By Daniel Goldstone

There is dozens of online debt support consumer website that try to aim to provide financial education. Everyone knows that having good credit is crucial. It not only affects your chances when applying for a loan in the future, but your credit status might even be reviewed by a potential employer. With 50% of the population having an average of $10,000 in credit card debt, there is an obvious need for financial education. Credit cards are not intrinsically corrupt, but some people misuse the privilege of spending on credit.

Many people are financially strapped when they find they are incapable of paying back the debt that has piled up. This dilemma is a worldwide problem; not one faced solely in the U.S. Dan Goldstone, president of Norfolk Financial Corp. says it is wrong to blame the credit card companies for issuing cards to those who may not have the ability to payoff their borrowing. Rather, Mr. Goldstone believes, with sound financial education, individuals should be able to handle credit responsibly.

The debt web sites offer some basic information regarding consumer credit and debt. It gives tips about how to develop and follow a budget, how to select the right credit cards, and how to maintain a good credit score. Look for sites that have special section that targets your needs like helping college students manage their money. 'Develop a budget, and keep a close track of what comes in and what goes out-the more thorough the better,' says Norfolk Financial Corp.s president Daniel Goldstone.

If a debt collector has contacted you, do not to panic. Collection professionals are experienced in assisting account holders who are having financial problems. As suggested on the site, the borrower must demonstrate that they 'cant pay' not that the consumer is simply unwilling to pay. Often collection professionals will help consumers formulate a plan of repayment.

Daniel W Goldstone and Norfolk Financial Corporation wants to educate consumers with a online debt support and tip site at http://www.LetsTalkAboutDebt.com.

By Thomas Watson

It is a fact that more than one-third of all employees are stressed about their financial issues. About 20 percent are so anxious that their job productivity is negatively impacted. In some workplaces, due to income inadequacy, this figure is as high as 40 to 50 percent. Other studies show that 90% of employees are dissatisfied with their financial wellness, 75% are insecure about retirement and 50% hold a part-time job. Nearly a third of these employees waste 20 hours each month, dealing with money-matters while on-the-job. These employees are less productive and absent from work more often. And those employees with serious money problems are more likely to suffer from health and family problems, further increasing the cost of business.

Since the declaration of the bankruptcy of the Enron Corporation, many policy makers and other leaders have called for a greater focus on financial education. Globally, more company principals and managers agree that money management education in the workplace has become more essential than ever. For example, Richard Hiller, Vice President of the Western Division of TIAA-CREF, while testifying before a House Committee on Education and the Workforce, contended that financial education should be made more available.

Company-sponsored financial education programs can benefit all employees, regardless of their financial status. In fact, the National Institute for Personal Finance Employee Education has calculated that the first-year return on investment in workplace financial education, even for employees who make slight improvements in their financial wellness, is more than $400 per employee (e.g., fewer absences, less time dealing with financial matters, and increases in productivity).The NIPFEE estimates that the potential return on investment for employers who provide workplace financial education is at least 300 percent.

Some organizations have used financial education to help recruit and train their employees. This type of company-sponsored, employee education also fulfills the requirement from the Department of Labor for employers offering defined-contribution pension plans, such as the 401(k).

One popular financial education program* offered by companies like General Motors, US Steel, Exxon/Mobil, Chrysler Corporation, Xerox and Ernst & Young, teaches employees how to give themselves a 35% raise by eliminating their personal debt. This type of raise does not require a company to touch a dime of its payroll and conveys a message of caring to employees. These employees then, become more engaged and more productive in their work. Employees learn how to reach their financial goals using the money they make now. They have less stress and feel less pressure to make more money.

Besides being a sound investment in employees, a quality financial education program would benefit your business for years to come. Workers become more tolerant of budget cuts that prevent expected increases in pay. Fewer employees work second jobs or seek higher paying jobs at the expense of their employer. Employees who are more cost-conscious at home should be more cost-conscious at work.

Unfortunately, most employers ignore workers who have personal money management problems because they do not realize the high cost of doing so. The reality is that workers personal financial management problems cost employers a lot of money.

The bottom line for most companies is that they help to change their individual and collective financial future. The challenge of making the most of what you have is just as important to your employees as it is to your business. By choosing to offer your employees a solid financial education program, you not only enable them to better manage their lives, you empower them to better manage the future of your business. Their future is your future.

Dr. Thomas R. Watson, a leading expert on workplace financial education, teaches employees how to eliminate their personal debt in record tme. Find out how to give your employees a 35% raise without touching a dime of payroll at http://www.FreeClearAndFocus.com

By Kenneth Kelly

1. To increase participation in and contributions to 401(K), 403(B), and other retirement plans.
2. To help employees improve their personal financial wellness.
3. To help employees remove obstacles to fully funding their retirement plans.
4. To increase employee loyalty and morale.
5. To improve employees chances to retire early or on time.
6. To reduce employees stress.
7. To increase workplace productivity.
8. To reduce the incidence of employee theft.
9. To help employers avoid lawsuits.
10. To remove limits on tax-deferred savings for highly compensated employees.

To expand organizational options related to workplace financial education, Strativia works with companies to build branded financial education web portals and other web-based resources. These portals are accessed from the companys intranet and are not available to the general public. These workplace financial education web portals serve as a platform to achieve specific educational initiatives, reach specific target groups, and as a public relations medium.

Strativias branded portals are creative and user-friendly with a focus on financial literacy, retirement planning and preparation, and investor education. Our workplace financial education web portals are designed to speak a cohesive message to your people. Providing the most current content along with interactive tools, assessments, surveys, calculators, and other resources helps ensure your employees find what they want when they need it. Tools like those offered by Strativia help employees to place more importance on managing their money starting now. They learn to establish a spending plan, develop an emergency fund, understand investing, and implement a concrete retirement plan. The benefits of financial education web portals will positively affect these employees for a lifetime.

About Strativia

Strativia is a financial management software development and services company specializing in applications for personal and business use. Their software enables users to manage and understand their money matters. They are headquartered in Mitchellville, MD. Our software has been distributed throughout the U.S. and in several countries worldwide.

Kenneth C. Kelly is the President of Strativia, a financial management software development and services company specializing in applications for personal and business use. Strativia is the developer of Budget Forecaster, a sophisticated home budget and personal finance management software package. Website: www.strativia.com. Contact: info@strativia.com.