 
Financial Stability Project
In today's economic climate, it is more important than ever for American women to be empowered with the confidence and competence to make smart financial decisions for themselves and their families. Women control the majority of consumer spending, yet women are 40 percent more likely to be poor than men, and 67 percent of women feel they have little knowledge of financial products and services. The Women’s Legislative Network is committed to promoting the participation, empowerment and leadership of women legislators in the area of women’s financial stability.
The Network's Financial Stability Project seeks to increase state legislators' understanding of the economic status of American women and to provide in-depth information and tools for legislators working to support women's financial stability.
Check back often for project updates and announcements. Browse NCSL resources in the menu at right. And don't hesitate to contact us with feedback and questions!
Financial Stability News and Resources
Bonds Make it Easy campaign to publicize the availability of tax refunds in the form of U.S. Savings Bonds
New Report, "Invest in Women, Invest in America: A Comprehensive Review of Women in the U.S. Economy." Joint Economic Committee, U.S. Congress, December 2010. (PDF)
FDIC and National Credit Union Administration Join Education Secretary to Announce Partnership to Promote Financial Education and Savings Programs 11/15/2010
National Financial Capability Challenge. The National Financial Capability Challenge is an awards program designed to increase the financial knowledge and capability of high school aged youth across the United States so they can take control over their financial futures.
President's Advisory Council on Financial Capability. Members. The Council will advise the President on how to maximize the effectiveness of existing private and public sector financial education efforts and identify new approaches to increase financial capability for all Americans.
New Report, "Wives as Breadwinners: Wives' Share of Family Earnings Hits Historic High During the Second Year of the Great Recession," Carsey Institute, University of New Hampshire. (PDF)
New Report, "Women-Owned Businesses in the 21st Century," U.S. Department of Commerce.
"Poverty Rate Rose Sharply in 2009," New York Times, 9/16/2010
"How Retirement Planning Shortchanges Women," Wall Street Journal, 9/12/2010
New! Follow the Twitter feed of the USDA Cooperative Extension personal finance experts.
"Families and Credit Cards" and "Credit Cards - What You Need to Know," educational brochures available in five languages (Consumer Action).
Alliance for Economic Inclusion, FDIC
Debt Reduction Resources, America Saves Week
Research Report: "Financial Literacy and Financial Sophistication in the Older Population." University of Michigan Retirement Research Center.
Family Farm Finances, University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension.
"Working Mothers in the Great Recession." U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee, May 2010.
"What You Need to Know: New Credit Card Rules." Federal Reserve Board of Governors.
"The New Money Rules for Recent Graduates." New York Times, 5/7/2010
"Working Financial Literacy Into the Classroom." New York Times, 4/9/2010
Youth Saves Resources, America Saves Week.
 New from NCSL for 2012!
Federal Earned Income Tax Credit: What Legislators Need to Know.
 The Network in Louisville:
NCSL Legislative Summit 2010
Credit vs. Debit
NCSL Communications, Financial Services and Interstate Commerce Committee
There are differences between debit and credit cards and how each is used as a payment instrument. How do the recent credit card reform and the financial regulatory reform legislation affect debit cards, liability and unauthorized transactions, overdraft fees and other charges/fees for the privilege of using the debit card? For merchants, there appear to be distinct advantages to encouraging the use of debit cards. Debit card transactions exceed those now of credit cards—-are they subject to similar regulations and protections afforded to credit cardholders? How are states regulating this payment instrument?
Moderators:
- Senator Karin Brownlee, Kansas, CFI Vice Chair
- Melissa Calderwood, Kansas, CFI Staff Chair
Speakers:
- Jean Ann Fox, Director of Consumer Protection, Consumer Federation of America, Washington, D.C.
- Ron Gagliardi, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Kentucky Telco Federal Credit Union, Louisville, Kentucky
- Richard Santoro, Vice President, Government Affairs, MasterCard Worldwide, New York
Handouts:
Boosting Savings in Troubled Times
Americans who develop a savings habit create a cushion in case of emergency and strengthen the country’s financial foundation. Research shows that even the poorest Americans will save money with relevant incentives and access to savings opportunities. This session highlighted innovative public/private approaches—from outreach campaigns by banks to video games—that engage more people in traditional financial services.
Moderator:
- Representative Rosie Berger, Wyoming
Speakers:
Eloy Villafranca's PowerPoint
Peter Tufano's PowerPoint
Video recording of the session.
Maximizing Public Investments in Tight Budget Times
NCSL/Annie E. Casey Partnership on Family Economic Success
Research and evaluation help lawmakers identify what a state is getting for the activities it undertakes and the funds it spends on behalf of its citizens. Tight budgets provide an opportunity to assess the policies and programs that are most effective. This session highlighted the importance of research, performance measures and evaluation to improve outcomes for working families.
Moderator
- Representative David Heaton, Iowa
Speakers
- Kathy McGuire, Deputy Director, Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA), Florida
- Arlene Lee, Senior Associate, Center for the Study of Social Policy, Washington, D.C.
Audio recording of this session.
Network Luncheon: Women 4 Women of Louisville
Following the Network's business meeting, Margo Waddell, with Women 4 Women, discussed her organization's work. Women 4 Women is a Louisville organization dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls. Finance 4 Her is a financial education program that teaches women basic money management -- budgeting, saving, planning ahead. After the course, Women 4 Women pairs students with volunteer financial coaches who meet with them regularly to keep them motivated and on track.
Presiding:
- Representative Elsie Arntzen, Montana
Speaker:
- Margo Waddell, director of programs, Women 4 Women, Louisville, Kentucky
Margo Waddell's PowerPoint presentation.
Finance 4 Her's free downloadable curriculum.
 NCSL Compilation of 2009 Earned Income Tax Credit-related Enactments More.
 Presentations and Materials from the 2009 Financial Stability Seminar in San Diego, California
Sessions included outreach to underbanked populations, the financial status of women, credit scoring, and financial education. More.
 The Network in Philadelphia:
NCSL Legislative Summit 2009
Network Luncheon: WORC of Philadelphia
The Women's Opportunities Resource Center (WORC) is a Philadelphia success story. It promotes social and economic self-sufficiency for women by providing training, small business start-up loans, incentive savings programs, and access to a network of resources. Lynne Cutler talked about founding WORC, the programs it offers, and the success stories of former program participants. Elsie Dixon, a graduate of the WORC Self Employment Assistance Program, shared the story of how she started her own business after being laid off.
Underbanked and Financially Underserved
What if you didn’t have a checking or savings account? How would you cash your paycheck? What if you needed money to cover an emergency? Some10 million American households are without bank accounts. Known as the “unbanked,” they often use check cashing services, payday lenders, wire transfers and refund anticipation loans. Panelists shared demographic data about underbanked consumers, discussed barriers to their involvement with traditional banks, and highlighted new strategies that encourage mainstream financial market participation. This session was a collaboration between the Network and the NCSL Communications, Financial Services and Interstate Commerce Committee.
Moderator:
- Mike Sunseri, Kentucky, CFI Committee Staff Chair
Panelists: (Biographies)
- Matt Fellowes, Director, Safe Banking Opportunities Project, Pew Charitable Trust, Washington, D.C.
- Randi Marmer, Assistant Vice President, Community Relations, TruMark Financial Credit Union, Pennsylvania
Matt Fellowes PowerPoint Presentation.
FDIC National Bank and Household Unbanked and Underbanked Surveys.
State Foreclosure Solutions: Are They Working?
State policymakers have crafted programs to help homeowners facing foreclosure. Panelists described three state programs (in Connecticut, Kentucky and Pennsylvania) designed to keep people in their homes.
Panelists: (Biographies)
- M. Dona Palmer, Business Development Manager, Homeownership Programs Division, Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, Pennsylvania
- Roberta Palmer, Program Manager, Court Operations, State of Connecticut Judicial Branch, Connecticut
- Brenda Walker, Senior Director of Homeownership, Kentucky Housing Corporation, Kentucky
Dona Palmer PowerPoint Presentation.
Roberta Palmer PowerPoint Presentation.
Brenda Walker PowerPoint Presentation.
NCSL's database of 2009 foreclosure legislation.
Presentations and Materials from the 2008 Financial Stability Conference in Atlanta, Georgia
Sessions included economic and legislative updates, information about financial education programs, unbanked populations, and women and retirement. More.
Fast Facts: Women and Asset Development
(Women's Legislative Network News, Vol. 18, No. 2, Fall 2006)
One of the most important pathways to success is asset ownership. An “asset” is defined as a single item of ownership that has exchange value, such as cash savings; stocks; bonds; home, business and real estate equity; and retirement savings. Some statistics about women and asset ownership:
• The average income gap (women earn 76 cents for every $1 earned by men) contributes to a lifetime loss of $300,000.
• 45 percent of women are “asset poor;” they do not have enough financial resources to cover basic needs for more than three months if their income is disrupted.
• Today, 25 percent of female-headed households have zero or negative net worth.
• Widowed women fare the best of all female-headed households, but they have only 59 cents for every $1 of wealth owned by widowed men.
• Never-married women own less than 25 percent of the wealth of never-married men.
• Divorced African American women hold only 10 percent of the median wealth of their divorced male counterparts.
• Women are less likely to have income from pensions than men (30 percent vs. 47 percent), and their pension benefits are less than half of men’s, on average.
• Women and minorities are more likely to be working in low-wage jobs that do not offer affordable health insurance or retirement benefits.
Source: Heather McCulloch, Principal, Asset Building Strategies, 2005.
The Network in New Orleans:
NCSL Legislative Summit 2008
What Is the Financial Status of American Women? Perception vs. Reality
This session was the kick-off event for the Financial Stability Project.
Faculty: Marsha A. Goetting, Professor and Extension Family Economics Specialist, Agricultural Economics and Economics Department, Montana State University.
Dr. Goetting led participants in an interactive session to test their knowledge of women's economic situation. She shared data about per capita income, multiple job holders, the poverty threshold, health care coverage, credit card debt and retirement savings. Using Montana as an example, Dr. Goetting suggested legislators contact their State Research, Education & Extension Services, as many states have Family & Consumer Science programs with financial education resources.
Listen to a recording of this session.
Dr. Goetting's PowerPoint presentation [ ]
Dr. Goetting's data and sources for further information []
Convening: The Legislator's Powerful Role
This interactive, full-afternoon workshop explained the legislator’s critical role as a convenor to help solve problems in both the district and the statehouse. Experienced legislators and other trainers, from the Policy Consensus Initiative and NCSL, led participants in learning the principles and best practices, including the use of technology, and then applying them to real-life examples. Part 1 of the workshop explained the purpose of convening and outlined some tools for success. Part 2 guided participants through planning their own convening processes.
Convening community members to work through an issue is a critical skill and will be addressed throughout the Financial Stability Project.
Trainers:
Representative Kathy Tingelstad, Minnesota
Roger Moe, Former Senate President, Minnesota
Ralph Becker, Mayor, Salt Lake City, Former House Minority Leader, Utah
Lana Oleen, Consultant, Former Senate Majority Leader, Kansas
Tara Perkinson, Deputy Clerk, Senate, Virginia
Greg Wolf, Director, Policy Consensus Initiative, Oregon
Sarah Giles, Program Coordinator, Policy Consensus Initiative, Oregon
Peggy Kerns, Director, NCSL Center for Ethics in Government, Colorado
Katie Ziegler, Policy Specialist, NCSL Women’s Legislative Network, Colorado
Bruce Feustel, Senior Fellow, NCSL, Colorado
Presentation: Convening []
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