Free Financial Planning Classes
SamCERA's free financial planning classes can help you learn more about financial planning, taxes, retirement, and more. Get the skills you need to take control of your financial future. Registration is now open. These classes count toward your 20-hr training target.
To register for classes, click here for instructions.
2012 SamCERA Class Schedule
(click course titles for descriptions)
January 26, 2012
Location: SamCERA Board Room, 100 Marine Parkway, Redwood Shores
Time: 10:30 am - 12:30 pm (2 hours)
January 26, 2012
Location: SamCERA Board Room, 100 Marine Parkway, Redwood Shores
Time: 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm (2 hours)
February 13, 2012
Location: 455 County Center, Room 101, Redwood City
Time: 8:30 am - 10:30 am (2 hours)
Smart Strategies for Your 401(k), 403 (b), or 457 Plan
February 13, 2012
Location: 455 County Center, Room 101, Redwood City
Time: 11: 00 am - 1:00 pm (2 hours)
Successful Retirement Living (Retirement Planning for Those Nearing or In Retirement)
February 22, 2012
Location: 455 County Center, Room 101, Redwood City
Time: 10:30 am - 12:30 pm (2 hours)
February 22, 2012
Location: 455 County Center, Room 101, Redwood City
Time: 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm (2 hours)
Managing Credit and Debt Effectively
March 29, 2012
Location: SamCERA Board Room, 100 Marine Parkway, Redwood Shores
Time: 10:30 am - 12:30 pm (2 hours)
Retirement Planning for All Ages
March 29, 2012
Location: SamCERA Board Room, 100 Marine Parkway, Redwood Shores
Time: 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm (2 hours)
Organizing and Managing Your Finances
April 2, 2012
Location: 455 County Center, Room 101, Redwood City
Time: 11: 00 am - 1:00 pm (2 hours)
Estate Planning: Understanding the Basics
April 17, 2012
Location: SamCERA Board Room, 100 Marine Parkway, Redwood Shores
Time: 10:30 am - 12:30 pm (2 hours)
Creating and Managing Wills and Trusts
April 17, 2012
Location: SamCERA Board Room, 100 Marine Parkway, Redwood Shores
Time: 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm (2 hours)
How to Achieve Your Financial Goals
April 19, 2012
Location: San Mateo Medical Center, Education Classroom Two, San Mateo
Time: 11: 00 am - 1:00 pm (2 hours)
May 8, 2012
Location: SamCERA Board Room, 100 Marine Parkway, Redwood Shores
Time: 10:30 am - 12:30 pm (2 hours)
Financial Planning for Your Future (Retirement Planning for Early Career)
May 8, 2012
Location: SamCERA Board Room, 100 Marine Parkway, Redwood Shores
Time: 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm (2 hours)
Creating and Managing Wills and Trusts
Highlights include:
· Explain the reasons for setting up wills and trusts.
· Review the many ways an estate can be transferred.
· Describe seven essential objectives a will can accomplish.
· Discover when and how to revise and/or revoke a will.
Participants who attend this course will gain important skills to better understand the importance of estate planning and understanding probate and estate taxation in order to set up and manage trusts more effectively. Each participant will receive a 50-page workbook, which reviews each topic covered and provides resources and a glossary for future use. Workbooks are only available to attendees.
Estate Planning: Understanding the Basics
Highlights include:
· Discuss important reasons for estate planning.
· Determine ways property can be transferred upon death.
· Examine the process involved with intestate succession and probate.
· Recognize important features of wills.
Participants who attend this course will have a greater understanding of the estate planning process in general. Participants will learn about an easy 3-step process to set up an estate plan. In addition, this course will help simplify the terminology and jargon used by the financial planning and legal profession. Each participant will receive a 50-plus page workbook, which reviews each topic covered and provides resources and a glossary for future use. Workbooks are only available to attendees.
Financial Planning for Your Future (Retirement Planning for Early Career)
Highlights include:
· Formulate realistic goals.
· Set up and effectively use a spending plan.
· Learn how to pay off credit cards, student loans, and other debts more quickly.
· Uncover easy and creative ways to save.
Participants who attend this course will be able to set up a financial plan for all their financial goals including paying off debts, building wealth, buying a home, saving for children’s college, and retirement. Each participant receives a 40-plus page guide to be used in class and for future reference. Workbooks are only available to attendees.
How to Achieve Your Financial Goals
Highlights include:
· Utilize five steps to turn dreams into goals successfully.
· Set exciting, invigorating goals with a proven formula.
· Evaluate the impact of compound interest and inflation on savings and investments.
· Generate additional cash flow for accelerated goal achievement.
Participants who attend this course will learn how to set goals, make plans, and follow through on those plans for financial and life success. Interactive exercises and thought-provoking questions will stimulate participants to adopt and maintain the action habits that make personal and financial dreams a reality. Each participant will receive a 45-plus page workbook, which reviews each topic covered, and provides resources and worksheets for immediate and future use. Workbooks are only available to attendees.
Highlights include:
· Define three essential ingredients to becoming wealthy.
· Discover over a dozen ways to find extra money to invest.
· Identify how to invest small amounts in stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.
· Compare the pros and cons of investing in mutual funds vs. individual stocks.
Participants will gain important skills in analyzing their current financial resources, discover many ways small amounts can be invested in stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, and set up a plan of action for achieving all their financial goals. Each participant will receive a 45-plus page workbook, which reviews each topic covered, and provides resources and a glossary for future use. Workbooks are only available to attendees.
Highlights include:
· Recognize the difference between saving and investing.
· Strengthen your understanding of stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.
· Review your risk tolerance.
· Create an investment plan.
Participants who attend this course will gain a basic level of knowledge on investments and investing strategies, which will enable them to build and better manage an investment portfolio. Each participant will receive a 45-plus page workbook, which reviews each topic covered and provides resources and a glossary for future use. Workbooks are only available to attendees.
Managing Credit and Debt Effectively
Highlights include:
· Assess your debt snapshot and identify your debt management goals.
· Understand and improve your credit score.
· Uncover valuable auto loan payoff tips.
· Explore home loan criteria & manage mortgage debt.
Participants who attend this course will be able to make better spending decisions, get out of debt, build and maintain a good credit record and stay on track with all financial goals in changing financial and economic times. Each participant receives a guide to be used in class and for future reference. Workbooks are only available to attendees.
Highlights include:
· Construct a set of realistic financial goals.
· Discover how to stay out of debt and develop wise credit habits.
· Examine how credit card interest is computed using three common billing methods.
· Assess the meaning of credit scores and how they are compiled.
Participants who attend this course will learn how to make better spending decisions, get out of debt, build and maintain a good credit record, and stay on track with all financial goals. Each participant will receive a 40-plus page workbook, which reviews each topic covered and provides resources and a glossary for future use. Workbooks are only available to attendees.
Organizing and Managing Your Finances
Highlights include:
· Learn how to identify and set realistic goals.
· Assess and modify current finances using personal financial statements.
· Calculate how much to save monthly for each financial goal.
· Set up and effectively use a spending chart.
Participants who attend this course will be able to assume responsibility for their financial future. By participating in informative and interactive exercises, participants will develop an action plan for achieving all their financial goals. Each participant will receive a 65-plus page workbook, which reviews each topic covered and provides resources and a glossary for future use. Workbooks are only available to attendees.
Retirement Planning for All Ages
Highlights include:
· Learn the six key factors for a prosperous retirement.
· Identify the major obstacles to overcome when planning for retirement.
· Plan more effectively for the impact of inflation.
· Estimate the amount of annual income needed in retirement.
Participants who attend this course will be able to calculate their current financial situation, estimate their retirement needs, and create an investment strategy for meeting those needs. Each participant will receive a 55-plus page workbook, which reviews each topic covered and provides resources and a glossary for future use. Workbooks are only available to attendees.
Smart Strategies for Your 401(k), 403 (b), or 457 Plan
Highlights include:
· Discover important retirement plan features concerning enrollment, contributions, plan rule changes, matching, and vesting.
· Review retirement plan investment choices.
· Find out four reasons why retirement plan loans are discouraged.
· Evaluate the ramifications of plan rollovers, transfers, and distributions.
Participants who attend this course will gain an understanding of which 401(k), 403(b), or 457 plan investments and strategies are most appropriate for them to achieve their financial goals. In addition, participants will develop confidence in their ability to develop and modify their own 401(k), 403(b), or 457 plan investment portfolios. Each participant will receive a 55-plus page workbook, which reviews each topic covered and provides resources and a glossary for future use. Workbooks are only available to attendees.
Successful Retirement Living (Retirement Planning for Those Nearing or In Retirement)
Highlights include:
· Plan out the types of activities and lifestyle desired for retirement.
· Uncover four important retirement income sources.
· Assess and project retirement income needs and expenses.
· Make more informed decisions when considering healthcare, long-term care, and aging issues.
Participants who attend this course will be able to plan for a successful transition from work life into a comfortable and secure retirement. Each participant receives a 45-plus page guide to be used in class and for future reference. Workbooks are only available to attendees.
Highlights include:
· Identify twelve essential tax planning terms.
· Review over two dozen frequently overlooked tax deductions.
· Learn ten necessary questions to ask before choosing a tax preparer.
· Identify IRS audit triggers and how to avoid them.
Participants who attend this course will be better able to understand key provisions of the current tax law through relevant, real-life illustrations, and workbook exercises. Participants will learn the tax implications affecting retirement, investments, homes, charitable giving, estate planning, education, and children. Each participant will receive a 70-page workbook, which reviews each topic covered and provides a resource guide for assistant with tax preparation. Workbooks are only available to attendees.
How to Register for Classes: Step-by-Step
1. Make your request through the LMS My Personal and Health and Well-Being (Private) Site: https://sanmateocounty.csod.com/client/sanmateocounty/default.aspx.
2. Select the My Personal Health and Well Being (Private) Site and enter your user name. Your user name is your employee ID number prefixed with the letter 'x'. Example: x000012345.
3. Classes are listed in the Events Calendar under "SamCERA." Example: "SamCERA: Creating and Managing Wills & Trusts."
Need more help enrolling? Contact your department's LMS administrator. If your administrator is unavailable, please call SamCERA at x1234, or email samcera@samcera.org.