Whether you are a college student or the CEO of a large corporation, consumer finance education is an important topic. You need to know how much money you have, where you spend your money, what savings options you have for the future and what assets you currently own.

In today's technology age, you do not need to sign up for a college-level course to get basic information about consumer finance education and training. You have a few different options available, including

1. Free financial planning programs online
2. Consumer finance seminars
3. Financial planning programs or classes
4. Consumer finance advisors

Depending on your current financial knowledge and the amount of knowledge you want to have, you need to decide the best option for you. For example, if you just need a quick course on how to use a budget, you do not need to register for college-level consumer finance training. You could easily find a free seminar or online tool to help you. On the other hand, if you are considering a career in consumer finance, you definitely want to look into financial planning schools.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Look into free financial planning programs

If you just need help organizing your finances or preparing a budget, there are different options available.

I recommend: Mint Software, Inc. offers different tools to help you keep track of your finances, learn about investments or set up a budget. This website is free, but you will need to register and set up an account. However, you will not need to provide personal information, and you won't be moving any money through this website. BALANCE has a free online program that provides basic information about financial planning. This website also provides worksheets to help you plan for your financial future. Cable News Network (CNN) offers Money101, a quick guide about finances. Just click on the topics that you want to know more about for detailed information.

Check out seminars in consumer finance

Consumer finance courses, classes or seminars provide good information.

I recommend: The Financial Planning Association (FPA) offers a variety of different consumer finance seminars throughout the country. Most seminars are free for FPA members, but non-members can also attend for a fee. TrainUp.com offers a large number of online financial seminars, from "principles of financial management" to "manage your finances."

Take consumer finance courses

The consumer finance classes you choose to take may depend upon how much you want to know about this subject. You can take a few credit hours through online education in consumer finance, or you could earn a degree at a local college or university.

I recommend: If you just want to take a class to learn more about financial planning, consider the Goliath Personal Finance course from The Gale Group, a part of Cengage Learning. Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) offers personal finance, retirement, and stocks and bonds classes. If you want to earn a degree, check out the following online programs: Capella University, Kaplan Higher Education Corp. and Benedictine University Online. To find both local and online financial planning schools, visit The CollegeBound Network.

If all else fails, get your education in consumer finance from a consumer finance advisor

If you simply do not have the time to learn about new software, attend seminars or take consumer finance courses, consider paying for a financial advisor. Although advisors cost money, they also help you learn specifically about your finances.

I recommend: The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) can help you find a personal advisor in your area. The Financial Planners Standards Council can also help you find a personal finance advisor. In addition, this website provides resources to help you understand what a financial planner is. It also has a list of questions to ask when interviewing financial planners.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Talk to your bank or check with your local library to see if they offer any financial planning programs or consumer finance classes.