CUNA Personal Finance Institute
Topics & Objectives

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

Overview

PFI is not a typical conference with lectures and uncomfortable chairs. You’ll listen, write, discuss, share, be challenged, read, discuss some more, revise, review, and talk again. The hours are a bit longer than a typical conference held at a resort location, but we promise to keep you engaged, interested, and well fed while you are working.

We take money seriously, but that doesn’t mean that learning about it can’t be fun. Bring your sense of humor, a creative mind, and a willingness to look at "fin lit" in a new way. Oh, and dress comfortably.

Exactly What is a Financially Literate Member?

During this fast and creative group activity, you’ll illustrate and define what you think financially literate youth, adults, and underserved members look like. What’s their philosophy about money? About thrift? Where do they get their financial information and how, why, and when do they use it? What are good financial behaviors? We'll continually redefine the term throughout PFI until we get it right.

Creating New Behaviors That Last

How your brain works (everyone's is different) affects how you manage your money. In this session, you’ll get a new picture of the brain from 21st century neuroscience (with little scientific jargon) and how it relates to different age populations. We’ll explore the neurology of change, how the brain re-wires itself in response to learning, and how meaningful behavior can be permanently embedded into the brain’s emotional and thinking systems. Then, we’ll talk about how you can help your members change poor financial behavior and learn about money management.

How to Develop a Strategic Financial Literacy Business Plan

A review of financial literacy strategic planning basics and your pre-work assignment will serve as the foundation for developing your business plan. We’ll discuss what needs to be in your plan and why, factors that may hinder success, and necessary resources. To help you build your plan, you’ll participate in three different discussion groups: Youth, Adult & Underserved. You’ll leave with a draft of a financial literacy strategic business plan you can finalize with your credit union management team.

Youth, Adult & Underserved Working Groups

In each working group, you’ll fine-tune your strategic plan with the assistance of facilitators who are experienced credit union professionals. Throughout the day, there will be large group recaps to share lessons learned, best practices, and other insights.

How to Measure the Results of Your Financial Literacy Efforts

Are your current financial literacy efforts working? How can you find out? In this session, learn what to measure, the methods to use, and how to incorporate measurement in new financial literacy programs to make sure your efforts are successful.

Financial Literacy Champions

Participate in the development of a national award for credit unions who champion financial literacy. This is an initiative created by the CUNA Financial Literacy Task Force.