Financial Literacy Workshops and Courses

We have discovered that most of the feelings people harbor come from a place of deep insecurity because we were never properly educated about the world of money. We are in fact, for the most part, financially illiterate. This has nothing to do with aptitude or intelligence. It has only to do with the failure of our education system to properly educate and empower its citizens about finances.

Our hope and intention is to someday make financial literacy as important as math or English, since it is both a language and a practical life skill. In the game of life, it is important to understand the language of money and to be financially aware and literate. The financial industry has it's own sophisticated language, concepts, and meanings, most of which the majority of us do not fully comprehend.

Financial speak is it's own language and requires it's own particular course of study, not unlike French for example, which you might want to learn if you were going to be spending time in France. Since all inhabit the money world in some part of our lives, it would be good if we knew the language and how to navigate our way around.

Our financial literacy courses will help you to learn the language of money, and how to apply financial concepts and tools in your daily life. The financial literacy courses will empower you to gain the knowledge and understanding needed to comfortably make wise and informed financial decisions. We will help you to become financially free and independent so that you may safely live your dreams.

What is financial literacy? In financial terms, it is the ability to speak, read and write about money and financial concepts. This would include understanding the history of money, how it works, how to manifest it, how to invest it and most importantly, comprehend the language, terms and concepts of money. For example, when learning a foreign language we begin by learning basic vocabulary words and simple language structure.

When we're learning, we use a lot of words that we don't fully understand their true meaning or translation. We simply guess, gesture, and do the best we can to communicate. Financial literacy is the same way. Many of us attempt to use the basic financial language we have "learned" and apply it to our experience without fully understanding it's meaning or how the language or concept really works. Financially speaking, we often "guess" at what decision to make (i.e. what IRA is best, or which mutual fund to pick) and hope for the best. We eventually develop habits and patterns around money, which we are not even aware of. As a result, we often unconsciously make financial decisions that sabotage intended efforts.

We all have the capacity to become financially literate. We can all become good with money and make healthy and wise choices from a place of knowledge and power, rather than fear and shame. Our mission is to help people live purposeful and prosperous lives through awareness, education and empowerment.

Our Coordinator of Financial Literacy Programs is Steven "Shags" Shagrin. Shags brings over a quarter-century of professional experience in financial services and is the author of Managing My Life: Managing My Money, a workbook designed around financial literacy. Shags offers live presentations, both in person in all-day workshops and through a web-based series of sessions called "Webinars."

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The Basics of Financial Literacy Workshop
In one very informative day you will learn the basics of financial literacy and will take with you a workbook to help you move forward with knowledge and confidence as you navigate the consumer and investment world. Shags is a very entertaining and engaging speaker, using humor to emphasis important key points. Hey -- if you can't have a sense of humor when it comes to money, what else is there?!?

The Topics of the Basics of Financial Literacy Workshop include:
* The Mystique of Money
* Taking Control of Your Financial Destiny
* The Basics of Investments
* The Basics of Personal Income Tax
* The Basics of Risk Management
* The Basics of Estate Planning
* Interviewing, Selecting and Working With a Financial Advisor

Next Live Class: Saturday July 12, 2008 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Petaluma. Call Shags at 925-949-3938 for registration information. $150 per person, includes lunch and workbook.

Measure and Raise Your Money Quotient® Workshop
Shags is also a licensee of Practice Tools and Workshops from Money Quotient, a company which develops Financial Life Planning® tools and training for professionals who want to make a difference in the lives of their clients.
The “Money Quotient” workshop consists of a self-assessment that allows participants to "Measure Your M.Q." and an accompanying workbook that teaches participants how to "Raise Your M.Q." Money Quotient is a measure of one’s financial well-being on two scales: financial literacy and emotional intelligence.

Please see the Workshops Schedule page for dates and locations of the Basics of Financial Literacy and Measure and Raise Your Money Quotient® Workshops.

We are please to offer our financial literacy courses privately to groups of 15 or more. Call Shags at (925) 949-3938 for more information or send him an e-mail at Shags@PlanningForLife.info.