Financial literacy plays an important role in helping ensure the financial health and stability of individuals, families, and our broader national economy. Economic changes in recent years have highlighted the need to empower Americans to make informed financial decisions, yet evidence indicates that many U.S. consumers could benefit from a better understanding of financial matters. For ex., recent surveys indicate that many consumers have difficulty with basic financial concepts and do not budget. This testimony discusses: (1) the state of the fed. government's approach to financial literacy; and (2) observations on overall strategies for addressing financial literacy. This is a print on demand report.

Financial Literacy: The Federal Government's Role in Empowering Americans to Make Sound Financial Choices

The Routledge Handbook on Financial Social Work explicates the financial needs, issues, and interventions within populations and theoretical approaches, and it assists clinician practitioners in intervening expertly and comprehensively. This book covers a range of issues in populations seeking services around complex financial needs and struggles, including those in the child welfare system; those with housing issues or facing homelessness; those coping with chronic and acute medical and psychiatric illnesses; those recovering from interpersonal violence; those facing recovery from incarceration; children and families involved in the child welfare system; and much more. In addition, policies will be woven in to inform the work. This book thoroughly explores research and evidence-based interventions around each population, and teaches clinicians to understand and treat financial distress holistically and empathically. This handbook will explain why understanding financial capability in these populations is so critical and how clinicians can step up their practices to meet those needs. Professionals from multiple disciplines ranging from financial therapists to social workers to financial coaches to financial planners will find this handbook eminently useful.

The Dodd-Frank Act is intended to reform residential mortgage lending and securitization practices that contributed to the recent financial crisis. The Act provides some liability protection for lenders originating mortgages that meet nine specified criteria associated with a borrower¿s ability to repay (¿qualified mortgages¿). The act also requires securitizers of mortgages not meeting separate criteria associated with lower default risk to retain at least 5% of the credit risk. This report discusses the potential impact of the act¿s: (1) qualified mortgage criteria; (2) credit risk retention requirement; and (3) provisions concerning homeownership counseling and regulation of high-cost loans. Charts and tables. This is a print on demand report.