The Financial Literacy Project

Senior Scams: How to recognize and avoid them

Friday, July 29, 2011 @ 6:30 p.m. in Los Altos, CA

“Seven Common Scams Targeted To Seniors — How to recognize and avoid them” will address seven common financial, physical and emotional scams targeted to seniors.  Both seniors and their adult children will learn how to avoid being taken in by unscrupulous salespeople, financial advisors and caregivers.  Presented by Artie Green, CFP, MBA, of PW Johnson Wealth Management and Gerald W. Cummings, Attorney at Law of The Alameda Law Group.

This presentation is open to the public, and will be held at The BridgePoint Senior Living Community, at 1174 Los Altos Avenue, Los Altos, CA  94022.

Call 650-948-7337 by July 27 to RSVP or for more information.

Hometown Peninsula Presentation

The Financial Literacy Project will be returning to Kepler’s Books in Menlo Park, CA, on July 11th, 2011, for a presentation to Hometown Peninsula, an alliance of locally-owned businesses and residents on the San Francisco Peninsula. The topics are “Financial Statements” and “Qualified Retirement Plan Options for Business Owners”.  This meeting is members-only, and runs from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.

Membership in Hometown Peninsula is open to businesses, non-profits, and individuals.  For more information, click here.

Investing for Income in Retirement — May 21st in Marin County

Join Alex Reyes, MBA and Celeste Mirassou, CFP for this free, educational presentation on what factors to consider when investing for income in retirement.  Here’s the information you need:

Where:  Marin County Free Library, Civic Center Branch, 3501 Civic Center Drive, #427

When:  Friday, May 21st, 12:00–1:00 p.m.

RSVP:  No RSVP necessary!

Alex Reyes, Principal, Reyes Capital Management, 580 California Street, Suite 500, San Francisco, CA 94104 Ph: 415-775-6050 Fax: 415-680-1587 Web: www.reyescm.com

Financial Planning Class for Teens — May 29th in Marin County

We receive more requests for programs that educate young people than any other subject, so we’re especially pleased to announce this special session in Marin County.  Please join Alex Reyes for this presentation, which is especially designed for teens.  Among the topics:  planning for college and beyond, and learning to manage your money.  Here’s the information:

When:  Saturday, May 29, 2010 from 1-3pm

Where:  San Rafael Library, 1110 E. Street, San Rafael, CA

Reservations:  (415) 458-2389

Alex Reyes, Principal, Reyes Capital Management, 580 California Street, Suite 500, San Francisco, CA 94104 Ph: 415-775-6050 Fax: 415-680-1587 Web: www.reyescm.com

Sunnyvale Library to Host Presentations in March & April, 2010

The Financial Literacy Project is proud to be hosting a number of free public educational presentations at the Sunnyvale Public Library in March and April.  All sessions will be held from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm.

Series Theme:  Surviving the Financial Tsunami (and Thriving!)

Tuesday, March 23rd: Stocks, Bonds & Commodities, Oh My!  An introduction to investments

Join us for this informative presentation to learn about the fascinating world of investments and portfolios.  This session is ideal for beginners and for people who want to broaden their understanding of the basic types of investments available to help balance their portfolios.  We’ll cover the five fundamental types of investments — cash, bonds, stocks, real estate, and commodities — and talk about two popular vehicles:  mutual funds and annuities.  As a special bonus, Peter will share some intriguing investment ideas that his firm is using for wealthy investment clients now — and that are available directly to investors.  Note that this presentation is purely educational; there will be no selling or promotion of products or services.

Peter W. Johnson, Jr., PFP, is founder of PWJohnson Wealth Management, a Registered Investment Advisory firm based in Sunnyvale, California. Peter has operated his current practice for over 20 years and manages in excess of $50 million. Peter holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration/Finance from the University of Santa Clara. He currently serves on the Ethics Committee of the Financial Planning Association (FPA), a national trade group with over 29,000 members. Peter is past President of the Silicon Valley Chapter of the FPA. As an outgrowth of his commitments to education and community, Peter founded The Financial Literacy Project (www.thefinancialliteracyproject.org), which makes financial education and coaching available at little or not cost to consumers through local, libraries and bookstores.

Tuesday, March 30th: Teaching Your Children About Money

It’s never too early to learn about the value of money and how to budget and save.  Teach your K-12 kids the skills necessary for them to make informed financial decisions throughout their lives.

Joan Jackson and Peter W. Johnson, Jr.

Peter W. Johnson, Jr., PFP, is founder of PWJohnson Wealth Management, a Registered Investment Advisory firm based in Sunnyvale, California. Peter has operated his current practice for over 20 years and manages in excess of $50 million. Peter holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration/Finance from the University of Santa Clara. He currently serves on the Ethics Committee of the Financial Planning Association (FPA), a national trade group with over 29,000 members. Peter is past President of the Silicon Valley Chapter of the FPA. As an outgrowth of his commitments to education and community, Peter founded The Financial Literacy Project (www.thefinancialliteracyproject.org), which makes financial education and coaching available at little or not cost to consumers through local, libraries and bookstores.

Wednesday, March 31st: Taming the Credit Monster

Our use and understanding of credit has a profound impact on our financial lives and our personal well-being.  Unfortunately, many of the messages we get about credit are from salespeople and financial institutions that have little interest in the health of our personal finances.  Join us for this eye-opening, industry-insider’s overview of that critical, little-understood area of personal finance:  credit.  We’ll cover:

• General state of the credit markets

• State of the mortgage market (rates, availability, conforming vs non-conforming, types of

mortgages currently available)

• State of the small business credit market/SBA Loans

• Brief update on Government proposals to shore up small business lending/smaller banks

• Your credit score — what it means, and how to obtain it

• Recent changes in credit card law

• Credit card traps and how to avoid them

• Protecting your credit (errors, fraud, identity theft)

• The wise use of credit (in general, and during tough times)

• Real-life credit stories:  the good, the bad and the ugly

Michael Ryan is the owner of Michael Ryan & Associates, a local company, and has been serving individuals and businesses for 22 years.  He is a mortgage broker, handling residential and commercial loans, as well as Small Business Association (SBA) loans.  He is an author, blogger and speaker, and is “trained through the school of life and multi-disciplined.”  Recognized by the SBA as a Technical Assistance Provider to small business, Mike is also recognized by the National Apartment Association as a Certified Apartment Manager, and has been a California Real Estate Broker since 1991.

Wednesday, April 7: Do I (Still) Have Enough for Retirement?

• Find out whether your money will last, whether you’re planning to retire or are already retired.

• Find out what you can do to “close the gap” if you fall short.

• Learn how to do your own retirement calculations during the workshop, using real numbers!

• Learn about professional methods used to create reliable retirement plans.

Artie Green is a financial planner and investment advisor with PWJohnson Wealth Management (founded in 1990).  He holds an SEC Series 65 license for registered investment advisors.  He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics/Computer Science from Carnegie-Mellon University, a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of Delaware, and has additionally completed the University of California Santa Cruz Certificate Program in Personal Financial Planning.  He is currently a candidate for CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification.  Artie joined PWJohnson Wealth Management in May 2007 after a long career in the high technology industry.  Previous positions include Director of Business Planning and Strategy for Hewlett-Packard’s Enterprise Systems Group and Business Development Manager in HP’s Financial Services Business Unit.  Artie is a board member of KMVT Community Television and is an Assistant Scoutmaster in Boy Scouts of America. He and his wife and son live in Los Altos, California.

Sunnyvale Library to Host Presentations in January, 2010

The Financial Literacy Project is proud to be hosting a number of presentations at the Sunnyvale Public Library in January.  All sessions will be held from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm.

Series Theme:  Surviving the Financial Tsunami (and Thriving!)

Tuesday, January 5^th: Top Ten Tax Tips of 2010!

The beginning of the year is a perfect time to get up to speed with your income tax planning. Head into tax season prepared to take advantage of the new tax breaks, while taking time to consider the year ahead, and what steps you can still take to reduce your tax liability for 2009.

Dennis Young is the Senior Partner at Young, Craig + Co., LLP, CPAs in Mountain View.  He has over 35 years experience assisting clients with tax planning.  Dennis has an MBA in Management from Santa Clara University and a BS degree in Accounting from the University of San Francisco. He is currently Chair of the CalCPA statewide Ethics Committee and a member of the Finance Committee and the Leadership Development Committee.  In 2008, the California Society of CPA awarded Dennis their statewide Public Service Award for service to his community and the CPA profession. Dennis is currently President-Elect of the Los Altos Rotary Club, Treasurer of the Los Altos Community Foundation and a member of the Executive Committee of the Housing Industry Foundation.

Tuesday, January 12^th: Jobs & Careers — New Strategies for Troubled Times

Whether you’re currently in transition or still have a job, it’s important to know how to create a foundation of skills and connections that will see you through employment transitions. Our presenters will share with you what’s working for job seekers in today’s tough employment market, and how to stay motivated by being in touch with your values and passions.

Marco Rosa, the driving force behind Menlo Park Presbyterian Church’s highly acclaimed Career Actions Ministry program — which serves several hundred people — has over 20 years’ experience in senior Human Resources positions. Kaylyn Lehmann, Sage Workforce Development’s president and founder, is a seasoned corporate facilitator and executive coach. For over fourteen years, she has provided clients such as Yahoo! and Starwood Hotels with classroom-style training, curriculum development, and individual coaching.

Wednesday, January 20^th: The Great Recession — Where are We, and What Have We Learned?

The world’s economies are currently in the midst of the most severe recession since the 1930’s. What can we expect going forward for our economy in terms of investments and jobs? And perhaps more importantly, what lessons are there for us as individuals and as a society? In this presentation, we’ll examine the big picture, and specific strategies you can use to prepare and position yourself and your family for the future.

Peter W. Johnson, Jr., PFP, is founder of PWJohnson Wealth Management, a Registered Investment Advisory firm based in Sunnyvale, California. Peter has operated his current practice for over 19 years and manages in excess of $45 million. Peter holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration/Finance from the University of Santa Clara. He currently serves on the Ethics Committee of the Financial Planning Association (FPA), a national trade group with over 29,000 members. Peter is past President of the Silicon Valley Chapter of the FPA. As an outgrowth of his commitments to education and community, Peter founded The Financial Literacy Project (www.thefinancialliteracyproject.org), which makes financial education and coaching available at little or not cost to consumers through local, libraries and bookstores.

Tuesday, January 26^th: Managing Your Cash Flow — Moving Beyond Financial Turbulence

Having (and following!) a plan for spending your money provides freedom and peace of mind: freedom to spend your money without guilt, and peace of mind that you are using your money to support your goals and values.

Becky Jensen was born in Dallas and lived in New York and Boulder before coming to the Bay Area for college.  She graduated from Stanford University with a Bachelor’s degree in Slavic Languages and Literature.  After working two years in a chiropractic office and living in Germany for nine months, she attended the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, graduating with a Masters of Management degree in Finance.  She worked in cost accounting at Intel before launching Cash Flow Solutions in 1989.   Becky has offered cash flow planning and management services to individuals, couples, families, and small-business owners ever since, changing the company name to Prosperity Focus, LLC, in 1997.

Mountain View (CA) First Library to Host Presentations

The beautiful Mountain View Public Library will be the first library to host Financial Literacy Project presentations.  These fall sessions will once again be devoted to “Surviving the Economic Tsunami (and Thriving).”  Although detailed agendas are not yet available, we do have the dates and times, as well as the general topics scheduled:

• Wed, October 14, 2009 — 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm:  Budgeting
• Wed, November 18, 2009 — 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm: Jobs
• Wed, December 16, 2009 — 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm: Investments

Events Scheduled at Books, Inc. in Mountain View, CA

The Financial Literacy Project is proud to announce a series of upcoming events at Books, Inc. in Mountain View, CA scheduled for July.  Once again, our presenters will be addressing the current, difficult financial environment that we are all facing.  The title of the series is Surviving the Economic Tsunami (and Thriving!).

There will be three presentations, all held on Sunday afternoons at 2:00.

The first presentation, on July 12, 2009, is called Adjusting to the New Normal.  During it, three guest experts will address where we are now, and what to expect going forward.  We’ll discuss why this is a great time to learn more about money and how to accomplish that, mastering your cash flow, and CPR for your 401(k) and other investments.  Presenters will include Peter Johnson, Jennifer Selby Long, and Denise Hughes.

The second presentation, on July 19, 2009, is called Taking Care of Business.  Our goal in this session will be to address some of the ongoing challenges and opportunities in the important personal finance areas of employment, credit, health insurance, and safe investment strategies (including annuities). Presenters will include Al Hulvey from the Career Action Ministry at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, Michael Ryan, Angie Grainger, Peter Johnson, and Debbie Wilson of Pacific Advisors.

The third presentation, on July 26, 2009, is called Preparing for a Brighter Future.  In this forward-looking session, we’ll look at building a better future for ourselves and our families. Topics to be covered include retirement, teaching your kids about money, family money communication, and wrapping up with “22 Keys to Financial Peace of Mind.” Presenters will include Artie Green, Helga Hayse, and Peter Johnson.

We’re excited about the quality of the speakers and topics we have lined up for these events, and grateful to Books, Inc., one of the 25 largest independent bookstores in the U.S., for the opportunity to provide a valuable community service right here in Silicon Valley. Please join us if you can! No RSVP is necessary.

Books, Inc.’s Mountain View store is located at 301 Castro Street.  The store phone number is (650) 428-1234.

May Events at Books, Inc. in San Francisco

The Financial Literacy Project is proud to be holding two events at Books, Inc. in San Francisco in May. You’ll find more information, below.  Contact Books, Inc. if you have questions or are interested in attending.  

   • Saturday, May 9, 2009 @ 3:00 p.m. — Surviving the Economic Tsunami (and Thriving)!

   • Saturday, May 16, 2009 @ 3:00 p.m. — Do I (still) Have Enough to Retire?

Location:  Books Inc. in the Marina, 2251 Chestnut Street, San Francisco

Phone:  (415) 931-3633

Presenters:  Alex Reyes and Celeste Mirassou

March Events Set for Kepler’s Books in Menlo Park, CA

The first three financial literacy presentations at Kepler’s Books, in Menlo Park, CA, are set for March 15th, March 22nd and March 29th, 2009.  Each will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  These events are free and open to the public.  We begin the series by addressing the extremely challenging economic environment we are in, providing practical information and resources for people in the areas of job hunting, budgeting, investing and retirement.  Below, you’ll find information on each of the three presentations.  If you’d like to attend, please contact Kepler’s Books by visiting their website, or calling the store, at (650) 324-4321.  

Surviving the Economic Tsunami (and Thriving!)

March 15, 2009 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The current economic crisis is affecting all of us, highlighting the fact that we need to become more financially literate and proactive.  This in-store presentation provides an exceptional opportunity to learn more about a variety of personal finance topics. It will create new possibilities for financial freedom both now and in the future.  Join us as local experts from several disciplines cover such vital topics as:  what to expect in the economy and markets in 2009 and beyond; developing a personal spending plan; resuscitating your 401(k) portfolio; finding and keeping a job; understanding residential real estate and mortgage issues; and meeting the emotional challenges of difficult economic times.  We’ll put special emphasis on local Bay Area information, and reserve time for your questions.  You’ll also receive information on local resources and recommended books so you can dig deeper on your own.  We’re fortunate to have this lineup of skilled professionals in one place at one time, so be sure to join us for this very special (and empowering) educational opportunity!  

Do I (Still) Have Enough for Retirement?

March 22, 2009 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Whenever the stock market becomes particularly volatile, do you become concerned about the longer-term performance of your IRAs, 401(k)s, and other retirement plans?  When media reporting of economic indicators turns pessimistic, do you worry how the economy will affect your retirement goals?  Stop worrying!  Attend this retirement workshop to find out the answers!  Financial Planners Peter Johnson, Curt Weil, and Artie Green will be available not only to help you learn whether or not you are on track for a happy and successful retirement, but additionally to teach you how to determine whether your retirement plans are on track on your own, using just a calculator and a few simple keystrokes!  You’ll also learn valuable “inside” tips and tricks the pros use to develop retirement plans, and how to make the best use of them in your own life.

Financial Peace of Mind — Discover the Top Books Financial Planners Recommend to Their Clients

March 29, 2009 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Personal power and freedom with our finances is not only possible, it’s within our reach.  Unfortunately, we’re not taught about money in school, and many of our families and peers are poor role models.  The solution lies simply in knowledge and understanding, and the good news is that you don’t have to be a genius to become financially secure.  Join us for an evening with two prominent independent Bay Area financial advisors, as they share their favorite personal finance book recommendations with us.  They’ve devoted their lives to helping people from all walks of life understand and be successful with money.  Discover books that can help you gain personal mastery over money and attain your life dreams!