Press Releases

For Immediate Release
October 05, 2007	Contact: Charles Evenson 608-266-2026

Secretary Heinemann Urges High Attendance at Fox Cities Money Conference^TM and other Money Smart Week Wisconsin^SM Events

(Madison) DFI Secretary Lorrie Keating Heinemann said today the combination of the fifth annual Fox Cities Money Conference^TM and the 2007 Money Smart Week Wisconsin (MSWW) campaign offers an outstanding financial education opportunity for residents of the Fox Cities. The Money Conference^TM will be held Saturday, October 13 at Fox Valley Technical College from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. It is the largest of several financial education events taking place in the Fox Cities area during the statewide MSWW campaign which runs from October 7-13.

“Regulation and licensing only go so far towards protecting people and their money,” said Secretary Heinemann. “Part of our mission at DFI is strengthening Wisconsin’s financial future through financial education. We do that by supporting programs such as the Money Conference and creating campaigns like Money Smart Week Wisconsin. I urge everyone to attend the Money Conference and other Money Smart Week events,” added Secretary Heinemann.

DFI’s Office of Financial Literacy (OFL) created the Money Conference^TM eight years ago in Milwaukee. It has since been held in several Wisconsin communities. It is now produced by the nonprofit Asset Builders of America, Inc. in close cooperation with area financial institutions, nonprofits and educational organizations. Adult Money Conference^TM participants may attend one-hour sessions on Reverse Mortgages, Tips for Buying a Car and Negotiating Terms, Budgeting Basics, Homeownership 101 and How to Read Your Credit Report and Improve Your Credit Score. Age-appropriate classes for youth include The Value of the Dollar, You Want It All . . . Learn the Smart Way to Get It and How to Find a Job. Three one-hour sessions will be offered in Hmong and Spanish.

The keynote speaker will be Dave Aardappel, owner and founder of Alpha Mentor Coach. Mr. Aardappel, a psychotherapist and counselor who has worked with individuals, couples, families and corporate employees, is known for his passion for helping people find the lives they want by reaching their potential.

MSWW was created last year by the Governor’s Council on Financial Literacy. It is modeled after similar campaigns run by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago in the cities of Chicago and Detroit. OFL takes the lead role in carrying out the campaign which last year became the first in the country to target an entire state. The 2007 campaign has 12 regional planning committees—more than double last year. It features nearly 700 financial education events statewide including over 20 in the Fox Cities area in addition to the Money Conference^TM. Events are listed on its website at: www.moneysmartwi.org.

Registration fees for the Money Conference^TM are $5.00 for adults and $2.50 for youth under 18 years of age. The cost for “walk-ins” to register on event day is $7.00 for adults and $3.00 for youth. Fees include breakfast, lunch and parking. Pre-registered participants also get a free credit report with their credit score plus a one-on-one consultation with a credit expert. Registration and continental breakfast start at 7:30 a.m.

For more information and to register for the Money Conference^TM, contact Richard Entenmann of Asset Builders of America toll-free at 866-304-6896 or Jean Lenz of Fox Valley Technical College at 020-735-5681. Or visit Asset Builder’s website at: www.assetbuilders.org. For more information about the Money Smart campaign, contact David Mancl, Director of DFI’s Office of Financial Literacy at 608-261-9540 or email him at david.mancl@dfi.state.wi.us.