Money Talks

Workforce Wednesdays is a program from the Education Department of MPB. Dr. Tara Wren, Director of Education and Jasmine Harvey, Student Engagement Specialist are with us today to explain the initiative and let us know how anyone in Mississippi can participate.   https://gettingtowork.mpbonline.org/ https://education.mpbonline.org/

Participants in Workforce Wednesday get information about workforce development including mentoring programs, apprenticeships, work-based learning and soft skills. With the pandemic these networking get togethers are virtual so anyone can participate.

Workforce Wednesday occurs every third Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. It’s a service of the Education Department of Mississippi Public Broadcasting.

Project SEARCH Mississippi:

An MDRS Workforce Initiative

September 15, 2021

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Project SEARCH connects high school seniors with disabilities to employers waiting to hire them after they graduate. Learn more about this program and how your school or employer can get involved.

Videos:

• Confessions of a Word Nerd - February 2021 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji1YBYS_kuA&ab_channel=MPBEducation
• How to Improve Your Personal Brand on Zoom - March 2021 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIjElyuzsGk&t=14s&ab_channel=MPBEducation
• Please Wear Pants to Work – April 2021 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctLxbZ0dsc4&t=1664s&ab_channel=MPBEducation
• Customer Service Still Matters – May 2021  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ut-NhDPV--I&ab_channel=MPBEducation
• Getting Back to Work in Mississippi – June 2021 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4PXQbos m8k&ab_channel=MPBEducation
• American Graduate Path to the Future – July 2021  https://youtu.be/F_qdZeMrsNk
• Customer Service Employment Academy – August 2021  https://youtu.be/-FQNTx1XtXk

Past Workforce Wednesdays with blog summaries:

• Lunch and Learn with CN Railroad https://gettingtowork.mpbonline.org/blogs/community-events/lunch-and-learn-workforce-wednesday-with-cn-railroad/
• MS Coding Academy featured at Workforce Wednesday https://gettingtowork.mpbonline.org/blogs/community-events/workforce-wednesday-with-ms-coding-academy/
• Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann speaks at MPB's Workforce Wednesday Luncheon  https://gettingtowork.mpbonline.org/blogs/community-events/secretary-of-state-delbert-hosemann-speaks-at-mpbs-workforce-wednesday-luncheon/
• Counselor's Workforce https://gettingtowork.mpbonline.org/blogs/community-events/counselors-workforce-luncheon/
• Military OneSource Offers Myriad Services to Service Members and https://gettingtowork.mpbonline.org/blogs/community-events/military-onesource-offers-myriad-services-to-service-members-and-civilians/
• Why Hiring a Veteran is a Plus for Employers https://gettingtowork.mpbonline.org/blogs/community-events/why-hiring-a-veteran-is-a-plus-for-employers/
• Murphy Shares Lessons on Mentoring at Workforce Wednesday Event https://gettingtowork.mpbonline.org/blogs/community-events/murphy-shares-lessons-on-mentoring-at-workforce-wednesday-event/
• Commissioner Cecil Brown shares state’s problems, solutions during Workforce Wednesday Luncheon https://gettingtowork.mpbonline.org/blogs/community-events/commissioner-cecil-brown-shares-states-problems-solutions-during-workforce-wednesday-luncheon/
• Apprenticeship is a workforce development solution benefiting individuals and employers   https://gettingtowork.mpbonline.org/blogs/community-events/apprenticeship-is-a-workforce-development-solution-benefiting-individuals-and-employers/
• Waller talks opportunity, career coaches and strengthening Mississippi's workforce https://gettingtowork.mpbonline.org/blogs/community-events/waller-talks-opportunity-career-coaches-and-strengthening-mississippis-workforce/

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We’ve got a variety of financial scenarios to discuss today. Maybe one of them speaks to your financial mindset. Listen along and ask questions about your situation. 

Discussions:

• state income tax elimination
• 9/11/2001 impact on US's financial markets
• Parents who haven't saved for college
• Caring for aging parents
• Worrying about cybercrime
• What if I lose all my money

Questions:

• disabilty insurance
• earned income and social security
• advisor
• paying for a nursing home

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With identity and data theft on the rise, we’d like to suggest what you can do now and if you are informed of a data breach. 

Discussion:

• Ida on the economy
• COVID on the economy
• how to get a credit report
• what will they ask
• why freeze creating new credit
• after you freeze your credit
• if your credit report is wrong
• check your Social Security Information at ssa.gov

You might not be able to keep your data from being stolen but we’ve got tips on what to do if it is. These are tips anyone can use to protect their bank account, the retirement, their credit record. ? https://www.fultonbank.com/Education-Center/Privacy-and-Security/personal-data-breach-tips

1. Change your passwords                
2. Sign up for two-factor authentication
3. Check for updates from the company
4. Watch your accounts, check your credit reports
5. Consider identity theft protection services
6. Freeze your credit
7. Identitytheft.gov

Cyver Security podcast from Aug. 9the 2019 http://moneytalks.mpbonline.org/episodes/money-talks-cyber-security

Check your credit report: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2021/03/free-weekly-credit-reports-during-covid-extended-until-april-2022

Phone numbers for the 3 credit reporting bureaus:

Equifax:1 (888) 766-0008             

Experian:1 (888) 397-3742  

TransUnion:1 (800) 680-7289

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Your emergency fund is our topic today. How large should YOUR fund be, where should you keep your emergency fund, what IS a financial emergency and what isn’t. In addition, Ryder takes your personal finance questions.

Calls:

• working with a CPA
• credit profiling
• do you need a credit score

Further information:

https://www.bigpictureloans.com/blog/what-is-financial-emergency-what-is-not

https://www.bigpictureloans.com/blog/get-money-fast-financial-emergency

https://due.com/blog/what-is-considered-a-financial-emergency/

https://www.forbes.com/advisor/banking/best-places-to-keep-your-emergency-fund/

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It’s an Open topic show today. We have emails we’ll address on various topics. We have money saving tips and a suggestion to calm your financial fears. And we take your questions. 

Discussion:

• decrease of retail spending
• war isn't "good" for economy
• email - canceling credit cards https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2021/03/free-weekly-credit-reports-during-covid-extended-until-april-2022
• how many credit cards do I have Call 1-877-322-8228
• sell or rent out property?
• can you have a zero credit score
• email - ibonds
• fear of finance after breadwinner dies
• FEMA funeral assistance https://www.fema.gov/disaster/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance
• pandemic money lessons https://www.fool.com/the-ascent/personal-finance/articles/5-money-saving-hacks-our-readers-swear-by/
• https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/what-to-buy-august

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What can you do with a houseful of Grandma’s things? Where can you go to find that perfect retro dining set? Maybe you need to learn about auctions. We’re happy to have Dwight Stephens from Stephens Auction House with us today to answer our questions about this method of shopping and selling. 

Suggested website:

• https://www.auctionzip.com/
• https://www.liveauctioneers.com/
• https://www.mississippiauctioneers.org/
• https://www.keyauctioneers.com/auction-tips/

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We’ve got some personal finance statistics to share with you today. We hope by learning these facts you can change your life or help someone you care about change theirs. Our data comes from Morningstar. Their website says:

Morningstar has been empowering investors since 1984 through research. https://www.morningstar.com/company

Discussion:

• COVID rates in Mississippi
• Inflation talk
• ways to gather finanical information
• The Earnings Gap - why?
• Retirement funds
• Importance of savings

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IRAs and Roth IRAs - what are the rules if you need to withdraw money? How do you set one up? What’s the difference between the 2 anyway? What about an inherited IRA or RMDs?

• What about the new rules concerning RMDs – required minimum distributions?
• Why do we have RMDs?
• Who takes them?
• When do you have to take them?
• Is there a special time of the year to take them?
• What can you do or what can you NOT do with the funds?

Calls:

• RMD to a charity
• inherited IRA
• what to do with an old employers 401K
• SIMPLE IRAs: Savings Incentive Match PLan for Employees
• email
• difference between IRA and 401K RMD
• limit to contributions
• how kids learn money skills http://moneytalks.mpbonline.org/episodes/money-talks-kids-learning https://mscee.org/
• money and taxes

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It’s less than 6 months before the gift giving holidays at the end of the year. Time to remind ourselves to not go into holiday debt. We’ve got some tips to discuss between your personal finance questions. 

Discussion:

• child tax credit - different amounts depending on age of child and income. IT'S AN ADVANCE CHILD TAX CREDIT ON TAX RETURN. If you want to "opt out" go to https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021

10 tips for avoiding holiday debt:

1) Start with a firm budget for the holidays. Include gifts, decorations, travel, Christmas cards and even stamps. What did you spend last year? What are you comfortable spending this year?

2) Make a gift list and stick to it. Keep track of your spending.

3) Pay in cash. Studies have shown that consumers spend less when paying cash.

4) Pay off current credit card debt before adding additional charges. 

5) If you’re crafty, start now making gifts. 

6) Start tucking away a portion of each paycheck into a holiday fund now.

7) Sell some items for extra cash.

8) Use your card’s rewards points or cash rewards for holiday shopping.

9) Set expectations for the gift exchange.

10) Book holiday travel early.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/billhardekopf/2020/11/17/10-tips-to-avoid-credit-card-debt-during-the-holidays/

https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/home-and-family/how-to/how-to-avoid-holiday-debt

https://www.biblemoneymatters.com/begin-preparing-now-for-christmas-expenses-to-avoid-holiday-debt/

https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/blog/five-step-spending-plan-avoid-holiday-debt/

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We’ve got one of our long-time guests on the show today – Shawn Mercer, from the Social Security Administration. He’ll take your social security questions. Our expert hosts take your personal finance questions. 

https://www.ssa.gov/

The social security administration has gotten nimble with looking up baby names. You can read the top national names. You can look up the top 100 names per state. You can also look up the most popular names by year. https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/

There are 23 Social Security Offices in Mississippi.

The phone number for Social Security in Jackson is 1-866-331-8135

For Olive Branch the phone number is 1-866-739-4771

If you need to reach the Gulfport office, you can call 1-877-897-0609

https://www.ssofficelocation.com/mississippi-social-security-offices-sos24

If you like little tips and tricks about social security, when you go to the ssa dot gov website – if you scroll to the bottom and click on “Connect with us – Blog” you’ll find informational articles from time to time.  https://blog.ssa.gov/

Calls:

• getting married
• unemployment benefits
• 62 year old
• how much can you earn?
• SSDI increase
• RMD
• disability time limit
• remarried and benefits
• ex-spouse benefits
• RMD
• kids and disability
• social security "year"
• can payment date be moved?
• divorced

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