This is a group of resources, which will hopefully be maintained, to help escape poverty and live a well balanced life.
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Financial (and other) Education
https://www.coursera.org/learn/financial-planning
https://www.coursera.org/learn/duke-behavioral-finance
https://www.khanacademy.org/college-careers-more/financial-literacy
https://www.udemy.com/course/financial-literacy-investing-101
https://www.purdue.edu/hhs/extension/planning-for-a-secure-retirement/
https://www.edx.org/learn/risk-management/indiana-university-planning-for-risk-and-retirement
https://www.skillshare.com/en/search?query=Financial
https://alison.com/courses?query=Financial%20literacy
https://fcaa.org/financial-education/
Useful Financial Sites
Find a Credit Union near you – A trusted service from an official website of the United States government (the National Credit Union Administration – no referral link). Simply enter your address or zip code to discover credit unions in your vicinity. As you explore, it’s essential to conduct thorough research on each credit union you find. Factors to consider include membership requirements (typically a nominal amount, ranging from $1 to $5 in your membership savings account), interest rates on various accounts, membership benefits, overdraft protection policies, fees, and other pertinent details. Make informed decisions by delving into the specifics of each credit union’s offerings.
Acorns – my referral link for Acorns, the investing platform. By using this link, you’ll receive a $5.00 starting bonus. Additionally, if several people join within a specified time frame, there’s potential for me to receive a bonus investment. Acorns provides a variety of investment options. Acorns Invest allows you to invest in their fund, which has yielded a 16% return on my long-term investment as of 11/16/2023. ( UPDATE: I started investing with Acorns in late 2018, and as of 11/21/2023, my return is up to 17% ) You also have the option to diversify into individual stocks. Acorns Later offers a standard IRA, and though the returns have been modest since I transferred my funds a few months ago, it’s worth considering for long-term goals. I also take advantage of their checking account, complete with a debit card. This feature rounds up my purchases automatically, directing the spare change into my Invest account. Acorns supports Direct Deposit, and my employer makes it convenient to allocate percentages to my Bills checking, Acorns (everyday) checking, and Household checking accounts with this option.
Credit Karma – https://www.creditkarma.com/ – This site was so good, Intuit bought them – and I still use it. The site helps you keep track of your credit score, offering tips on improving it. They make their money by advertising loans, credit cards, insurance and other financial services – which may actually be useful, as you can see your odds of approval, interest rates and other important things all in one place. They also offer an online checking account. ( No referral link )
NerdWallet – Your All-in-One Financial Hub. NerdWallet is a comprehensive platform that seamlessly blends financial tracking with educational resources. While offering valuable insights into your financial health, it generates revenue by offering referrals to credit cards, loans, and other financial products. The site may provide your TransUnion credit score, adding an extra layer of financial awareness. To track your finances effectively, integrate all your online accounts, utilizing the Plaid system for seamless linking (for all accounts that work with Plaid). NerdWallet then furnishes detailed reports on your financial well-being. Beyond tracking, the platform enriches your financial knowledge with a wealth of articles and tips, empowering you to master your financial life. ( No referral link )
Emotional and Life Resources
https://discpersonalitytesting.com/free-disc-test/
https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test
https://discpersonalitytesting.com/free-disc-test/
https://foundationforwellbeing.org/
https://www.7cups.com/ – I use 7 Cups for anonymous peer chat and “listener” sessions when I feel the need to talk to somebody about things that are troubling me. The site also offers professional therapy.
For After you have a good handle on your finances and want to grow a little more
Robinhood – my referral link for Robinhood, a commission-free investing platform. By using this link, you’ll receive a free random stock, and I’ll receive one as well. While most rewards are valued at $5, there’s a chance, albeit rare, for larger rewards, with 1-in-100 customers potentially getting at least $10 and 1-in-1,000 having the opportunity to receive $200. The referral program allows you to earn up to $1,500 per year for referring friends. It’s crucial to note that investing involves risk, especially when dealing with stocks and funds, unless you make well-informed choices. Robinhood offers features like options trading, but my personal strategy involves selecting high-dividend stocks for a stable foundation and choosing a few stocks based on personal preference, hoping for their success. My total portfolio is currently under $3,000, and I regularly contribute a small amount each month through automated buys of my existing stocks. Robinhood supports fractional investing, allowing you to purchase partial shares, which is beneficial for dividend reinvestment. If you’re confident in your investment knowledge, Robinhood is a good platform to start with. Additionally, they offer checking and savings accounts, with Gold (paid) membership providing a higher interest rate (But remember from the book, that you need to maintain a high balance to pay for the membership fee). As of this posting (11/16/2023) my return is at -5.25% – so, make sure you can spare whatever you invest.
If you need a financial planner – search at https://www.napfa.org/ or https://connect.xyplanningnetwork.com/find-an-advisor ; then check them out at https://www.sec.gov/check-your-investment-professional – you can also use : https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/how-to-hire-financial-advisor-if-you-arent-rich/
Other resources worth giving a look:
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/commonly-confused-words/ and https://www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/7-pairs-of-commonly-confused-words/their-there-they2019re
