A product of the U.S. Department of the Treasury

Taking Ownership 

of the Future

Quick Reference Guide

2006

The National Strategy for Financial Literacy



Letter from the Secretary

April 4, 2006

The economic leadership of President George W. Bush has made 

this a time of terrific economic growth in America. Because of the 

President’s pro-growth policies, Americans are keeping more of what 

they make, millions of jobs have been created, and homeownership 

is at an all time high. With good economic times comes an increased 

level of economic independence and more Americans every day know 

the pride of ownership. Ownership of one’s home, secure health care 

and a sound retirement savings all contribute to an individual’s sense 

of security and empowerment. The financial security that comes from 

owning something affords Americans the opportunity to plan for the 

years ahead, and when people feel they have a stake in the future, they 

build stronger families, stronger communities, and a stronger America.

With the power of ownership goes the power of financial knowledge; 

the two are inextricably linked. Americans can only manage their money 

and other assets if they understand what they own, and they are better 

able to improve their own economic situations if they understand the 

basics of finance. Our robust marketplace for financial services provides 

the American consumer with a multitude of choices. Making the right 

choices requires a certain level of financial literacy. That is why financial 

education is one of the pillars supporting the President’s vision of an 

ownership society and it is why I am delighted to submit this document.

Taking Ownership of the Future: The National Strategy for Financial Literacy

(Strategy) is the game plan for improving financial education in 

America. The Strategy was called for by the Fair and Accurate Credit 

Transactions (FACT) Act of 2003, which also directed the Treasury 

Department to lead a group of 19 other federal agencies, officially 

called the Financial Literacy and Education Commission (Commission), 

in an effort to help Americans learn more about their money. In 

addition, the Treasury Department is issuing this Quick Reference 

Guide, which offers readers a brief summary of the Strategy’s tactics 

and calls to action, as well as a list of financial education resources. 
Since 2004, the Treasury Department has been working closely 

with our partner agencies to implement the FACT Act and improve 

financial education in America. In 2004, the Commission launched 

a one-stop shop for free financial education publications from the 

federal government. Now Americans can visit MyMoney.gov or call 

1-888-MyMoney to access helpful financial education materials 

in both English and Spanish. Today, the Commission takes the 

next important step with the submission of the Strategy.

The Strategy looks at a variety of important topics such as 

homeownership, credit management, retirement savings, and 

many other issues and describes the challenges and the solutions. 

Sometimes the solutions come from Federal government, but 

often non-profit organizations, businesses, and other private sector 

players provide important resources for those wishing to learn more 

about financial matters. The Strategy also encourages Americans 

to take advantage of the many tools to help them save money to 

buy a home, properly plan for retirement, or better manage their 

monthly household income. Finally, the Strategy puts forward 

examples of financial education programs that community leaders, 

business people, and volunteers can all look to as they design 

programs of their own to enhance financial literacy. The Quick 

Reference Guide contains more information on these programs. 

Our goal is to make people more aware of the importance of 

financial education and challenge organizations across the country 

to help Americans become more financially literate so they can 

take ownership of their futures. I invite you to join this effort.

Sincerely,

John W. Snow

Secretary of the Treasury
Executive Summary

A product of the U.S. Department of the Treasury

Improving financial literacy has the 

potential to improve the lives of millions 

of Americans. Congress passed the Fair 

and Accurate Credit Transactions (FACT) 

Act in 2003 and included Title V which 

established the Financial Literacy and 

Education Commission made up of 20 

federal agencies. On December 4, 2003, 

President George W. Bush signed the 

FACT Act into law. The law’s charge 

for the Commission was to “improve 

the financial literacy and education of 

persons in the United States through 

development of a national strategy.”1 

Financial education can help people own 

a home, live a comfortable retirement, 

finance an education for themselves or 

their children, avoid fraud, and generally 

make the most of the numerous choices 

afforded by our modern marketplace of 

financial products and services. However 

uninformed choices can be dangerous. 

That is why the ultimate goal of this Strategy

is to empower individuals to choose wisely.

The Strategy recognizes that the 

infrastructure of financial education can 

only be erected with the cooperation 

of three builders: the government, the 

private sector, and the individual. Each 

of these “builders” has its role. The 

government can regulate the financial 

marketplace and provide information for 

consumers. The private sector, including 

for-profit and non-profit organizations, 

can use its expertise, resources, and 

positioning to provide financial literacy 

programs. Individuals can take an interest 

in managing their finances and use the 

information and programs provided by the 

government and private sector to improve 

their lives and those of their loved ones. 

No one of these groups can succeed in 

assembling a financial education system 

alone. Yet mere cooperation without 

coordination is not enough. Therefore all 

three of these players must work together 

to assemble a national infrastructure for 

financial education under a common 

blueprint. The Strategy provides such a 

blueprint. The Strategy’s blueprint is firm 

enough to give general direction, but 

flexible enough to allow different players 

to chose their own roles in enhancing 

financial education. The Strategy is a 

blueprint that is intended for the private 

sector, individuals, and government. 

The private sector can use the Strategy’s 

definition of the challenges and the best 

practices as tools to focus and design 

future efforts. Individuals can use some 

of the resources listed to better manage 

their financial affairs. Government 

policymakers can use the Strategy to frame 

their analyses on financial literacy matters.

Each chapter recommends one or more 

Calls to Action – proposals for next 

steps for further development of our 

financial education infrastructure. Most 

of the proposals call upon the Federal 

government to take steps to raise the 

level of financial literacy. Some of these 

proposals call upon the private sector to 

expand their involvement in financial 

education. Other proposals suggest steps 

individuals should take for themselves 

to enhance their financial knowledge.

Executive Summary

1 Section 513 (b), Title V, Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, 2003
Executive Summary

A product of the U.S. Department of the Treasury

Purpose

Beyond meeting a statutory requirement, 

there are three major purposes to the 

Strategy. First, the document is designed to 

identify issues within the field of financial 

education. This will assist policymakers 

and practitioners alike as they assess the 

national level of financial literacy. Second, 

the Strategy proposes solutions — in some 

cases by suggesting specific steps and 

in other cases by offering examples of 

programs with features that should be 

replicated by organizations wishing to 

spread financial literacy. Third, the Strategy

seeks to advance the national conversation 

on financial education. Improving financial 

literacy requires first awareness and then 

action in government, in the private sector, 

and among individuals. Therefore, the 

Strategy is designed to serve as a discussion 

piece, an action plan, and, in time, a 

rallying point for those advocating for 

greater financial literacy in America. 

Structure and Organization of 

the Strategy

In developing the Strategy, the 

Commission focused on 13 different 

topics for addressing the wide range 

of financial issues Americans face. 

Topic Areas

The Strategy contains 13 subject-specific 

chapters. The Strategy begins with an 

examination of general savings issues in 

Chapter 1. To transform the time-honored 

American dream of owning one’s own 

home into an achievable reality, Chapter 

2 of the Strategy addresses the topic of 

homeownership. As Social Security benefits 

alone may not allow Americans to maintain 

their pre-retirement financial standing, 

Chapter 3 addresses the need to properly 

attend to their future financial well being. 

Chapters 4 through 7 of the Strategy address 

important financial applications such as 

credit, consumer protection, taxpayer 

rights, and investor protection. Chapters 

8 through 10 focus on key audience 

sectors that require targeted financial 

education, including the unbanked and 

multicultural populations, and K-12 and 

postsecondary students. Finally, chapters 

11 through 13 of the Strategy address 

important organizational and logistic 

topics, such as program evaluation and 

improvement, coordination efforts, 

and the international perspective.

Each chapter contains an overview of 

the topic, a discussion of the challenges 

and issues specific to that topic, and 

illustrations of potential solutions to 

address those challenges. Additionally, 

each chapter concludes with one or 

more calls to action which are keyed 

to one or more of five basic tactics 

for financial literacy, listed below. 

Overviews

Each chapter begins with an 

introduction to the current 

landscape of the respective topic. 

This section will set the stage for an 

in-depth treatment of the subject 

matter. The overviews discuss recent 

developments in that subject area, 

describe economic impacts of the current 

situation continuing as the status quo, 

and provide quantitative data from 

secondary research that illustrates the 

current state of affairs in a tangible way. 
Executive Summary

A product of the U.S. Department of the Treasury

Challenges

While the Overview frames the discussion, 

the Challenges section actually paints the 

picture of the problems Americans are 

having with this financial topic. Only when 

such challenges are accurately identified 

can effective solutions be proposed.

Issues and Solutions

The Issues section looks at the challenges 

identified in the previous section through 

the lens of financial education. This 

section then describes actual financial 

education programs that help Americans 

meet these challenges. The Federal 

government programs are mentioned 

so readers can make use of them to 

assist with their financial affairs. The 

non-Federal government programs are 

discussed generically as illustrations of 

programs that are effectively addressing 

the topic of the chapter. These programs 

are included as models for those readers 

wishing to establish or improve their 

own financial education programs. 

While the essential elements of the cited 

programs are described in the respective 

chapters of the Strategy, the programs’ 

names are not listed (with the exception of 

Federal government programs). Readers 

wishing to learn more about any of the 

programs listed can find the name of 

the program and contact information 

in this document—the Treasury’s Quick 

Reference Guide. By listing programs by 

name, the Quick Reference Guide gives the 

reader the ability to research each of these 

programs for further information on the 

initiative described or to directly reach 

out to the organizers of the program. 

Calls to Action

Each chapter of the Strategy calls for 

specific actions to improve financial 

literacy for all Americans. Each of these 

Calls to Action may be directed to the 

Federal government, the private sector, 

or to individuals. The 26 Calls to Action 

identify concrete steps that should be 

undertaken to meet the challenges 

identified in that chapter. Each Call to 

Action is associated with a tactic or tactics 

described below. These five tactics occur 

in different combinations and are broad 

methods or approaches for addressing 

the various financial education issues 

described in the chapter. In the Strategy, 

each Call to Action is found at the end 

of its respective chapter. A complete list 

of all the Calls to Action is included at 

the end of this Quick Reference Guide. 

As referenced above, the Commission 

found certain fundamental approaches 

to improving financial literacy that cut 

across subject areas. These five specific 

tactics are considered the “Who, What, 

Where, When, and How” of raising the 

level of financial literacy for all Americans. 

The tactics are essential to replicating 

the success of the programs cited and to 

implementing the Strategy’s Calls to Action. 

Who?

Tailor Messages to 

Target Audience

Because improving the financial literacy of 

Americans is an action that cannot occur 

using a “one-size-fits-all” approach, effective 

Targeting
Executive Summary

A product of the U.S. Department of the Treasury

Where? 

Build Public 

Awareness

The public space is a prime place in which 

to build public awareness of financial 

literacy issues. The effective use of print, 

radio, and television public service 

announcements; Internet resources; 

community outreach activities; and local, 

state, and national partnerships, enhance 

the ability of public outreach campaigns 

to educate consumers on key financial 

issues while pointing them toward effective 

information, resources and learning 

opportunities in their local communities. 

When?

Use Teachable Moments 

in Individuals’ Lives and 

Integrate Financial Education 

into the Core Curriculum

The target for sound financial 

management practices crosses youth 

and adult sectors. For adults, ‘teachable 

moments’ can include preparing for the 

purchase of an automobile (saving and 

budgeting), applying for a mortgage 

(credit history and credit scores), or 

enrolling in a retirement savings plan 

when starting a new job (retirement 

and investing issues). For youth, the 

Strategy stresses the importance of 

integrating financial concepts into K-

12 and postsecondary curricula. For 

example, integrating personal finance 

concepts such as how to manage a 

budget or balance a checkbook into core 

outreach and education efforts require 

message development that is tailored to 

particular audiences. This is particularly 

important when communicating with 

key demographics, including seniors, 

youth, the unbanked, multicultural 

populations, those in geographically 

remote locations, and consumers with 

special needs. Materials and resources 

should target the unique needs of each 

audience sector. Financial literacy and 

education materials and messages that 

fail to consider the specialized needs of 

each audience risk failing to connect 

with the very people whom the financial 

education resources are intended to serve. 

What?

Produce and Distribute 

Quality Materials

Production and dissemination of highquality educational materials gives 

consumers the relevant information 

they need on the many topics related 

to financial literacy. Distribution efforts 

should tap into organizations and 

dissemination channels that are trusted by, 

highly visible within, and routinely accessed 

by each particular community. In addition, 

the Strategy emphasizes the importance 

of translating research into practice. 

Financial education programs should 

strive to incorporate methods resulting 

from academic research to assess the 

effectiveness of their programs. For 

educators, these routine assessments 

ensure the ability to produce and distribute 

quality, evidence-based materials; for 

consumers, they offer a measure of 

confidence about the effectiveness of 

a given financial literacy program.

Quality

Materials

Public

Awareness

Teachable

Moments
Executive Summary

A product of the U.S. Department of the Treasury

Partnering

mathematics curricula, or adding sound 

credit card management practices to a 

family and consumer science curricula, 

places real-world applications in an 

academic setting. For both adults and 

youth these teachable moments provide 

a unique opportunity to reach people 

when they may be the most receptive. 

How? 

Tap into Public-Private 

and Private-Private 

Partnerships

No one entity can single-handedly 

improve financial literacy in America. To 

the contrary, many of the most effective 

education and skills-building activities 

are those currently led by entities 

forming a partnership. An essential 

part of the Strategy is to tap into the 

tremendous potential of public-private 

and private-private partnerships to help 

equip consumers with financial skills.

The Strategy extends a charge to all 

Americans — the Federal government 

and the private sector, including forprofit and non-profit organizations 

— to work in partnership to accomplish 

some of its Calls to Action. Across the 

spectrum of important financial literacy 

and education initiatives, successful 

partnerships have demonstrated the ability 

to reach key audiences, to tap into local 

distribution channels, and to expand 

access to financial education programs. 

Conclusion

The Commission’s National Strategy 

for Financial Literacy provides useful 

analysis and important proposals for 

raising the level of financial literacy in 

America. The Treasury’s Quick Reference 

Guide offers a convenient list of calls 

to action and a helpful resource list of 

the programs referenced in the Strategy. 

Both documents can be used together 

by readers to understand the challenges 

and to take part in the solutions in 

the ongoing effort to make Americans 

more financially literate and help them 

take ownership of their futures. 
Financial Literacy Checklist

A product of the U.S. Department of the Treasury

Financial Literacy Checklist

Check ( ̧) Calls to Action:

Key Action Steps Chapters 1-13

General Saving

Implementation Tactics: Public Awareness, Targeted Message

1-1. In the first quarter of 2006, the Treasury Department will partner with a 

non-profit organization to develop and implement a PSA on the benefits 

of lifetime savings and the savings resources available on the Financial 

Literacy and Education Commission’s Web site, MyMoney.gov. 

1-2. Organizations advocating for increased saving should augment their general 

communication approach with customized messages addressing the interests of 

members of specific age groups, geographic communities, and economic levels.

Homeownership

Implementation Tactics: Partnerships

2-1. Between the second quarter of 2006 and the second quarter of 2007, 

the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will join with 

the Treasury Department to host a series of meetings highlighting the 

work of successful partnerships that have advanced homeownership.

2-2. Lenders and other businesses should partner with grassroots 

organizations to provide financial education on buying a home and 

one-on-one counseling to demystify the home buying process.

Retirement Savings

Implementation Tactics: Partnerships, Integration

3-1. In 2006, the Treasury Department and the Department of Labor will cohost a roundtable with large employers on retirement saving. Topics 

will include successful strategies in integrating the delivery of financial 

education into the workplace and other options for increasing participation 

and contributions in private pensions, such as automatic enrollment. 

3-2. The Small Business Administration (SBA), the Department of Labor, and 

the Treasury Department are committed to conducting outreach to small 

businesses, and will continue to offer valuable resources on retirement options 

to small firms. The SBA will make available specific information for small 
Financial Literacy Checklist

A product of the U.S. Department of the Treasury

businesses on general retirement issues by providing an online training link 

that will be available on www.MyMoney.gov by the second quarter of 2006. 

Credit

Implementation Tactics: Public Awareness, Integration

4-1. The U.S. Department of the Treasury will launch a multi-media campaign in 

the third quarter of 2006 to seek to improve credit literacy among consumers. 

The campaign also will invite Americans to get information about managing 

consumer credit at MyMoney.gov. By accessing the Web site, Americans 

can learn more about credit history, credit reporting, and credit scoring.

4-2. Consumers should take advantage of the credit management tools 

available to them such as the free annual credit reports, available at 

www.annualcreditreport.com and 1-877-322-8228. Consumers should 

review the information in their report, understand how it is used, and 

know how to detect errors and possible instances of identity theft.

4-3. Consumer lenders should use their unique expertise and existing distribution 

channels to promote credit education among their customers and the public 

at large. Useful efforts might include development and distribution of credit 

education materials, support for reputable credit counseling or financial 

education efforts, referrals to credit education resources, or creation and 

maintenance of other financial education programs. Efforts may focus 

on adults or youth, but such financial education efforts should be easily 

distinguishable from marketing efforts from the consumer’s perspective.

4-4. Consumers should seek reputable credit counseling services early, 

when financial problems start, to avoid potential bankruptcy. Lenders 

and social service organizations should refer consumers to reputable 

credit counseling services at the onset of financial difficulties.

Consumer Protection

Implementation Tactics: Public Awareness, Partnerships, Quality Materials

5-1. Americans should learn more about preventing and recovering 

from identity theft through the use of Federal government 

materials. The media, private companies and non-profits can 

help with the Federal government’s efforts to raise awareness by 

directing consumers to MyMoney.gov and www.consumer.gov.

5-2. In the first quarter of 2006, the Treasury Department will make the DVD, 

entitled “Identity Theft: Outsmarting the Crooks,” available to the public 

through the MyMoney.gov Web site and the 1-888-MyMoney toll-free hotline. 
10 Financial Literacy Checklist

A product of the U.S. Department of the Treasury

Taxpayer Rights

Implementation Tactics: Public Awareness, Partnerships, Quality Materials

6-1. Community groups including social service organizations, professional 

organizations, and faith-based organizations should take advantage 

of the IRS’s Voluntary Income Tax Assistance program. 

6-2. In 2006, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and a Federal Reserve 

Bank will continue the national public education campaign, “Go 

Direct.” The campaign is designed to encourage Americans who 

receive Federal benefit payments, particularly Social Security, to 

use direct deposit. On an annual basis, the program will be assessed 

by the agencies to determine its effectiveness and viability.

6-3. The Department of Health and Human Services will continue its public 

awareness campaign on the new Medicare drug benefit that encourages 

seniors to enroll in the program. The public awareness campaign began on 

November 15, 2005 and continues until May 16, 2006. The campaign provides 

eligible taxpayers with easy access to information regarding enrollment.

Investor Protection

Implementation Tactics: Quality Materials, Public Awareness

7-1. Investors should take advantage of the wealth of high quality, 

neutral, and unbiased information offered free of charge.

7-2. During the meeting hosted by the Treasury Department and the U.S. 

Department of Labor (see 3-1), the topics of discussion will include an 

educational emphasis on investment fees. Attendees will discuss how to 

present information on fees in a clear and understandable manner. 

The Unbanked

Implementation Tactics: Quality Materials, Partnerships

8-1. Between the second quarter of 2006 and the third quarter of 2007, the 

U.S. Department of the Treasury, along with the Federal Deposit Insurance 

Corporation, the National Credit Union Administration, and the Office of the 

Comptroller of the Currency, will host a series of four regional conferences to 

share best practices on banking of the unbanked. The conferences will bring 

together community-based organizations, financial service providers, and 

Federal, state and local regulators to broker partnerships and discuss the latest 

developments and strategies in bringing people into the financial mainstream. 
Financial Literacy Checklist 11

A product of the U.S. Department of the Treasury

Multicultural/Multilingual Populations

Implementation Tactics: Public Awareness, Targeting

9-1. Between the fourth quarter of 2006 and the fourth quarter of 2007, 

the Treasury Department will host a series of roundtables on financial 

education topics of special concern to specific communities. The goal 

of each roundtable will be to raise awareness of the important financial 

education topics within the specific community highlighted. 

K–Postsecondary Education

Implementation Tactics: Partnerships, Integration, Quality Materials

10-1. In 2006, the U.S. Department of the Treasury will partner with the Department 

of Education to host a summit focused on integration of financial education 

into the core school curriculum. The group also will survey promising 

practices in financial education and in teacher training in an effort to assist 

others who are starting or enhancing programs. This public meeting will 

bring together policymakers, educators, and other leaders in the fields of 

general education and financial literacy. Findings from this summit will be 

made available to educators and policymakers throughout the nation. 

10-2. Teachers, parents, and youth organizations should make greater use 

of the wealth of free and low-cost materials available on a variety of 

financial education topics through national clearinghouses.

10-3. Postsecondary institutions should consider ways to raise the 

financial literacy levels of their students to help them avoid financial 

hardship due to mismanagement of credit and money.

Academic Research and Program Evaluation

Implementation Tactics: Public Awareness, Quality Materials

11-1. The Treasury Department along with the Department of Agriculture 

Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service will 

convene a symposium of researchers who specialize in financial education 

between the third quarter of 2006 and the third quarter of 2007. The 

goal of the symposium is to raise awareness of existing academic research 

and to define questions that require additional analysis. The symposium 

will result in a White Paper that will survey current financial education 

research and will also identify areas of potential future research. 
12 Financial Literacy Checklist

A product of the U.S. Department of the Treasury

Coordination

Implementation Tactic: Public Awareness

12-1. The Financial Literacy and Education Commission will continue to 

enhance the Web site, MyMoney.gov, to make it more comprehensive 

and interactive. The Commission will also work with other 

organizations to promote the awareness and use of the Web site. 

12-2. Every six months the GSA and the Treasury Department will partner to 

survey Federal financial literacy and education programs and resources 

to identify potential overlap and duplication. The results of this 

survey will be put in report form and will be submitted to Commission 

members, with the first report to be issued in September 2006.

International Perspective

Implementation Tactic: Partnerships

13-1. Between the third quarter of 2006 and the second quarter of 2007, 

the Treasury Department will host an international summit on 

financial education. To bring about this multi-national dialogue the 

Treasury Department will invite the central government authorities 

responsible for financial literacy in their respective nations to convene 

and discuss recent developments, innovative methods, and successful 

strategies for improving financial literacy in their home countries. 
Resources 13

A product of the U.S. Department of the Treasury

Program Resources

The purpose of including these non-Federal governmental programs was to give specific, 

concrete examples of financial education efforts that specifically illustrate the issues 

discussed in each chapter. The U.S. Government, including the Financial Literacy and 

Education Commission and its member agencies, does not endorse the non-Federal 

governmental entities listed in this Quick Reference Guide, nor does it guarantee in 

any way the services, advice, or products provided by non-Federal governmental entities 

mentioned in this report. With regard to the Web site addresses that appear in this 

report that are created and maintained by non-Federal governmental entities, the United 

States Government, including the Financial Literacy and Education Commission and its 

member agencies, does not endorse, approve, certify, or control those external sites and 

does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, efficacy, or timeliness of the information 

contained on them. Moreover, the programs listed in the Quick Reference Guide are, by 

no means, an exhaustive list of programs that have a positive impact on financial literacy, 

and are intended to be used for illustrative purposes within the topical chapters. 
14 Resources

A product of the U.S. Department of the Treasury

Financial Education Resources List

Organization/

Name of Project Address Telephone Web site Chapter/Page #

America Saves 1620 Eye Street, # 200

Washington, DC 20006

202-387-6121 www.americasaves.org General Saving 3

ASEC/

Choose to Save 

2121 K Street, NW, # 600

Washington D.C. 20037

202-659-0670 www.choosetosave.org General Saving 3

National Association of 

Insurance Commissioners

2301 McGee Street, # 800

Kansas City, MO 64108

212-398-9000 www.naic.org General Saving 3

USDA Cooperative 

Extension State Research, 

Education and Extension 

Service/Financial Security 

in Later Life

1400 Independence Ave., SW

Washington, DC 20250-2201 

202-720-7441 www.csrees.usda.gov/

nea/economics/fsll/fsll.

html

General Saving 6

Department of Defense/

Military Saves

1620 Eye Street, NW, # 200, 

Washington, DC 20006

202-387-6121 http://www.

americasaves.org/

national/military.asp

General Saving 6

Tower Federal Credit 

Union

P.O. Box 123

Annapolis Junction, MD 20701

800-787-8328 www.towerfcu.org Homeownership 11

NeighborWorks America 1325 G Street, NW, # 800 

Washington, DC 20005

202-220-2300 www.nw.org Homeownership 11

Navajo Partnership for 

Housing

State Highway 264 Street 

St. Michaels, AZ 86511

928-810-3112 www.navajopartnershipforhousing.org Homeownership 12

Navy Federal Credit Union P.O. Box 3000 

Merrifield, VA 22119

800-368-3657 www.navyfcu.org Homeownership 12

Department of Housing 

and Urban Development/ 

Housing Counseling 

Agencies

451 7th Street, SW

Washington, DC 20410

800-569-4287 http://www.hud.gov/

offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/

hccprof14.cfm

Homeownership 13

Columbus Housing 

Partnership

562 E. Main St. 

Columbus, OH 43215

614-221-8889 www.chpcolumbus.org Homeownership 13

Department of Housing 

and Urban Development/

Neighborhood Networks

451 7th Street, SW

Washington, DC 20410

202-708-1112 www.hud.gov/offices/

hsg/mfh/nnw/nnwindex.

cfm

Homeownership 14

Montana Home 

Ownership Network

509 1st Avenue South

Great Falls, MT 59401

406-761-5861 www.nwgreatfalls.org Homeownership 16

Sacramento Mutual 

Housing Association

3451 5th Avenue 

Sacramento, CA 95817

916-453-8400 www.mutualhousing.

com

Homeownership 16

Mission of Peace and 

Housing Counseling 

Agency

877 E. 5th Avenue 

Flint, MI, 48503

810-232-0104 www.missionofpeace.

com/

Homeownership 16

Social Security 

Administration/

 Social Security Statement

Located by geographical area 800-772-1213 www.ssa.gov/

mystatement/

Retirement 

Saving

 22
Resources 15

A product of the U.S. Department of the Treasury

Organization/

Name of Project Address Telephone Web site Chapter/Page #

Department of Labor/

National Summit on 

Retirement Savings

200 Constitution Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20210

866-444-3272 www.saversummit.dol.

gov/

Retirement 

Saving

 22

UPS 55 Glenlake Parkway, NE

Atlanta, GA 30328

404-828-6000 https://ups.managehr.

com/benefits/

compensation.html

Retirement 

Saving

 24

Weyerhaeuser 33663 Weyerhaeuser Way S.

Federal Way, WA 98003

800-525-5440 http://www.

weyerhaeuser.com/

careers/rewards/

#compensation

Retirement 

Saving

 24

PricewaterhouseCoopers 300 Madison Avenue

New York, NY10017

646-471-4000 http://www.pwc.com/

Extweb/service.nsf/docid/

42BA0BCF785403

D585256B1F0056D97F

Retirement 

Saving

 24

Thrift Savings Plan P.O. Box 385021

Birmingham, AL 35238

866-817-5023 www.tsp.gov Retirement 

Saving

 25

AICPA/360 Degrees of 

Financial Literacy

1211 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10036

212-596-6200 http://www.aicpa.org/

financialliteracy/index.

asp

Retirement 

Saving

 26

Federal Trade 

Commission/ Your Access 

to Free Credit Reports

PO Box 105283

Atlanta, GA 30348-5283

877-322-8228 www.annualcreditreport.

com

Credit 34

HealthAmerica Credit 

Union

9790 Touchton Road

Jacksonville, FL 32246-8227

904-296-1292 www.healthamericacu.

com

Credit 34

HSBC P.O. Box 442 

Mt. Prospect IL 60056

847-564-6110 www.yourcreditcounts.

com

Credit 35

Operation Hope 707 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 3030 

Los Angeles, CA 90017

213-891-2900 www.operationhope.org Credit 36

Federal Trade Commission: 

ID Theft: What’s It All 

About? 

600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20580

877-438-4338 www.consumer.gov/

idtheft

Consumer

Protection

 43

U.S. Postal Inspection 

Service: Identity Crisis 

DVD

1735 N. Lynn St

10th Floor

Arlington, VA 22209-2020

800-782-6724 www.usps.com/

postalinspectors/

dvdorder.htm

Consumer

Protection

 44

Attorney General's Office 

of Florida (seniors vs. 

crime)

State of Florida

The Capitol PL-01

Tallahassee, FL 32399

 800-203-3099 http://www.

seniorsvscrime.com/

Consumer 

Protection 

 46

Attorney General's Office 

of Kentucky (Senior Crime 

College)

Office of the Attorney General

700 Capitol Avenue, #118

Frankfort, KY 40601

502-696-5300 http://www.ag.ky.gov/

seniors.htm

Consumer 

Protection 

 47

Internal Revenue Service: 

Voluntary Income Tax 

Assistance Program

Located by geographical area 800-829-1040 http://www.irs.gov/

newsroom/article/

0,,id=108104,00.html

Taxpayer Rights 51

National Disability 

Institute/TAX FACTS

1725 Eye St., NW, Suite. 600

Washington, DC 20006

202-336-7680 www.mastermymoney.

org

Taxpayer Rights 53
16 Resources

A product of the U.S. Department of the Treasury

Organization/

Name of Project Address Telephone Web site Chapter/Page #

Episcopal Social Services 233 S. St. Francis St.

Wichita, KN 67202

316-269-4160 www.esswichita.org Taxpayer Rights 54

Greater Miami Prosperity 

Campaign 

260 NE 17th Terrace, # 200 

Miami, FL 33132

305-576-5001 

ext.43

www.

prosperitycampaign.com

Taxpayer Rights 52

Internal Revenue Service: 

Taxpayer Advocate Service

Located by geographical area 877-777-4778 http://www.irs.gov/

advocate/index.html

Taxpayer Rights 52

USDA Cooperative 

Extension State Research, 

Education and Extension 

Service: Taxpayer 

Education and Outreach in 

Rural America

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Stop 2201

Washington, DC 20250-2201 

202-720-7441 http://www.csrees.

usda.gov/newsroom/

newsletters/

familyeconnews/

julyaug04news.html

Taxpayer Rights 53

Department of the 

Treasury: Go Direct

1500 Pennsylvania Ave., NW

Washington DC 20220

800-333-1795 www.godirect.org Taxpayer Rights 55

Medicare Prescription 

Drug Coverage

7500 Security Boulevard

Baltimore MD 21244

800-

MEDICARE

www.medicare.gov Taxpayer Rights 56

Securities and Exchange 

Commission: Investor 

Education Resources

100 F Street, NE

Washington, DC 20549

800-SEC-0330 http://www.sec.gov/

investor.shtml

Investor 

Protection

 60

Commodity Futures 

Trading Commissions

Three Lafayette Centre

1155 21st Street, NW

Washington DC 20581

202-418-5000 www.cftc.gov Investor 

Protection

 61

North American Securities 

Administrators Association

750 First Street, NE, # 1140 

Washington D.C. 20002

202-737-0900 www.nasaa.org Investor 

Protection

 61

Invest Ed First National Center

N. Robinson St.

Oklahoma City, OK 73102

405-280-7700 http://www.investedok.

org/

Investor 

Protection

 62

Investing for Success 1401 H. St. NW

Washington, D.C. 20005

202-326-5800 www.

investingforsuccess.org

Investor 

Protection

 62

Path to Investing 120 Broadway, 35th Floor

New York, NY 10271

Fax: 212-968-

0743

www.siainvestor.org Investor 

Protection

 63

Your Money, Your Life 919 18th St. NW Suite 300 

Washington D.C. 20006

202-775-2111 www.investorprotection.

org

Investor 

Protection

 62

Department of Labor: 

Fees in 401(k) Plans 

Frances Perkins Building

200 Constitution Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20210

866-444-3272 www.dol.gov/ebsa/

publications

Investor 

Protection

 64

National Association of 

Securities Dealers (NASD)

Investor Education 1735 K 

Street, NW

Washington, DC 2006

202-728-6964 http://www.nasd.com Investor 

Protection

 64

First Home Club Savings 

Account Program New York, NY 10178

212-441-6800 www.fhlbny.com Unbanked 69
Resources 17

A product of the U.S. Department of the Treasury

Organization/

Name of Project Address Telephone Web site Chapter/Page #

Tompkins Trust Company PO Box 460

Ithaca, NY 14851

888-273-3210 www.tompkinstrust.com Unbanked 70

Federal Deposit Insurance 

Corporation: Money 

Smart

550 17th Street, NW

Washington, DC 20429

877-275-3342 www.fdic.gov/

consumers/consumer/

moneysmart/index.html

Unbanked 70

Department of Health and 

Human Services: Assets 

for Independence Program

Office of Community Services 

901 D Street, SW, #500 West 

Washington, DC 20447

202-401-4626 www.acf.hhs.gov/

assetbuilding/

Unbanked 71

New Alliance Task Force/ 

Plazas Comunitarias 

550 17th Street, NW 

Washington D.C. 20249

877-275-3342 http://www.fdic.

gov/regulations/

examinations/

supervisory/insights/

siwin04/latino_mkt.html

Multicultural 77

Department of Labor: Las 

Mujeres y el Dinero

Women's Bureau

200 Constitution Avenue, NW

Room S-3002

Washington, DC 20210

800-827-5335 http://www.dol.gov/wb/

hisp.htm

Multicultural 77

Home Ownership Center 633 S. Concord Street, #250

St. Paul, MN 55075

651-659-9336 www.hocmn.org Multicultural 79

Government Employee 

Credit Union of El Paso, 

Texas 

7227 Viscount Blvd., 

El Paso, TX 79925

1-800-772-

GECU

www.gecu-ep.org Multicultural 78

Building Native 

Communities: Financial 

Skills for Families (First 

Nations Development 

Institute)

2300 Fall Hill Avenue, #412 

Fredericksburg, VA 22401 

540-371-5615 www.firstnations.org or

www.

fanniemaefoundation.

org/programs/native_

american.shtml 

Multicultural 80

Jump$tart 919 18th Street, NW, # 300

Washington, DC 20006

888-453-3828 www.jumpstart.org K – 

Postsecondary

 89

Department of the 

Treasury: Money Math

1500 Pennsylvania Ave., NW

Washington DC 20220

202-622-2000 www.publicdebt.

treas.gov/mar/

marmoneymath.htm.

K – 

Postsecondary

 86

Junior Achievement 1725 I St., NW, Suite 200

Washington, DC 20006

202-296-1200 www.myja.org K – 

Postsecondary 

Academic 

Research 

& Program 

Evaluation

 85

102

Wall Street Journal 

Classroom Edition

500 Woodward Ave., Suite1950

Detroit, MI 48226

800-544-0522 http://www.

wsjclassroomedition.

com/index.html 

K – 

Postsecondary

 86

National Institute of 

Financial Education and 

Economic Literacy

345 W. Washington Avenue

Madison, WI 53703

608-261-9555 www.wdfi.org K – 

Postsecondary

 88
18 Resources

A product of the U.S. Department of the Treasury

Organization/

Name of Project Address Telephone Web site Chapter/Page #

West Virginia Finance 

University

c/o Office of the State Auditor 

Glen B. Gainer III

State Capitol Building 1, Room 

W-100

Charleston, WV 25305

304-558-2251 www.wvauditor.com K – 

Postsecondary

 88

National Endowment for 

Financial Education 

5299 DTC Blvd., # 1300 

Greenwood Village, CO 80111

303-741-6333 www.nefe.org Academic 

Research 

and Program 

Evaluation 

 90

Financial Education 

Clearinghouse

5299 DTC Blvd., Suite 1300

Greenwood Village, CO 80111

303-741-6333 www.nefe.org K – 

Postsecondary

 90

Girl Scouts of America 420 Fifth Avenue

New York, NY 10018

800-478-7248 www.girlscouts.org K – 

Postsecondary

 90

Camp Challenge 1105 Camp Sertoma Dr.

Westfield, NC 27053

800-662-7044 www.ncbankers.org/

community/camp.html

K – 

Postsecondary

 91

Boys and Girls Club of 

America

1275 Peachtree Street NE

Atlanta, GA 30303

800-854-2582 www.bgca.org K – 

Postsecondary

 91

Minnesota Correctional 

Facility

1079 Highway 292

Red Wing, MN 55066

651/267-3600 www.doc.state.mn.us/

facilities/redwing.htm

K – 

Postsecondary

 92

4-H 1400 Independence Ave. SW 

#2201

 Washington D.C. 20250

202-720-7441 http://www.csrees.usda.

gov/ProgViewRelated.

K – 

Postsecondary

 92

Desert Schools Credit 

Union/The Metro Center 

Academy 

148 N. 48th St

Phoenix, AZ 85054

602-335-5000 www.desertschools.org K – 

Postsecondary

 92

University of Rhode 

Island Center for Personal 

Education 

Transition Center 2 

Lower College Rd. 

Kingston, RI 02881

401-874-7436 www.gettingfiscallyfit.

com

K – 

Postsecondary

 94

Money Matters: Make it 

Count 

101 Montgomery St. 

San Francisco, CA 94104

800-435-4000 www.aboutschwab.com K – 

Postsecondary

 101

Charles Schwab 

Foundation

1650 South Amphlett Blvd. 

Suite 300

San Mateo, CA 94402

650-655-2410 www.schwabfoundation.

org

K – 

Postsecondary

 101

Wachovia Corporation 301 South College Street, #4000 

One Wachovia Center

Charlotte, NC 28288

704-590-0000 www.wachovia.com K – 

Postsecondary

 102

Organization for Economic 

Co-operation and 

Development (OECD)

2 rue André-Pascal, 75775 

Paris Cedex 16

FRANCE

+33 1 4 5 24 

82 00

http://www.oecd.org/

maintopic/0,2626,en_

2649_201185_1_1_1_1_

1,00.html

International 

Perspective

 114

International Organization 

of Securities Commissions 

(IOSCO)

Calle Oquendo 12

28006 Madrid

SPAIN

34 91 417 

55 49

http://www.iosco.org/ International 

Perspective

 115
Resources 19

A product of the U.S. Department of the Treasury

Organization/

Name of Project Address Telephone Web site Chapter/Page #

The Counsel of Securities 

Regulators of the Americas 

(COSRA)

450 5th Street, NW, 

Mail Stop 6-1

20549 Washington D.C.

202 942-2770 http://www.cvm.gov.

br/ingl/inter/cosra/inter.

asp

International 

Perspective

 115

International Council of 

Securities Association

c/o Securities Industry 

Association

120 Broadway

New York, NY 10271

212-720-0616 N/A International 

Perspective

 116

Financial Services 

Authority (UK) 

25 The North Colonnade 

Canary Wharf London

E14 5hs

+ 44 20 7066 

1000

www.fsa.gov.uk International 

Perspective

 116

Australian Securities and 

Investment Commission

Level 18 No.1, Martin Place 

Sydney, NSW 2000

+ 613 5177 

3988

http://www.asic.gov.

au/asic/asic.nsf

International 

Perspective

 117

Australian and New 

Zealand Bank Group

22/100 Queen Street

Melbourne 3000 

Australia 

+ 61 3 9683 

9999

http://www.anz.com/ International 

Perspective

 117

Students in Free 

Enterprise

1959 East Kerr Street

Springfield, MO 65803

417-831-9506 www.sife.org International 

Perspective

 118

World Council of Credit 

Unions, Inc.

5710 Mineral Point Road

Madison, WI 53705 

608-231-7130 www.woccu.org/ International 

Perspective

 118

Citigroup Foundation/

Finance First 

399 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10043

800-285-3000 www.citigroup.com International 

Perspective

 118