressing financial questions and concerns, including: * How do I get out of debt? * How do I avoid foreclosure? * How do I set up a monthly budget? * How can I improve my credit score? * How do I get my health insurance to pay a claim? * What should I do when I lose a parent?With Money 911, you can prepare for retirement, buy or sell a home, pick up the pieces of your personal finances, and get back on your feet-and stay there!
Your Wedding, Your Way : The Modern Couple's Guide to Destination Elopements, Courthouse Ceremonies, Intimate Dinner Parties, and Other Nontraditional Nuptials
Your Wedding, Your Way is a resourceful handbook for modern couples who want to celebrate their marriage in a way that feels true to them and is financially reasonable, whether that's an elegant dinner party, a weekend camping trip in a national park, or a road trip to Vegas. Nowadays, more and more couples are eschewing tradition for a wedding celebration that feels more reflective of who they are and what they value. Whether it's a courthouse ceremony or a weeklong destination trip, there are so many ways to celebrate a union that don't require a big white dress, months of stressful planning, and an inflated budget. For couples who want to do things a little differently, Your Wedding, Your Way is a resourceful guide full of helpful advice and how-tos, fun sidebars and listicles, and anecdotes from real couples who did it themselves. Modern couples of all ages and sexualities who are uninterested in the traditional wedding hoopla and are looking for alternative ways to celebrate will appreciate this practical handbook, and particularly millennials and Gen-Zers who reevaluated their priorities in recent years; who feel disconnected from antiquated traditions; who are getting married later and financing their wedding themselves; and who prefer meaningful experiences over things. UNIQUE TO MARKET: Your Wedding, Your Way is an in-depth and one-of-a-kind resource for modern couples. There is no book dedicated to nontraditional weddings that is nearly as thorough as this one. KNOWLEDGABLE AUTHOR: Scott Shaw wrote one of the few books to focus on elopements, Let's Elope, in 2001. Scott Shaw brings this background and his own personal experience (he eloped!), while Kim Olsen brings a youthful perspective and her journalistic eye. ART OF ELOPING BRAND: The authors, Kim Olsen and Scott Shaw, recently launched their elopement brand, called The Art of Eloping, a go-to resource for couples who are planning to elope. Their website complements this book, offering a database of elopement vendors, interactive checklists, and inspiration via stories of real couples who eloped. Perfect for: - Couples who are interested in having a nontraditional wedding - Millennial and Gen-Z couples who want an intimate celebration that doesn't drain the bank - LGBTQ+ couples - People who have been married before/are celebrating a second wedding or vow renewal - Modern couples who prefer experiences over things
Money Unmasked
The world has changed. The antiquated concepts of money, savings, and retirement are no longer valid. The tired advice of diversify, set it, and forget it, or invest early, often and always, has been tried, and it has failed. Rather than scrimping and saving or grinding and hustling while you wait for one day, someday, "Money Unmasked" shows you a radically different and reliable approach to creating an exciting and compelling future without compromise. "Money Unmasked" unveils the truth about making, keeping, and growing your money and enjoying life along the way. Rather than trading time for money or speculating and taking risks, "Money Unmasked" shows you how to plug financial leaks and tap into hidden capital so you can utilize the Cycle of Creation to profit up front and take control of your financial future. Gunderson unveils an entirely new philosophy, a new way of being that can change your family's financial destiny while immediately improving your quality of life, since you keep more of the money you make without cutting back. By tapping into your Money Persona, you see beyond the constraints of scarcity, you can accelerate results, reduce risk, have more energy, and start making better financial decisions. And by learning how to profit from your ideas up front, without risking or borrowing a single dollar but instead making money on the buy, you can collect a quick win on your ideas and start creating immediate cash flow. You can lower risk, improve return, and be profitable from day one. If you are ready to fully understand money, create wealth, and live a life you don't want to retire from, it's time for "Money Unmasked"
Sharing with Others : an introduction to financial literacy
Sharing with Others explains the values of charity and sharing one's earnings and time. The book helps young children see the benefits of sharing their time and money
