The Financial Planning Association of New York is kicking off their National Financial Planning Week this weekend. Partnering once again with the School of Continuing and Professional Studies, they will be hosting the 10th Annual Financial Fitness Workshop in Vanderbilt Hall on Saturday, Sept 29.
Starting at 8 a.m. and lasting until 5:30 p.m., the public event will feature certified financial planners and attorneys from around New York to lead 16 sessions in four one-hour time slots. The sessions will focus on a variety of topics, including creating a financial plan, understanding credit scores and maximizing social security benefits. The seminars will span every experience level in financial planning.
“This is a community-based event,” said SCPS assistant director Debbie Saccoccio, who served on the workshop planning committee. “We will teach any person that comes to the workshop about financial planning.”
While most students are not thinking about investments or planning for retirement, what might spark their interest is a free session titled “Managing Your Student Loan Debt.” This session begins at 2 p.m. in the Tishman Auditorium and will be led by retired New York State judge and current SCPS adjunct professor, Rhea Friedman. Students can expect to receive expert advice on understanding different types loans, making a plan for paying them back and what do to if they default on a loan. There will also be information about government tax credits and deductions for education.
The free student session is a relatively new addition to the Financial Fitness Workshop, which was first offered last year as an event specifically geared towards students.
“There was a discussion about how we could tie the financial workshop to our student body,” Saccoccio said. “Something that would be free for the students to get them involved.”
The committee decided to add the free session about the basics of financial planning for students to learn about managing their finances. This year’s topic was based off suggestions from current and former students serving on the planning committee.
According to event chair and FPANY director for Public Awareness Martha Pierce, turnout was satisfactorily high.
“We had a number of students that went to the entire workshop,” Pierce said. “They took advantage of it and were quite happy.”
To attend the workshop in its entirety, register on the FPANY website or at the door on Saturday — but credit cards will not be accepted at the door. NYU students, faculty and staff also have the benefit of paying a discounted price of $30 per ticket. Breakfast and lunch will be provided event, and all net profits will be donated to Project Renewal, a charity that helps the homeless in New York City.
Deborah Lubanga is a contributing writer. Email her at [email protected].
