Certified Financial Counselor School: Part I
Topics & Objectives

Please note that the Topics/Objectives listed below are subject to change.

Financial Problem Analysis

• Investigate financial problems, their indicators, and impact
• Learn ways to analyze financial problems
• Determine your member’s financial situation
• Distinguish between financial crises, emergencies, and problems

Financial Problem Resolution

• Consider the implications of loans as possible solutions to debt problems
• Identify practical solutions to credit problems
• Learn ways to help members set and achieve financial goals
• Identify opportunities to help reduce your member’s monthly deficit

Financial Counseling Overview and the Role of the Financial Counselor

• Identify myths and goals of financial counseling
• Examine a financial counseling model that provides a framework for your budget counseling process
• Learn ways to help members clarify and resolve their financial problems
• How the real cost of credit can discourage overspending

Spending Plans

• Show members how to develop a plan for saving, spending, and bill paying
• Know how to help members build savings on a tight budget
• Demonstrate two ways to accelerate debt reduction
• Help members find alternatives to bankruptcy

Understanding and Improving Creditworthiness

• Learn the six factors lenders look at when considering a loan
• Understand how credit scores are determined
• Discuss what members can do to improve their credit score and creditworthiness

Helping Members Work with Creditors

• Determine the financial counselor’s role in working with the member’s other creditors
• Teach members how to negotiate with creditors honestly and fairly
• Learn how to help members construct a letter for creditors
• Discuss what to do when members are unable to make payments because of job loss, disability, or other severe financial problems

Creditors' Rights and Remedies

• Discuss a variety of creditor remedies used today, including judgments, garnishments, repossessions, and foreclosures
• Establish the member’s options for stopping or preventing garnishments, repossessions, and foreclosures
• Explore the bankruptcy process from both the lender’s and consumer’s viewpoints
• Review the legal issues for the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA)

The Communication Process for a Financial Counselor

• Understand several important communication principles
• Discuss the different ways that members communicate
• Identify factors that influence or create obstacles in the communication process
• Understand the important role of listening skills

Public Agencies and Community Resources

• Learn how public agencies and resources within your community can help in a crisis situation
• Determine when to seek assistance from outside resources
• Establish what resources may be available and how to apply for help
• Develop a resource guide to use for referrals

Problem Prevention, Education, and Information Programs

• Examine what other credit unions are doing with credit awareness programs
• Learn about credit unions programs for intervention and prevention of credit problems

After class each day you may participate in optional review and exam sessions to obtain your Certified Financial Counseling certification.

For more program content information or to request a brochure call 800-356-9655, ext. 4249, or email elearning@cuna.coop. For registration questions, call 800-356-9655, ext.4400 or e-mail reginfo@cuna.coop.