FREE FINANCIAL EDUCATION EVENT AT WESTCHESTER COMMUNITY COLLEGE ON MARCH 10, FEATURING TODAY SHOW’S JEAN CHATZKY

In these challenging economic times, people need all the help they can get to keep their finances on track. That’s why Westchester Community College is offering area residents the chance to participate in Financial Education Day, a free financial conference on Saturday, March 10 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Gateway Center on the college’s Valhalla campus. 
 
Hosted by the college’s Center for Financial and Economic Education and the Westchester Community College Alumni Association, the conference will offer participants the chance to attend workshops presented by some of the Hudson Valley’s leading financial experts. Partnering with the college to organize this event is the Westchester Financial Education Alliance, which includes prominent community organizations including the United Way of Westchester and Putnam, the Financial Planning Association of the Greater Hudson Valley, and GreenPath Debt Solutions.
 
The conference, which features Jean Chatzky, personal finance commentator for NBC’s Today show. will address a wide range of questions that people confront on a daily basis. These issues include retirement planning, managing money, budgeting, and building economic security in the face of difficult times. “The Westchester Financial Education Alliance has joined us in holding this event because we all recognize the urgent need that many individuals and families in our community have for accurate and practical financial information,” says Suzanne Matthews, Director of the Center for Financial and Economic Education. “
 
The day begins at 8:30 a.m. with registration and continental breakfast, followed by the keynote address at 9:00 a.m. featuring Chatzky, an award-winning journalist. The program continues from 10 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. with eighteen hour-long workshops targeted to specific financial topics including planning for retirement, investing basics, estate planning, elder care, insurance, managing credit and debt, paying for college, and starting a business.

Presentations will be made by dynamic speakers from leading financial firms such as MetLife, JPMorgan Chase, Prudential, O’Connor Davies, and BNC Insurance & Risk Advisors. A session on financial benefits for Veterans will also be presented by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
 
Additionally, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p. m., there will be one-on-one consultations with professionals from the Financial Planning Association. Experienced professionals will be on hand to discuss specific questions or issues in individual sessions. This is an excellent opportunity for people to bring their documents, such as brokerage statements, 401(k) statements, insurance policies, and wills as they meet with a financial planner and get answers to important questions.
 
Sandford (Sandy) Wollman, Director of Pro Bono and Public Awareness for the Financial Planning Association/Greater Hudson Valley says, “We are pleased that so many of our members who are financial professionals have volunteered to be involved in the one-on-one consultations as well as making presentations. We realize that in today’s complex world, many people simply do not know where to go to get reliable financial advice.”
 
All of the information and advice offered at Financial Education Day is free, factual and unbiased. The services are on a “no-strings-attached” basis, and one-on-one consultations will be kept strictly confidential. Individuals may register online, by phone, or by showing up at the door on March 10.  However, since space is limited, participants are strongly encouraged to register in advance.  The Center for Financial and Economic Education at Westchester Community College is generously funded by the JPMorgan Chase Foundation.  Financial Education Day is also being underwritten by Met Life, BNC Insurance and Risk Advisors and Maier, Markey and Justic, LLP.
 
For registration and schedule go to: www.mysunywcc.org  and look for Financial Education Day on the calendar.  For further information or to register by phone, please call 914-606-5619.