FREE Financial Classes and Seminars in the Cedar Falls/Waterloo Area
Classes have been cancelled due to the virus and the venues that are closed down because of it. That does not mean personal finance has to stop. You can go here to watch an entire series of personal finance videos at no cost. Use this opportunity to increase your education on the topic and then act when appropriate. You can also go to the online Financial Happine$$ Academy above to learn more in-depth information on money management, investing, and retirement. Financial Freedom awaits!!!!!
If you need assistance with money management, investing, insurance, retirement, etc., I am here to help. If you would like to meet in person or via Zoom, shoot me an email at mikefinley@thecrazymaninthepiinkwig.com and we can discuss a day and time to sit down and review the financials. It is never to early nor to late to get yourself on a better path when it comes to the money coming in and leaving your life. As always, there is no cost. Just one person helping another. Onward!!!!!!!
Investing Seminar Class #1 / This first investment class identifies the path that will lead you toward becoming the wise and efficient investor. / Instructor: Mike Finley / Waterloo Library / 5:30 - 7:00 / Wednesday, April 1st
Health Savings Accounts and Other Workplace Benefits / Understanding these benefits can help you make the best use of them / Instructor: Casey Redmond / UNI Library, ScholarSpace Room / 4:30 - 5:30 / Thursday, April 2nd
How to Retire Early / Do you want to retire before you get "old"? This class will provide you the information you need to "graduate" to the next, best version of your life. / Instructor: Casey Redmond / UNI Library, ScholarSpace Room / 5:30 - 6:30 / Friday, April 3rd
The Smart Way to Buy a Home / Buying a home will be one of the biggest decisions of your life. Make it with as much knowledge as possible! / Instructor: Mike Finley / UNI Library, ScholarSpace Room / 1:00 - 2:30 / Saturday, April 4th
Organized for Life-Death / The best time to prepare your loves for when you are gone is when you are HERE. Learn what to do! / Instructor: Patty Rausa / UNI Library, ScholarSpace Room / 1:00 - 2:30 / Sunday, April 5th
How to Build Credit and Save YOU Thousands of Dollars! / Increasing your credit score can open doors that are shut to those with poor credit. / Instructor: Megan Redmond / UNI Library, ScholarSpace Room / 4:30 - 5:30 / Monday, April 6th
Retirement Seminar Class #1 / The path to a successful and happy retirement awaits those who are ready to take control of their money AND their life! / Instructor: Mike Finley / Cedar Falls Community Center / 5:30 - 7:00 / Tuesday, April 7th
Investing Seminar Class #2 / The successful investor understands the history of markets, investments and the many risks that are involved far beyond the volatile of markets. / Instructor: Mike Finley / Waterloo Library / 5:30 - 7:00 / Wednesday, April 8th
How to Protect YOU from Identity Theft / There are individuals trying to steal your identity. It is YOUR job to stop them! / Instructor: Megan Redmond / Cedar Falls Library / 11:30 - 12:30 / Thursday, April 9th
Budgeting for a Better Life / The budget helps you live the life you want to live instead of what others want for you. Take control of YOUR life! / Instructor: Megan Redmond / Cedar Falls Library / 11:30 - 12:30 / Friday, April 10th
Understanding IPERS and your 403(b)/457 / Those retirement plans have rules and costs and plenty of information that is worth learning about by YOU. / Instructor: Casey Redmond / UNI Library ScholarSpace Room / 2:00 - 3:30 / Saturday, April 11th
Understanding your 401(k) / Those retirement plans have rules and costs and plenty of information that is worth learning about by YOU. / Instructor: Chase Murphy and Travis Martinek / UNI Library ScholarSpace Room / 3:45 - 4:45 / Saturday, April 11th
How to Invest for a Child's Future Education / Saving and investing wisely can reduce the cost of college and possibly eliminate any debt coming out of college. That is a BIG deal! / Instructor: Mike Finley / UNI Library ScholarSpace Room / 3:00 - 4:30 / Sunday, April 12th
Insurance 101 / There are insurance polices worth owning and their are MANY that you don't need. Educate yourself on what you should and should not buy. / Instructor: Mike Finley / Cedar Falls Library / 11:30 - 12:30 / Monday, April 13th
Retirement Seminar Class #2 / Putting together a cost effective and tax efficient investment portfolio is a must as you head into a world with little to no earned income. / Instructor: Mike Finley / Cedar Falls Community Center / 5:30 - 7:00 / Tuesday, April 14th
Investment Seminar Class #3 / The world of asset allocation is introduced so the individual can properly allocate an investment portfolio to maximize growth while reducing volatility. / Instructor: Mike Finley / Waterloo Library / 5:30 - 7:00 / Wednesday, April 15th
How to Build a High Credit Score / The high credit score reduces the amount of interest one pays on loans over a lifetime. The time to build that score is NOW. / Instructor: Mike Finley / Hawkeye Community College, Tama Hall Room 128 / 12:00 - 1:00 / Thursday, April 16th
Debt 101 / Reducing or eliminating your debt can bring less stress and more freedom into your life. There is no better time than right now to do it!!! / Instructor: Mike Finley / Hawkeye Community College, Hawkeye Center Conference Room / 12:00 - 1:00 / Friday, April 17th
The Path to Financial Freedom / Financial Freedom awaits those who are ready and willing to make the needed sacrifices for a better tomorrow. Make that YOU. / Instructor: Mike Finley / Upper Iowa University / 1:00 - 2:30 / Saturday, April 18th
Understanding Taxes and How to Reduce Them / The tax man cometh. It is YOUR job to find ways to reduce that burden so more money can go where you want it to go. Make that YOU. / Instructor: Mike Finley / Upper Iowa University / 1:00 - 2:30 / Sunday, April 19th
Estate Planning / There is no better time to make a plan for those who are left behind. They will be glad you did. / Instructor: Casey Redmond / UNI Library ScholarSpace Room / 5:30 - 6:30 / Monday, April 20th
Retirement Seminar Class #3 / There are multiple strategies when withdrawing funds from the investment portfolio in retirement. The key is finding the right one for YOU. / Instructor: Mike Finley / Cedar Falls Community Center/ 5:30 - 7:00 / Tuesday, April 21st
Investing Seminar Class #4 / We go deeper into asset allocation and how to put together a portfolio that serves your needs over the needs of the financial services industry. / Instructor: Mike Finley / Waterloo Library / 5:30 - 7:00 / Wednesday, April 22nd
How to Invest Wisely in a Retirement Plan at Work / That retirement plan is for YOUR future. Understanding your options and making wise decisions can pay off BIG TIME. / Instructor: Mike Finley / UNI Library Room 287 / 11:00 - 12:00 / Thursday, April 23rd
How to Invest Wisely in a Roth IRA Outside of Work / There Roth IRA can be your ticket to a home down payment, emergency savings, early retirement, and much, much more. Get one! / Instructor: Mike Finley / UNI Library Room 287 / 11:30 - 12:30 / Friday, April 24th
The Smart Way to Buy a Vehicle / There are many ways that you can reduce the cost of buying a vehicle not just upfront, but over the lifetime of that car and YOU. / Instructor: Mike Finley / Upper Iowa University / 1:00 - 2:30 / Saturday, April 25th
Maneuvering the Vanguard Website / This class provides provide you an opportunity to follow along with this tutorial on Vanguard's website and its many features. Computers provided. / Instructor: Mike Finley / Upper Iowa University / 1:00 - 2:30 / Sunday, April 26th
How to Reduce Your Taxes in Retirement / Taxes can be a drag on your financial situation in retirement. Learn how to reduce them so you have more money for other adventures. / Instructor: Casey Redmond / UNI Library, ScholarSpace Room / 6:30 - 7:30 / Monday, April 27th
Retirement Seminar Class #4 / Learn how to make the most of your fixed income (pensions, Social Security, immediate annuity, part time work, etc.) in retirement. / Instructor: Mike Finley / Cedar Falls Community Center / 5:30 - 7:00 / Tuesday, April 28th
Investing Seminar Class #5 / We wrap up the discussion on asset allocation as we discuss the investment options that will serve the individual best in the "real world." / Instructor: Mike Finley / Waterloo Library / 5:30 - 7:00 / Wednesday, April 29th
The Journey Going Forward / How does a person take their new financial education and create a better life for themselves and their loved ones? You learn from others who have done it! / Instructor: Mike Finley / UNI Library, Room 287 / 5:30 - 6:30 / Thursday, April 30th
Retirement Seminar Class #5 / How to make the most of Social Security and the many benefits as you prepare for a future without earned income. / Instructor: Mike Finley / Cedar Falls Community Center / 5:30 - 7:00 / Tuesday, May 5th
Investing Seminar Class #6 / How to invest wisely without letting emotions and/or crooks in the backdoor causing your portfolio AND your life great harm. / Instructor: Mike Finley / Waterloo Library / 5:30 - 7:00 / Wednesday, May 6th
Retirement Seminar Class #6 / How to make the most of your Medicare benefits as you reach age 65 and beyond. Also, we will discuss healthcare prior to age 65. / Instructor: Mike Finley / Cedar Falls Community Center / 5:30 - 7:00 / Tuesday, May 12th
Investing Seminar Class #7 / How to select the right financial advisor who has the most knowledge AND works solely for you and your needs as a true fiduciary." / Instructor: Mike Finley / Waterloo Library / 5:30 - 7:00 / Wednesday, May 13th
Retirement Seminar Class #7 / Learn how to make the most of your fixed income (pensions, Social Security, immediate annuity, part time work, etc.) in retirement. / Instructor: Mike Finley / Cedar Falls Community Center / 5:30 - 7:00 / Tuesday, May 19th
Investing Seminar Class #8 / We pull it all together with everything we have covered over the previous classes to make sure your portfolio last longer than you do. / Instructor: Mike Finley / Waterloo Library / 5:30 - 7:00 / Wednesday, May 20th
Retirement Seminar Class #8 / We review the financial AND the psychological piece as we discuss what the future may hold as you create the best version of YOU. / Instructor: Mike Finley / Cedar Falls Community Center / 5:30 - 7:00 / Tuesday, May 26th
Investors, like pilots, operate in a complex environment. The environment occasionally produces moments of stress... The primary cause of investor failure is the behavior of the investors themselves. Many of them are their own worst enemy. To put it bluntly, they haven't yet learned to resist the overwhelming urge to do stupid things with their money. Investors, like pilots, can benefit from disciplined, rational, and logical thought processes when the pucker factor rises. - Frank Armstrong III, The Informed Investor
Why should an individual see Social Security as an insurance program rather than a retirement program?
The recommended book this week is Index Funds, by Mark Hebner. This wonderful book is laced with illustrations, statistical research, quotes, and good ole fashion common sense. The sub-title reads, The 12-Step Recovery Program for Active Investors. That is exactly what this book provides. Growth comes to those who are willing to change the way they think and act with their money and their investments.
This book will walk the average person through the maze of misinformation, outright lies, and high cost as Mr. Hebner drops you softly into the lap of the true experts on the subject to learn the truth that the financial services industry does not want you to know. This is a must read for those who wish to become the wise and successful investor. Financial freedom to follow!
Testimonials
“I have been introduced to a new world filled with information which neither my Finance Degree nor the people I’m surrounded by could’ve ever educated me on personal finance. I am able to pursue financial happiness based on the resources Michael has suggested and taking action to further my own education.”
Leora, Student, Age 20
“As a Nepali student, I was never taught about money or anything to do with personal finance. Mike is an outstanding teacher regarding this issue because his teachings are not just about managing money by also about living a happier and better life.”
Parimal, Student, Age 21
“...I have gone from depleted bank accounts to riches by Mike’s teaching in a very short time. He continues to change my now and future world of life and money daily. It is wihtout question that MIke will change YOUR life too.”
Daniel, U.S. Army Military Officer, Age 22
“...After the first class of Mike’s, I was hooked. I studied. I read. I wanted to know it all. I wanted to get my financial life straight. I can finally say that I’m a confident woman when it comes to personal finances. I want to encourage every woman to become fiancially literate and to study and read on her own. Don’t just leave it to the man.”
Jenna, Real Estate Portfolio Analyst, Age 24
"Mike’s well-researched investment advice gives me complete confidence in my investment decisions. The power of his strategy lies in how simple it is to apply immediately.”
Trevor, Actuary, Age 24
“The truth heard one time can sound stranger than a lie heard 1000 times. What Mike says might initially sound strange because it’s not how society talks about money. I thought I was on a good path investing but learned that trying to pick stocks and investing in random funds is risky. Now I am on a clear path. Money is a tool and Mike is showing you how to use the tool to reach your goals.”
Axel, Mechanical Engineer, Age 25
“Mike has motivated me to take control of my life. He has opened my eyes to the power of being financially free and doing what I want in life, simply by educating myself and investing in no load index mutual funds…”
Casey, High School Teacher/Activities Director, Age 26
“The financial service industry is a marketing machine out to convince the average consumer that bloated expensive products are best. Mike is arming the consumer with their best weapon -financial literacy.”
Tracy, Former Financial Advisor and Insurance Agent, Age 32
“Many of us remember a special teacher who took a complicated (or boring) subject and presented it in an inspiring way. Mike Finley is that kind of teacher. The information that he shares about investing has given me greater confidence in my ability…”
Jean, Ministry Support, Age 48
“For years, advisors avoided guiding me down the best investment path… Their guidance was to benefit their revenue stream. Mike has completely opened my eyes to the strategy lurking within the industry.”
Heidi, mom/business woman, Age unknown (just teasing...48)
“The confidence I have gained from Mike’s motivational classes and his belief in me has allowed me to take control of my investments and my journey toward financial freedom.”
Lisa, Educator, Age 49
“Saving, investing, and living below your means takes discipline. Mike has taught me how to invest and manage money going into my retirement years…”
Rick, Retired FedEx Courier, Age 60
“...How could I take the time to learn everything I thought I needed to learn to be able to invest safely and smartly? I just didn’t have the time. Mike made it simple through his sage advice and resources, showing me that not only did I have the time; but also through a few simple steps, I could take control of my financial future.”
Cynthia, Professor, Age 61
“Thanks to Mike, I have gone from knowing nothing about investing and letting someone else do it for me, to managing my investments on my own with comfort and confidence…”