Join FAME’s College Savings Counselor, Maire Pelletier, in dissecting Erin Lowery’s Broke Millennial Takes on Investing. This book club is great for someone looking for an introduction to different investment-related topics. In Lowery’s second edition of the Broke Millennial financial book series, she addresses some of the biggest questions early investors have, such as: 

• Should I invest while paying down student loans? 
• How do I invest in a socially responsible way? 
• What about robo-advisors and apps--are any of them any good? 
• Where can I look online for investment advice? 

Students will need to purchase their own copy of the book to participate.

This class meets on the following days:  2/6/2024, 2/20/2024, 3/5/2024, and 3/19/2024

Pre-registration required.  

Scholarships can go a long way in helping students cover college costs, but being successful in the scholarship application process can take some work. In this session you’ll learn to build and work your own scholarship application plan. You’ll also learn about and try out different scholarship websites, learn how to best use a scholarship information tracker, and learn to avoid some of the challenges of the scholarship process.  Students and parents interested in learning about the scholarship process can join Jessica Whittier, College Access Counselor with the Finance Authority of Maine for this 1-hour workshop as we talk scholarships. 

Federal Student Loans have gone back into repayment. How’s it going? If you are struggling with your payments, did you know there are several income-based repayments plans as well as deferment or forbearance? Did you know you could get .25% off your interest rate if you sign up for auto-debit on your federal loans? Do you know you can work towards loan forgiveness now if you work for a non-profit, government or tribal agency? Whether you have recently graduated from college or have been repaying your students loans for a long time, join us to learn how to best manage your student loan repayment. Join Nikki Vachon, College Access Counselor from the Finance Authority of Maine as she shares pro-tips and answers questions. 

Adulting is tough. Finances can be one of the trickiest parts of adulthood. Whether you’ve been Adulting for decades or are just getting started, banking basics, spending plans, credit scores and useful tools and apps are available to make the whole Adulting thing a little bit easier. Join Steve Kautz from the Finance Authority of Maine for this 1-hour virtual workshop as we dive into some adulting money basics together.

So, you’re on a budget, managing a bank account, and wondering about the next steps in your financial journey. In Adulting 102, we will look at the differences between saving and investing, and if you are ready to invest, how to get started. Other topics will include protecting your assets (insurance), advanced budgeting, and understanding the role economics plays in our financial life.  Join Steve Kautz, Financial Education Programs Specialist from the Finance Authority of Maine for this 1-hour virtual workshop as you take the next steps into adulting.  

Is higher education in your family’s future?  Join a college savings specialist from the Finance Authority of Maine to talk about planning and saving for higher education. Come learn about the aspirational and financial impacts of savings for students of all ages, as well as the program highlights of Maine’s Section 529 plan, a tool many families use to prepare for higher education expenses. Also, take home some tips and tricks for getting a jump-start on the scholarship search while your child is in middle school/ early high school.  Join Marie Pelletier, College Savings Counselor from the Finance Authority of Maine for this 1 hour virtual session and get a head start on saving for your child or grandchild’s higher education.

After taking this Zoom workshop, you’ll be able to determine if being a business owner is right for you. We’ll go over business planning, market research, and what it takes to get started, including licensing, operational, and legal considerations. We do this in a WHAT NOT TO DO format that highlights some of the common mistakes new business owners make. 

All registered participants will be sent a link to join this Zoom class. 

Peter Harriman has been working for nearly 8 years with the Maine Small Business Development Center. The Small Business Development Center is a free, confidential business advising service found in every state. These services are for new and existing businesses alike and can range from business planning, financial projections, human resources, tax strategies and more. In his 8 years, Peter Harriman has helped over 1,300 clients access over $14 Million in funding to help start over 98 businesses in Maine. The course, Starting a Business, will go through the fundamental questions and motivations Peter has learned over the years that help business owners understand how, when and why to start a new business.

Do you have children who will be looking at college in the next few years or might you be thinking of returning to school yourself? Now is a great time to start thinking about the college financial aid process and ways to boost college savings. The earlier you start, the more confident and relaxed you will feel when it is time to apply for financial aid. Join Jessica Whittier, College Access Counselor with the Finance Authority of Maine for this 1-hour workshop as we talk all things paying for college.