Jean Chatzky blog :: The Difference :: Personal finance, debt, and money advice » Resources

Today’s Money: Important Documents

Jean — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 16:21:30 +0000

Do you know what documents you should have on file in case of emergency? This morning on the Today show, I gave a rundown of the most important documents to keep safe (hint, the list includes more than just a will). To hear these tips, check out the video below.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Helpful Organizations

Jean — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 13:41:33 +0000

People often ask me for useful independent resources. Here are some organizations – government, business, and non-profit – that can help with everything from managing debt to saving for college or retirement. They’re organized by topic and type of organization, and links are provided for all sites. Scroll down after the jump and have a look – you never know when one of these will come in handy!

DEBT

Associations

The National Foundation for Credit Counseling
www.nfcc.org
301-589-5600
Search for a member agency, access free debt advice and more

Websites

Annualcreditreport.com
www.annualcreditreport.com
Request a free copy of your credit report once a year from each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies.

National Consumer Law Center
www.consumerlaw.org
202-452-6252
Our nation’s consumer law expert, NCLC works to combat unfair business practices by collection agencies

Debtors Anonymous
www.debtorsanonymous.org
1-800-421-2383
Information, resources and help for compulsive debtors

Money Management International
www.moneymanagement.org
A non-profit credit counseling agency

MONEY AND LIFE

Government Agencies

The Federal Trade Commission
www.ftc.gov
1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357)
The Federal Trade Commission website provides information and resources to help protect consumers

MyMoney.gov
www.mymoney.gov
The US government’s website dedicated to educating Americans on financial basics

Associations

The Financial Planning Association
www.fpanet.org
1-800-322-4237
Tips, tools, articles and about financial planning, search for a Certified Financial Planner

The National Association of Personal Finance Advisors (NAPFA)
www.napfa.org
847-483-5400
Search for a Fee-Only comprehensive financial planning professional

The Garrett Planning Network
www.garrettplanningnetwork.com
1-866-260-8400
An international network of independent financial advisors and planners offering hourly, as-needed financial planning and advice

Websites

The Better Business Bureau
www.bbb.org
703-276-0100
Search for BBB accredited businesses

Edmunds.com
www.edmunds.com
Advice on all aspects of leasing or buying a vehicle

IDENTITY THEFT AND SCAMS

Government Resources

National Do Not Call Registry
www.donotcall.gov
1-888-382-1222
Register your phone number to decrease the amount of telemarketing calls you receive

Social Security Online
www.ssa.gov
1-800-772-1213
The official website of the United States Social Security Administration

Websites

Credit Bureau Opt Out Service
www.optoutprescreen.com
1-888-567-8688
Opt out of receiving offers for credit or insurance

Direct Marketing Association Mail Preference Service
www.dmachoice.org
212-768-7277, ext. 1500
For $1 you can opt out of unsolicited mail from companies that use the DMA’s mail preference service; register for eMPS which allows you to remove your email address from national lists

MyFico.com
www.myfico.com
1-800-319-4433
Tips on how to protect yourself from identity theft, how to protect your child from identity theft and more

PROTECTING YOUR FAMILY

Government Resources

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
www.cms.hhs.gov
1-800-633-4227
Detailed information on Medicare and Medicaid, including information on initiatives, coverage and how to protect yourself from fraud

Websites

Aging With Dignity
www.agingwithdignity.org
1-888- 594-7437
Educational resources and access to the “Five Wishes” legal document that helps you to express how you would like to be treated if you are ill and unable to communicate your wants and needs

BUDGETING/CUTTING SPENDING

Websites

CouponMom.com
www.couponmom.com
Free access to printable coupons, find grocery deals by state, sign up for alerts and more

Retail Me Not
www.retailmenot.com
A collection of coupon codes from thousands of online merchants

Mint
www.mint.com
Free budgeting software and spending trackers

Gasbuddy.com
www.gasbuddy.com
Finds the cheapest gas prices in your area

BillShrink
www.billshrink.com
Tools that help you save on your cell phone, cable, credit cards and other monthly expenses

CREDIT

Credit Bureaus

Experian
www.experian.com
1-888-397-3742
901 West Bond
Lincoln, NE 68521

TransUnion
www.transunion.com
1-800-888-4213
2 Baldwin Place
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19022

Equifax
www.equifax.com
1-800-685-1111
P.O. Box 740256
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241

Websites

CreditCards.com
www.creditcards.com
A credit card comparison website

LowCards.com
www.lowcards.com
A credit card comparison website

CardRatings.com
www.cardratings.com
A credit card comparison website

REAL ESTATE/MORTGAGES

Websites

HSH Associates Financial Publishers
www.hsh.com
1-800-873-2837
The nation’s largest publisher of mortgage and consumer loan information

PAYING FOR COLLEGE

Government Organizations

FAFSA4caster
www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov
1-800-433-3243
Estimate your eligibility for federal aid

Websites

College Savings Plan Network
www.collegesavings.org
Information on 529 plans, compare plans from around the country and estimate costs with their college cost calculator

FinAid
www.finaid.org
Tips, tools and information on funding a college education

Saving For College
www.savingforcollege.com
Information, tools and more to help you plan ahead for college costs

INSURANCE

Websites

Consumer Federation of America
www.consumerfed.org
202-387-6121
Information on variable universal life insurance

eHealthInsurance
www.ehealthinsurance.com
1-800-977-8860
Get quotes on individual, family and small business health insurance plans, compare plans and apply for coverage online

The Insurance Information Institute
www.iii.org
212-346-5500
Search for an insurance company in your state, information on insurance and financial planning

Insure.com
www.insure.com
Search for quotes and information

RETIREMENT

Websites

Choose to Save Ballpark E$timate
http://www.choosetosave.org/ballpark
Identify approximately how much you will need to retire

T. Rowe Price Retirement Income Calculator
https://www3.troweprice.com/ric/ricweb/public/ric.do?van=ric
Calculate how long your savings will last

SAVING AND INVESTING

Websites

BankRate.com
www.bankrate.com
561-630-2400
Free rate information on over 300 financial products

Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
www.finra.org
301-590-6500
Investor news, tips on investing and market data

Morningstar
www.morningstar.com
Stock quotes and investment information

BrightScope
www.brightscope.com
Look at your 401(k) plan’s fees and compare costs to similar plans

TAXES

Government Organizations

Internal Revenue Service
www.irs.gov
1-800-829-1040
The United States’ Internal Revenue Service website

Websites

Charity Navigator
www.charitynavigator.org
201-818-1288
Evaluations of over 5,300 of America’s largest charities, tips and resources on giving to charity,

Guidestar
www.guidestar.org
757-229-4631
Determine a nonprofit’s legitimacy, learn if your donation will be deductible, view a nonprofit’s recent Forms 990, and more

Jean Chatzky blog :: The Difference :: Personal finance, debt, and money advice » Resources

Today’s Money: Important Documents

Helpful Organizations

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