MSU Extension offers financial courses online

Montana State Extension Office is planning an event to assist you in planning for your financial future. They are offering Solid Finances, an online webinar program of composed of multiple classes which begin on Wednesday, October 3.

The main features of the courses are insurance, debt, financial record keeping, mutual funds and annuities. There will be 17 classes in the series and participants may choose to partake in as many of the classes as they wish.

The webinar will start off with a class on auto insurance. The class will discuss deductibles and collision, comprehensive, liability, medical, underinsured driver, loss of use and rental coverages. Upon completing the class, you should have gained a better understanding of the auto insurance industry and what coverage limits would best suit your needs.

In one-week increments classes in flood insurance (October 10) and life insurance (October 17) will be taught. Joel Schumacher, Montana State University Extension agent will be leading these classes as well as the auto insurance course.

The Psychology of Money, taught by Carrie Johnson, North Dakota University Extension, will discuss how personal habits and behaviors effect finances. Discovering these behaviors and taking control of them could increase financial health. This class is scheduled for October 31.

On November 7 Schumacher will continue the series with Financial Book Review. An overview will be given on the many financial management self-help books available. Schumacher stated that he tried to read some of these books each year and will relay what he has discovered.

After a bit of a break courses will continue December 5 with Charity Ratings and Reviews. The session will reveal tools to determine what charities will make the most of your donations based on your interests. Schumacher poses the question, “Consumers shop around for the best deal, but have you ever considered doing this for your charitable donations?”

As the calendar year ends it is fitting for Schumacher to provide a Year-End Financial Opportunities course to determine if end-of-the-year benefits may be available to you and what their deadlines are as well as helping plan finances for the upcoming year. Join the course on December 12.

Wrapping up the 2018 year, on December 19, a class on Flex Plans will reveal ways to reduce taxes on medical expenses. Advantages as well as disadvantages of flexible spending accounts will be discussed.

Upcoming classes in 2019 include Creating a Financial Recordkeeping System and Sticking with It (January 16), Dealing with Debt (January 23), Coupons, Rebates and Store Rewards Programs (February 6), Target Date Mutual Funds and Lifestyle Mutual Funds (March 6) and closing with Choosing an Annuity Payout (March 13).

Classes will be offered on January 30 and February 13, 20 and 27, although topics are yet to be determined.

For further information on the course program or to register visit http://www.msuextension.org/solidfinances. Schumacher may also be contacted by calling (406) 994-6637.