Budgeting and Taxes
Credit
- A Special Guide for Seniors and Families – Articles with information specific to Seniors (or all of us) on dealing with money management issues.
- Accessing Your Free Credit Report – Educates consumers about their right to a free copy of their credit reports. Outlines the nine-month roll-out period beginning with the Western states on December 1, 2004. Explains the ordering process by Web, toll-free telephone number, and postal address. Also discusses other consumer rights under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act and the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act.
- Avoiding Credit and Charge Card Fraud – Steps to make it more difficult for a crook to capture your card or card numbers, and how to report losses and fraud.
- Billed for Merchandise You Never Received? – Explains your rights and steps to take to correct the problem. Includes a sample dispute letter.
- Building a Better Credit Report – Learn how to legally improve your credit report, how to deal with debt, how to spot credit-related scams, and more.
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Buying a Car – Tips to help you make a smart deal. Explains commonly used industry terms, and a worksheet to help you negotiate on price.
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Buying a Used Car – Explains your rights when buying from a dealer or a private party. Offers buying tips and resources if you have problems after the sale.
- Car Ads: Reading Between the Lines – Many car dealers advertise unusually low interest rates and other special promotions. Learn what questions to ask to get the best deal for you.
- Choosing a Credit Card
- Choosing and Using Credit Cards – Explains credit card terms, how your balance is computed, and how to shop for the best deal. Outlines cardholder protections.
- Consumer Handbook to Credit Protection Laws
- Cosigning a Loan – Lists your obligations if you decide to cosign on a loan for a friend or relative. At the top of the list: you may have to pay up to the full amount of the debt if the borrower does not pay.
- Credit, ATM and Debit Cards: What To Do If They're Lost or Stolen – Outlines procedures for reporting loss or theft, and how to minimize your risk.
- Credit and Divorce – Encourages recently divorced consumers, and those contemplating divorce, to look closely at issues involving credit. Understanding the different kinds of credit accounts opened during a marriage may help illuminate the potential benefits - and pitfalls - of each.
- Credit and Debit Card Blocking – Blocking often occurs when you use a credit or debit card to check into a hotel or rent a car. The clerk usually contacts the company that issued your card to give an estimated total. If the transaction is approved, your available credit (credit card) or the balance in your bank account (debit card) is reduced by this amount. Learn why blocking may be a problem, and how to avoid it.
- Credit and Your Consumer Rights – Explains credit laws that protect your right to obtain, use, and maintain credit. Offers practical tips to help you solve credit problems.
- Credit Card Loss Protection Offers – Since your liability for unauthorized charges is limited to $50, there's no need to buy loss protection insurance.
- Credit Insurance: Is It For You? – Helps borrowers decide if credit insurance, which is usually optional, is right for them. Explains the four main types of credit insurance and offers shopping tips.
- Credit Repair: Self-Help May Be Best – Explains how you can improve your credit worthiness and lists legitimate resources for low or no-cost help.
- Credit Scoring – Explains the system creditors use to help determine whether to grant you credit.
- Easy Credit? Not So Fast. The Truth About Advance Fee-Loan Scams – Tells you how to spot a scam and avoid losing your money. Rule number one: Legitimate lenders never "guarantee" or say that you are likely to get a loan or a credit card before you apply, especially if you have bad credit, no credit, or a bankruptcy.
- Equal Credit Opportunity – The Equal Credit Opportunity Act prohibits the denial of credit because of your sex, race, marital status, religion, national origin, age, or because you receive public assistance.
- Fair Credit Billing – The Fair Credit Billing Act establishes procedures for resolving billing errors on your credit card accounts. Includes sample dispute letter.
- Fair Debt Collection – Answers commonly asked questions about your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. It prohibits debt collectors from using unfair or deceptive practices to collect overdue bills that your creditor has forwarded for collection.
- Getting Credit: What You Need to Know About Your Credit – Provides tips on shopping for credit cards, using cards carefully, and keeping your credit record clean. Also explains credit reports and credit scores, how to protect your identity, improve your credit record, and what to do if you are a victim of identity theft. A good source of information for people learning about credit.
- Getting Credit When You're Over 62 – Under the federal Equal Credit Opportunity Act, it's against the law for a creditor to deny you credit or terminate existing credit simply because of your age. Explains your rights and offers tips for applying for and maintaining credit.
- Gold and Platinum Cards – If you're looking for credit, be wary of some 'gold' or 'platinum' card offers promising to get you credit cards or improve your credit rating. Lists tip-offs to rip-offs.
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Out of Work? How to Deal with Creditors – If you've recently lost your job, your first thoughts may be, "how will I make ends meet." The Federal Trade Commission spells out your rights when it comes to fair debt collection and credit reporting practices."
- How to Dispute Credit Report Errors – Explains how to dispute and correct inaccurate information in your credit report. Includes a sample dispute letter.
- How to File a Consumer Complaint about a Bank
- Identity Theft – Identity theft is a federal crime. It occurs when one person's identification (which can include name, social security number, or any account number) is used or transferred by another person for unlawful activities. This booklet is designed to help you understand what identity theft is, how it happens, how to protect yourself, and what steps to take if your identity is stolen.
- Keys to Vehicle Leasing
- Negative Credit Can Squeeze a Job Search – Bad credit can affect your ability to get more credit and to get or keep a job. Employers often use a credit report when they hire and evaluate employees for promotion, reassignment or retention. Explains your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
- Plastic Fraud: Getting a Handle on Debit and Credit Cards – This pamphlet describes credit and debit cards and some common schemes involving card fraud with tips to help you avoid them.
- Publications – Consumer Protection publications available from the Federal Reserve
- Loan and Credit
- Credit & Charge Cards: What Consumers Should Know about the Cost & Terms of Credit – Knowing how credit card charges, finance charges, and terms of credit can change your financial status.
- How to Establish, Use, and Protect Your Credit – Credit is an important financial tool, but it can also be dangerous, leading people into debt far beyond their ability to repay.
- Publications – Federal Reserve publications relating to loans and credit.
- The Credit Process: A Guide for Small Business Owners – Summary of the sources and types of commercial loans, business plan design, and the loan-review process for small business financing.
- Your Credit Report – It used to be that a retailer or bank would have to call each creditor you listed on an application form before they would decide to extend credit to you. Today, they rely on credit reports, so it's important for you to know what is in yours.
- Your Credit Rights – You need to understand how credit is awarded or denied and what you can do if you are treated unfairly. The major laws that regulate credit are outlined in this brochure.
- Payday Loans = Costly Cash – Explains how these loans work, but cautions that they come at a very high price. Lists alternatives.
- Ready, Set... Credit – For consumers who are about to get their first credit card. Explains how to qualify for a card, get the best deal, and manage your account. Stresses the importance of a good credit history. Discusses federal consumer protections.
- The Credit Practices Rule – The Rule prohibits many creditors from including certain provisions in consumer credit contracts. It also requires creditors to provide a written notice to consumers before they cosign obligations for others about their potential liability if the other person fails to pay.
- Understanding Vehicle Financing – Get the facts on dealership financing - what it is, how you apply, special financing offers, cash back and rebates you may be eligible for, and more.
- Vehicle Repossession – If your payments are late or you default on your contract in any way, your creditor or lessor may have the right to repossess your car. Learn what repossession may mean to you.
- Your Access to Free Credit Reports – Educates consumers about their right to a free copy of their credit reports. Outlines the nine-month roll-out period beginning with the Western states on December 1, 2004. Explains the ordering process by Web, toll-free telephone number, and postal address. Also discusses other consumer rights under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act and the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act.
Financial Planning
Home Ownership
- Buying a Home – Nine steps to buying a home.
- Home Sweet Home Improvement – How to find a competent and reliable contractor. Discusses the different types of contractors you may work with, from General Contractors to Architects and offers tips for checking references. Explains payment options and the importance of a written contract.
- Money Smart - An Adult Education Program – Basic Financial Education: FDIC's Money Smart financial education program. Available on-line or by mail free of charge.
- Need a Loan? Think Twice About Using Your Home As Collateral – Includes terms, tips, a checklist, and information to help you find a plan that meet your needs, and protect your interests.
- Utility Credit – Summarizes consumers' credit rights when securing utility services.
Home Equity
Mortgages
Paying for Education
- Budget Your Money – The links below provide guidance and tips to help you with the challenges of budgeting money while completing your education.
- Fellowships – Graduate students can explore a wide range of graduate research fellowship opportunities in this group of web sites.
- Financial Aid Overviews – A collection of useful websites bringing together the basic info you need to know about paying for your education with student financial aid.
- Find a Loan – Federal or private student loans are a big part of most financial aid plans. Find the right loan for you on the web sites below.
- Loan Repayment – Resources to help with loan deferments, servicing, consolidation, forgiveness, budgeting, and more. The web sites below can help answer your loan repayment questions.
- Military Funding – The armed forces offer a variety of student assistance programs to their members. These web sites will help you find out what is available to you.
- Scholarships and Grants – Learn about government grant programs and search for grants and scholarships of all kinds on the web sites in this section.
- State Financial Aid – Learn about and link to state-supported financial aid programs in your state in the web sites below.
Privacy, Fraud and Scams
- Automatic Debit Scams – Cautions consumers not to give out checking account information, or any other personal information, over the phone unless they're familiar with the company and agree to pay for something.
- Bogus July 1 Email Exposed: The Real Deal on Your Credit File Privacy – An anonymous email containing false and misleading information about the use of your personal information has shown up in email in-boxes across the country for the last several years, leaving many consumers concerned and confused. Here's the real deal from the Federal Trade Commission.
- Consumer Protection
- Gift Card Disclosures
 – This OCC Bulletin provides guidance so that national banks that issue gift cards do so in a manner in which both purchasers and recipients of gift cards are fully informed of the terms and conditions of the product.
- Frauds & Scams: Protect Yourself and Your Money – Describes some typical financial frauds and scams and suggests how to protect yourself and your money.
- Identity Theft – Identity theft is a federal crime. It occurs when one person's identification (which can include name, social security number, or any account number) is used or transferred by another person for unlawful activities. This booklet is designed to help you understand what identity theft is, how it happens, how to protect yourself, and what steps to take if your identity is stolen.
- Identity Theft: Outsmarting the Crooks – "Identity Theft: Outsmarting the Crooks" features experts from the government and the private sector talking about the scope of the identity theft problem and how a few simple steps can significantly increase protection.
- Plastic Fraud: Getting a Handle on Debit and Credit Cards – This pamphlet describes credit and debit cards and some common schemes involving card fraud with tips to help you avoid them.
- Publications – Consumer Protection publications available from the Federal Reserve
- How to identify and protect yourself from on-line investment fraud – Help protect yourself and your family by avoiding fraud.
- How to Protect Kids Privacy Online
- How to Report Social Security Fraud – The Social Security Administration (SSA), Office of the Inspector General (OIG), Fraud Hotline provides an avenue for reporting fraud, waste, and abuse within SSA's programs and operations.
- ID Theft Homepage – Information for consumers, business, the media, and law enforcement.
- Identity Theft and Your Social Security Number – This publication will help you spot identity theft.
- Medical Billing Opportunities
- New ID? Bad IDea: File Segregation Exposed – You're promised a chance to hide unfavorable credit information by establishing a credit identity. The problem: "File segregation" is illegal. If you use it, you could face fines or even a prison sentence.
- Onguard Online – OnGuardOnline.gov provides practical tips from the federal government and the technology industry to help you be on guard against Internet fraud, secure your computer, and protect your personal information.
- Pretexting: Your Personal Information Revealed – Explains how scam artists can get your personal information under false pretenses, and sell it to people who may use it to get credit in your name, steal your assets, or to investigate or sue you.
- Privacy Choices for Your Personal Financial Information – Explains that federal law gives you the right to stop (opt out of) some sharing of your personal financial information, that you will receive privacy notices from financial institutions you do business with, and what to do when you receive the notices.
- Privacy: Tips for Protecting Your Personal Information – Tips to help you manage your personal information wisely, and to help minimize its misuse.
- Privacy: What You Do Know Can Protect You – Learn more about the options you have for protecting your personal information.
- Privacy Initiatives Homepage – The Federal Trade Commission is educating consumers and businesses about the importance of personal information privacy, including the security of personal information.
- Secured Credit Card Marketing Scams – A secured card requires you to open and maintain a savings account as security for your line of credit; an unsecured card does not. Describes common advertising and marketing scams for secured credit cards.
- You Can Simplify Your Financial Life – How to save time, reduce stress and eliminate clutter... and maybe even save more money
ID Theft
Responding To Life Events
- Life Changes Require Health Choices, Know Your Benefit Options – Information you should know to protect your health benefits at various life events, such as marriage, divorce, childbirth, or death of a spouse.
- Work Changes Require Health Choices, Protect Your Rights – Information you should know to protect your health benefits when you start a new job, change jobs, lose your job or retire.
- Pension & Health Care Coverage Questions & Answers for Dislocated Workers – Important information for workers who have lost their jobs about protecting their employee benefits.
- Birth of a Child – This will help you with Social Security information for your child.
- Death in the Family – Information about how you can report the death in a family.
- Disability – Use this Disability Planner to find out medical and earnings requirements, what happens once you're approved and more.
- Domestic ABUSE – Social Security may be able to help you if you or someone you know is victim of family violence.
- Marriage, Divorce and Name Changes – Get help with, changing your name on your social security card, how divorce affects your benefits, how remarriage affects survivors benefits, how retirement affects survivors benefits and how marriage may affect your adult disabled child benefits.
- Paying For Education
Retirement Planning
Saving & Investing
- All About the Foreign Exchange Market in the United States – Book discusses in detail the operations, participants and instruments in the U.S. segment of the global foreign exchange market.
- The Basics of Foreign Trade and Exchange – Summary of the magnitude of international trade and foreign exchange transactions and how such transactions affect households, businesses and markets.
- Economic Indicators: By the Numbers – In formulating the nation's monetary policy, the Federal Reserve considers a number of factors, including the economic and financial indicators as well as the anecdotal reports compiled in the Beige Book.
- Economic Literacy – "The Economic Literacy Project: Seeking a Blueprint for America," featured more than 60 specially invited representatives of academia, business, labor, K-12 education, consumers, government, and finance institutions.
- Econo mic Indicators: What Are They and Why They Are Important? (Flash) – This economic indicators section of the FED101 Web site provides a snapshot of the economy's health. This link requires Flash 6.0 or higher.
- Everyday Economics – A series of colorful booklets explaining fundamental economic concepts for high school students. Free to teachers and students in the Eleventh Federal Reserve District.
- Is Diversifying Across World Markets a Good Investment Strategy? – Discussion surrounds the role of business cycles and the risk & return of international stock markets in building a diversified portfolio for investing.
- Publications – Economics publications available from the Federal Reserve.
- Teaching About the Global Economy Using the Internet – On-line teaching guide with internet-based classroom activities to enrich students' understanding of global economy and interdependence of nations.
- Understanding the Federal Budget – Booklet provides an overview of basic economic concepts and governmental processes related to the budget and debt of the federal government
- What's A Dollar Worth? – Use the CPI calculator to find out how much the item you purchased years ago would cost in today's dollars.
- What is the Economic Function of a Bank? – Discusses the role of banks as key components of the financial system and how bank assets and liabilities help channel funds from savers to borrowers in a more efficient manner.
- What Steps Can Be Taken to Increase Savings in the United States Economy? – Why Americans are in the aggregate, or overall, saving far less (or consuming much more) as a percentage of disposable personal income than they did during most of the past 40 years.
- Why Do We Need Economists and the Study of Economics? – This discussion explains why we need economists and the study of financial and regional economic issues to make sense of our complex environment.
- How to File a Complaint Against a Financial Institution – If your financial institution is regulated by:
- Insuring Your Deposit – Insuring your Bank and Savings Association Deposits: Information about how FDIC insures deposit accounts such as checking, NOW and savings accounts, money market deposit accounts, and certificates of deposit (CDs).
- Share Insurance – The shares in your credit union are insured by the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund, an arm of the National Credit Union Administration.
- Investment Risks – Tip-offs to common investment frauds, including: oil wells, gemstones, film production companies, and communications technology scams.
- Invest Wisely: An Introduction to Mutual Funds – Explains how mutual funds work, what factors to consider, and how to avoid common pitfalls.
- Roadmap to Saving and Investing – A handy guide for getting started on your financial future.
- Savings Bonds
- Savings Fitness: A Guide to Your Money and Your Financial Future
- Start or Change Direct Deposit of Social Security Benefits – To protect everyone's privacy, any person who wants to start or change direct deposit for Social Security benefits must request it for themselves.
- Treasury Direct
- Variable Annuities: What You Should Know – Explains the basics of variable annuities, including what questions to ask before purchasing.
Starting a Small Business
- Choosing a Retirement Solution for Your Small Business – It helps small business owners understand the various retirement savings vehicles available to them and encourages them to start a plan for themselves and their employees.
- 401(k) Plans for Small Business – It highlights a 401(k) plan's advantages, some of the options and responsibilities of an employer in setting up and operating a 401(k), and the different types of 401(k) plans.
- Applying for a Loan
- Business Plan Basics
- Checklist for Starting a Business
- Consumer Guide to Buying a Franchise – Learn about the benefits of franchise ownership, the limitations, and how to choose the best franchise for you.
- Crossing the Bridge to Self-Employment – A Federal Microenterprise Resource Guide
- Franchise and Business Opportunities – Outlines information franchise and business opportunity sellers must give you to help you make an informed purchasing decision.
- Financing Basics
- Guide for Retirement Plan Management for Small Business – SBA's interactive website to help small business owners understand roles, responsibilities and resources for retirement plans. Business owners who seek out information about retirement plans help protect themselves from risk. The information on this site can help small business owners understand roles, responsibilities and resources for retirement plans.
- Information and Resources for Employers – Instructions and forms that will make the life of an employer easier.
- Information for the Self Employed – Information that will help the self-employed run his/her own business.
- Is Entrepreneurship for You?
- Marketing Basics
- Multilevel Marketing Plans – Explains how MLMs work to sell goods or services through distributors. Cautions consumers to watch out for "pyramiding"- the illegal practice of paying commissions for recruiting distributors.
- SBA Financing Programs
- Small Business and Self-Employed One-Stop Resource
- Small Business Startup Guide
- The Credit Process: A Guide for Small Business Owners – Summary of the sources and types of commercial loans, business plan design, and the loan-review process for small business financing.
- Training – How to Start a Small Business
- Work-at-Home Schemes – Outlines common scams, questions to ask promoters, and where to complain.
- Writing the Business Plan
Spanish Pages (Páginas en español)
Ahorro e inversiones
- Saving and Investing En Español: Información para los Inversionistas – La Oficina de Educación y Asistencia a los Inversionistas le ofrece una variedad de servicios para atender los problemas y preguntas que usted pudiera tener como inversionista.
- Su Dinero Asegurado – Además, le informamos como su dinero en cuentas bancarias esta asegurado
Banca personal
Crédito
Plan financiero y presupuesto
Casas y automóviles
Privacidad, fraudes y estafas
Retiro/Jubilación
Enlaces a recursos generales
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