Barbara O’Neill, Extension Specialist in Financial Resource Management
Rutgers Cooperative Extension
April 2019
Ten Steps to Seven Figures
One of the most frequently cited purposes of investing is to build wealth for future financial goals such as a new car, a college education for children, and financial security in later life. Many people even have a specific dollar amount in mind such as having $1 million saved by the time that they stop working.
Below are ten recommendations to …
Barbara O’Neill, Extension Specialist in Financial Resource Management
Rutgers Cooperative Extension
March 2018
Factors That Promote Financial Success
During the last year, I had the opportunity to hear several well-known personal finance speakers talk about the characteristics and practices of financially successful people. Audiences are usually very interested in this topic because it provides a motivational roadmap and specific tips to follow.
At the 2017 Financial Planning Association (FPA) conference, the final general session speaker was financial author and …
Barbara O’Neill, Extension Specialist in Financial Resource Management
Rutgers Cooperative Extension
February 2018
A Hierarchy of Financial Decisions
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are an account that people can set up to pay for unreimbursed medical expenses such as deductibles, co-payments, and services not covered by insurance. Eligible individuals can establish and fund these accounts only when they have a qualifying high-deductible health plan (HDHP). HSA money gets deposited tax-free, grows tax-free, and comes out tax-free, if used according to …
The Financial Security for All Community of Practice has compiled the following list of informational resources related to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act:
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Legislation
Background Information: Land-Grant Universities
Background Information: Other
The recently released briefing paper, “Cooperative Extension’s Capacity to Demonstrate Impact in Financial Capability and Well-Being: A Briefing Paper,” is a result of almost two years of collaborative effort by Extension FRM professionals to share and document programmatic similarities across the states in an attempt to develop three programmatic tools: 1) a common logic model, 2) a list of program outputs and outcome indicators, and 3) a crosswalk of NIFA indicators to programmatic indicators provided by participants.
It …
Extension Pre-Conference | 2017 AFCPE Symposium
Agenda and Attachments
7:15 am Registration and Continental Breakfast – Sponsored by NEFE
8:00 am Welcome and Introductory Activity
Erica Tobe, PhD, Michigan State University Extension
Elizabeth Kiss, PhD, Kansas State University Research and Extension
8:15 am Evaluation from a National Program Leader Perspective
Toija Riggins, PhD, USDA NIFA
8:30 am Evaluation from a State Administrator’s Perspective
Michael Gutter, PhD, University of Florida/IFAS
8:45 am Getting Extension on the Map: Common Indicators, Common Reporting
Barbara O’Neill, Extension Specialist in Financial Resource Management
Rutgers Cooperative Extension
November 2017
The Benefits of Financial Health
This article is adapted from a previously written blog post for the eXtension Military Families Learning Network: https://militaryfamilies.extension.org/2017/06/27/what-financial-health-means-to-me-ned/
After a successful course of treatment, many doctors tell their patients that their physical health status is NED, which is doctor-speak for No Evidence of Disease. The same NED acronym can also be applied to a person’s financial health: …
Credit Freezes: Description, Pros and Cons, and Contact Information for Credit Reporting Agencies
Members of the Financial Security for All Community of Practice (FSA CoP) and our educational partners have developed research-based and experience-tested materials to help Americans deal with the aftermath of the Equifax hack. Below are links to their online blogs and publications:
Equifax Security Breach: Steps to Protect Yourself (Lisa Leslie, University of Florida IFAS Extension):
http://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/hillsboroughco/2017/09/15/equifax-security-breach-steps-protect/
To Freeze or Not Freeze My Credit Report (Kathy Sweedler, …
Barbara O’Neill, Extension Specialist in Financial Resource Management
Rutgers Cooperative Extension
August 2017
Retirement Planning is a 40-Year Journey
The retirement planning process has been described as a “40 (or more) year journey” from the start of someone’s working life in their 20s through retirement in their 60s (or beyond). However, it is actually much longer, if you consider how long someone can live during retirement. Unlike shorter-term financial planning goals like buying a car, a house, or saving …
Barbara O’Neill, Extension Specialist in Financial Resource Management
Rutgers Cooperative Extension
June 2017
Income Taxes on Investment Profits
A high priority financial goal for many people is to have a comfortable lifestyle in later life. Investing can help. Most people do not become wealthy from their earnings alone but, rather, by investing a portion of their income and letting it grow for several decades. Through a combination of regular investment deposits and compound interest, it is possible to build …
