KUSA - With a lot of families facing tough economic times, 9NEWS teamed up with News Radio 850 KOA and Rocky Mountain PBS for a Your Money Marathon on Tuesday.
Nearly 100 financial experts answered money-related questions by e-mail and telephone. The calls came in at a rate of about 1,000 an hour. By the end of they day, they had gotten just under 14,000 phone calls.
The experts offered advice on everything from managing credit card debt to saving for college or retirement. All of the advice was free.
Pat Kummer is a certified financial planner. She says she answered a wide array of different types of financial questions, from people concerned about their 401k, to possible foreclosures on homes to how to find a job.
"Obviously people need a lot of help right now and even if we can direct them on where to find help, it's a good benefit," said Kummer.
Because every person has a different situation with different needs and problems, the experts say it is important for you to sit down with someone reputable and come up with a personal plan.
Carman McKinney is with the Consumer Credit Counsel and says the best advice right now is to try and get rid of your debt.
"If you can afford to make more than your monthly payments, definitely double up on those so that you have more going toward your principal balance versus all the interest and penalties that may be assessed," said McKinney.
McKinney also says now is the time to establish a savings cushion.
"Even if it's only $10 to $15 a pay period, you have something to look forward to into that savings as you are able to build it up later," said McKinney.
Many were wondering if it was time to buy back into Wall Street. Kummer says that's the million dollar question.
"It depends on people's risk tolerance, age time frame - don't make knee-jerk reactions until you have time to build a plan perfect for you," she said.
9NEWS.com is also hosting a Virtual Job Fair on Thursday. It includes two databases with thousands of jobs, both full and part time. The statewide effort to "Keep Colorado Working" is sponsored by 9NEWS, Gov. Bill Ritter and the Colorado Dept. of Labor.
Due to the high volume of calls during the Your Money Marathon, not all of them were answered. However, the 9NEWS.com Your Money section has many resources to help people and additional resources are listed below.
ADDITIONAL YOUR MONEY MARATHON RESOURCES
Bankruptcy
Helpful Phone Numbers:
Colorado and Denver Bar Associations - attorneys specializing in bankruptcy
303-860-1115
Helpful Web sites:
9NEWS.com offers a comprehensive listing of legal services for people in need: http://www.9news.com/life/community/co-resources/legal.asp
LegalConsumer.com offers a comprehensive site that lists free and reduced legal services, detailed information about Colorado bankruptcy law and a "means" test to determine if you're eligible to file for Chapter 7. - http://www.legalconsumer.com/
Financial Planning
Helpful Phone Numbers:
Financial Planning Association of Colorado
303-450-0515
Denver Community Credit Union
303-573-1170
Helpful Web sites:
Financial Planning Association of Colorado - http://www.cofpa.org
The National Endowment for Financial Education provides a comprehensive site with tips on getting out of debt and budgeting. - www.nefe.org/helpforconsumers
Denver Community Credit Union - http://denvercommunity.coop
The Colorado and Wyoming Credit Union Association has partnered with a company called "FoolProof" to develop a package of online tools to help kids and adults learn the ins and outs of financial planning as well as many other money related topics. Click on this link and then select from one of 50 credit unions that participate in the program. - http://www.foolproofonline.info/national/co-wy/general/foolproofcu_alpha.htm
The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants has developed a comprehensive Web site that addresses just about every stage of life and career and includes lot of interactive tools. - http://www.360financialliteracy.org/
Tax Planning
Helpful Phone Numbers:
Colorado Society of CPAs
303-741-8607/ 800-523-9082
Helpful Web sites:
Colorado Society of CPAs - www.cocpa.org or www.cocpa.org/for-the-public/find-cpa
The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants has developed a comprehensive Web site that addresses just about every stage of life and career and includes lot of interactive tools. - http://www.360financialliteracy.org/
National Federation of Independent Business has put together a comprehensive list of free resources for people with tax questions. - http://www.nfib.com/object/1583791.html
College Planning
Helpful Phone Numbers:
College Invest - 1-800-448-2424
Helpful Web Sites:
CollegeInvest - www.collegeinvest.org
Sallie Mae has developed a Web site called "College Answer" that is committed to helping parents successfully plan and save for college. - http://www.collegeanswer.com/paying/content/savings_advice.jsp
401kid.com is a for-profit organization that offers free advice and tips about 529 savings plans and other college saving vehicles. - http://www.401kid.com/
The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants has developed a comprehensive Web site that addresses just about every stage of life and career and includes lot of interactive tools. - http://www.360financialliteracy.org/
Credit Counseling
Helpful Phone Numbers:
Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Denver
1-800-762-2271
Helpful Web Sites:
Counseling. - www.MoneyManagement.org
Education. - www.crediteducation.org
ColoradoSaves. - www.coloradosaves.org
Housing Help/Foreclosure Assistance
Helpful Phone Numbers:
Colorado Foreclosure Hotline - 1-877-601-HOPE (4673)
Colorado Division of Housing - 303-866-2033
Helpful Web Sites:
Colorado Foreclosure Hotline. - www.coloradoforeclosurehotline.org
Colorado Division of Housing. - http://www.dola.colorado.gov/cdh/
The Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America, NACA, is a non -profit community advocacy and HUD certified counseling agency. NACA has been in the forefront of fighting discriminatory and predatory lending for over 20 years. NACA provides the most affordable mortgage solution for both homebuyers and homeowners. - https://www.naca.com
Unemployment Benefits - Colorado
Helpful Phone Numbers:
Colorado Dept. of Labor and Employment; Denver Metro Area filing information - 303-318-9000
Toll Free - 800-388-5515
Colorado Workforce Centers, Denver - can provide free resources for employers and job seekers. They can also provide information about a special statewide job fair that will be held Thursday, Nov. 20 across the state. - 720-913-1648
Helpful Web Sites:
Colorado Dept. of Labor and Employment; file online, frequently asked questions, online resource guide. - www.coworkforce.com
Colorado Workforce Centers provide free resources for employers and job seekers. They can also provide information about a special statewide job fair that will be held next Thursday across the state. - http://www.coworkforce.com/EMP/WFCs.asp
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNING ASSOCIATION OF COLORADO
Gregory R. Anderson, CFP
GR Anderson Wealth Management Group, Inc.
www.GRAndersonWealth.com
303-388-7708
Raymond Benton, CFP
Lincoln Financial Advisors
303-714-4748
Gordon Carpenter, CFP
Centennial Investment Advisors
gwc@centennialadvisors.com
303-224-0642
Specialty: College planning
Sarah Eschwig, CFP
Waddell & Reed
seschwig@wradvisors.com
303-278-4747
Karl Frank, CFP
A&I Financial Services, LLC
www.assetsandincome.com
303-690-5070
DeDe M. Jones, CFP, CPA
www.InnovativeFinancial.biz
303-275-7170
Patricia Kummer, CFP
Kummer Financial Strategies, Inc.
www.kummerfinancial.com
303-470-1209
Peter Lengsfeld, CFP
Presidential Brokerage, Inc
plengsfeld@presidentialbrokerage.com
303-694-1600
Dennis Means, CFP
Dennis.means@lpl.com
303-300-0206
Susan O'Grady, CFP
Equipoise Wealth Management, Inc.
Susan@EquipoiseWealth.com
303-765-4422
Robert J. Pyle, CFP, CFA
Diversified Asset Management, Inc.
info@diversifiedassetmanagement.com
303-440-2906
Catherine Schwartz, CFP
Waddell & Reed, Inc.
Schwartz@wradvisors.com
303-770-5511, ex 105
Wendy W. Spencer, CFP
Spencer Capital Strategies, Inc.
www.spencer@moneyconcepts.com
303-235-2789
Keith Stechmesser, CFP
American National Bank
Keith.Stechmesser@anbbank.com
303-394-5488
Samuel R. Tenney, CFP
Gallacher Capital Management, LLC
sam@gallachercapital.com
303-708-1640
Cindi Trombly, CFP
CAATS Financial Strategies, LLc
Cinditrom@comcast.net
303-671-6114
ATTORNEYS SPECIALIZING IN BANKRUPTCY
Colorado and Denver Bar Associations
303-860-1115
Stacey Aronowitz
Aronowitz & Ford
1199 Bannock Street
Denver, CO 80204
(303) 813-1177
Stacey@aflegal.com
Ellen Cadette
http://www.crlpc.com/
Connolly, Rosania & Lofstedt, P.C.
950 Spruce Street, Suite #1C
Louisville, CO 80027
(303) 661-9292
Sarah M. Clark
Welborn Sullivan Meck & Tooley, P.C.
821 17th Street, Suite 500
Denver, CO 80202
303-830-2500
sclark@wsmtlaw.com
www.wsmtlaw.com
Aaron Huckstep
Starr & Associates, P.C.
411 Third Street
Crested Butte, CO 81224
970-349-5363
Guy Humphries
1801 Broadway, Suite 1100
Denver, CO 80202
303-832-0029
Cynthia T. Kennedy
Kennedy & Kennedy, P.C.
308 1/2 E. Simpson Street
Lafayette, CO 80026
303-604-1600
ctk@kandkatlaw.com
KandKatlaw.com
Brad Lam
www.lamlaw.net
1901 W. Littleton Blvd.
Littleton, Colorado 80120
303 860 8188
303 798 2526 (fax)
Email: brad@lamlaw.net
Nancy Miller
Kennedy, Childs & Fogg, P.C.
1050 17th Street
Suite 2500
Denver, CO 80265
303.825.2700
http://www2.kcfpc.com/
Jon Nicholls
Nicholls & Associates, P.C.
1850 Race Street
Denver, CO 80206-1208
303-329-9700 x104
jon.nicholls@nichollslaw.com
Doug Pearce
http://www.crlpc.com/
Connolly, Rosania & Lofstedt, P.C.
950 Spruce Street, Suite #1C
Louisville, CO 80027
(303) 661-9292
Andrew C. Snyder
8400 E. Prentice Ave., Penthouse
Greenwood Village, CO 80111
303-409-7777-asnyds@aol.com
John C. Stewart
1660 S. Albion Street Suite 918
Denver, CO 80222
(303)504-9900
blairatholl@earthlink.net
Colorado Society of CPAs
(303) 741-8607 / (800) 523-9082
Fax (303) 773-6344
www.cocpa.org
www.cocpa.org/for-the-public/find-cpa
CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
Sheri Betzer
Betzer Critchfield & Call LLP
730 17th Street, Suite 750
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 825-9405
sbetzer@bccllp-cpa.com
http://bccllp-cpa.com
Fran Coet
Coet & Coet PC
10875 Dover Street, Suite 400
Westminster, CO 80021
(303) 426-6444
fcoet@coetandcoet.com
www.coetandcoet.com
Mira Fine
Hein & Associates LLP
717 17th Street, Suite 1600
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 226-7007
mfine@heincpa.com
www.heincpa.com
Sarah Knight
Knight Field Fabry LLP
2810 North Speer Blvd
Denver, CO 80211
(303) 531-7433
sarah@kffllp.com
www.kffllp.com
Liz Julin
Deputy Director
Colorado Society of CPAs
7979 E. Tufts Ave., Suite 1000
Denver. CO 80237-2847
ljulin@cocpa.org
(303) 741-8607 / (800) 523-9082
Fax (303) 773-6344
www.cocpa.org
Rick Leaman
University of Denver
Daniels College of Business
2101 South University Blvd
Denver, CO 80208
(303) 871-2079
rleaman@du.edu
Allan Rosenbaum
Metropolitan State College of Denver
Department of Accounting
Campus Box 80
PO Box 173362
Denver, CO 80217-3362
(303) 556-4428
arosenba@mscd.edu
Mark Sanders
2 Mountainview Rd
Greenwood Village, CO 80111-1736
(303)741-4132
mlscpa@rmi.net
Jason Schneider
Seigneur Gustafson LLP
300 Union Blvd, Suite 660
Lakewood, CO 80228-1535
(303) 980-1111
www.cpavalue.com
Ron Seigneur
Seigneur Gustafson LLP
300 Union Blvd, Suite 660
Lakewood, CO 80228-1535
(303) 980-1111
ron@cpavalue.com
www.cpavalue.com
Darin Snow
BKD LLP
1700 Lincoln Street, Suite 1400
Denver, CO 80203-4514
(303) 861-4545
dsnow@bkd.com
www.bkd.com
Scott Sprinkle
Sprinkle Financial Consultants LLC
1520 West Canal Court, Suite 220
Littleton, CO 80120
(303) 297-2185
scott@sprinklefinancial.com
As part of a preview to our Your Money Marathon we spent some time on 9NEWS 6 a.m. with Ted Beck, President and CEO of the National Endowment for Financial Education or NEFE.
He shared some advice from an article he wrote called "What Should I Do In These Interesting Economic Times."
www.nefe.org
www.smartaboutmoney.org
(Copyright KUSA*TV, All Rights Reserved)
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