Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise is hosting the third annual Money School on Saturday, April 1, from 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Brainerd Crossroads. Money School is a free financial education day open to the public. The event will include speakers and exhibitors providing hands-on learning opportunities regarding money management, debt elimination, increased savings, as well as retirement and estate planning.
“Money management skills and financial knowledge play an integral role in creating a strong neighborhood. Building a strong neighborhood requires financially empowered citizens,” said Martina Guilfoil, president and CEO of CNE. “Money School provides the necessary tools and resources for Chattanoogans to feel empowered with their finances.”
Money School will be kicked off by Yolandra McClinton, a Los Angeles-based life coach specializing in financial coaching. The event focuses on four crucial financial areas, offering a diverse range of related workshops. The workshops will be grouped into the following areas: 1) Making Informed Financial Choices, 2) Components of a Solid Financial Plan, 3) Managing Financial Products and 4) Money Skills for Teens & Tweens. There will also be a workshop room dedicated to Spanish speakers. These workshops will be led by experts in the field. Attendees may register in advance for credit report analysis, mortgage assessments and one-on-one personal finance advice.
“We want our communities to understand how their dollars can serve them before it leaves their hands,” said Jennifer Holder, Communications and Special Projects Manager for CNE. “In order to understand money, you must understand how to manage it, know how it works in real-world applications, in addition to growing your own stability and security. We believe that Money School will help the public gain confidence with their financial decisions and goal setting.”
The goal of Money School is to help Chattanoogans improve their understanding of financial concepts and services so they are empowered to make informed choices and take action to improve their present and long-term financial well being.
At Money School 2016, 100 percent of survey respondents said they were more knowledgeable about financial products and feel more confident in knowing the steps to achieve financial security. In addition, 88 percent of respondents set new financial goals such as paying off credit card, school or other debts, diversifying investments and setting retirement, estate and long term care plans.
Sponsors of the event include Volkswagen Chattanooga, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Community Trust, First Tennessee Bank, Pinnacle Bank, BB&T Bank, CFA Society of East Tennessee, Grant, Konvalinka & Harrison, Citizens Tri-County Bank, EPB Fiber Optics, Synovus Bank, Atlantic Capital Bank, Chestnut Street Properties, Chambliss, Bahner and Stophel, P.C., Henderson, Hutcherson and McCullough, PLLC, Hair Benders Internationale Salon, Real Estate Partners, and SolomonWood Financial Advisors. In addition to CNE, local organizations participating in the day include Common Cents Financial Literacy, Consumer Credit Counseling Service, Empower Chattanooga, The Company Lab (CO.LAB), LAUNCH, SCORE, Erlanger Health Systems, DRW Financial, Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation, UTC Financial Wellness Center, Operation HOPE, Change Your $tory, US Small Business Administration, Chattanooga Public Libraries, Bridge Financial Planning, BrightBridge Women’s Center, A Step Ahead Foundation, Lee Prichard of Edward Jones, Gary Hathaway of New York Life Insurance Company, Mapped Out Money, Faith and Finances, Christ United Methodist Church, and more.
The BX – Brainerd Crossroads is located at 4011 Austin Street in Chattanooga. For more information about Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise’s Money School event, including the schedule, visit www.MoneySchoolCHA.org or call 423 756-6201.