Financial Empowerment Center
Welcome to our Financial Empowerment Center:
Your Pathway to Financial Literacy and Independence
Within the Financial Empowerment Center, you’ll discover a curated collection of financial literacy materials, including easy-to-understand links, definitions, and resources, generously shared by leading financial education providers. Our aim is to demystify financial concepts and practices, making them accessible and actionable for you.
As part of our commitment to providing holistic support, we’re also excited to announce that we will soon be adding our own series of educational videos, tailored specifically to the needs and concerns of widows. These videos are being developed to offer you guidance, insights, and actionable steps to help you regain stability and build a secure financial foundation for yourself and your family.
Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to build on your existing knowledge, the Financial Empowerment Center is here to support your journey towards financial literacy and independence. We believe that with the right information and support, you can emerge from this challenging time stronger and more empowered to make informed financial decisions.
Thank you for trusting Wings for Widows as your partner in financial empowerment. We’re here to guide, educate, and support you every step of the way.
Northwestern Mutual Finance Fundamentals
Investing for Beginners
Investing is a great first step toward building wealth for yourself and your family. Here’s a quick investing 101 to help get you started.
Building a Portfolio
Putting your money to work with a successful investing strategy is a core component in generating long-term wealth. But what exactly does it mean to build a portfolio?
Smart Investing
Whether you’re new to investing or an old pro, investing includes a lot of uncertainty. The most successful investors rely on fundamental principles.
Financial Terms
Whenever you hear someone speak personal finance, do you feel like you’re learning a foreign language? This handy glossary should help
What is Security?
Ever come across the word “security” while Googling how to invest and felt a bit confused?
What is Financial Planning?
Financial planning can help you meet your financial goals and celebrate life’s milestones with a sense of security.
The Difference Between Stocks & Bonds
You’ve probably heard the terms stocks and bonds before, but what are they exactly?
Health Savings Account (HSA)
There’s more to it as a tax-advantaged account to save money for medical costs.
What is a Financial Advisor?
When it comes to finances, you also need to seek the help of a professional.
Estate Planning Checklist
Anyone over the age of 18 could benefit from a little estate planning 101. It helps ensure that your wishes for yourself, your family, and your assets are carried out in the event of your illness or death.
What is a 529 Plan?
Did you know that there is a way to save for college that could help you save on your tax bill too?
What is a Trust?
Do you know what would happen to your money and your other assets if you passed away?
What is a Permanent Life Insurance Policy?
When you help to support a family, you’re likely to think about how your family would be taken care of if you were to die. That’s what life insurance is for.
What is a Roth IRA?
IRA (individual retirement account) has two types: a traditional and a Roth. Know how they’re different in their tax implications.
What is Term Life Insurance?
Term life insurance can be an inexpensive way to help them financially if the unthinkable happens to you.
How to Choose a Trustee or Guardian for Your Children
How can you take care of your children if something were to happen to you?
What is a Life Insurance Beneficiary?
Do you have someone you want to protect financially when you’re no longer around to provide for them? Designate them as your beneficiary on your policy.
The Difference Between a Credit Score and a Credit Report
How do you tell whether your credit is in good shape? The keys to knowing that lie in both credit reports and scores.
How Does Life Insurance Work?
Protect the people you love in the event something happens to you.
What is a 401(k)?
Start saving for retirement as early as now with a 401(k).
The Difference Between a CrediComparing Term and Whole Life Insurancet Score and a Credit Report
Wondering whether to choose term life insurance or whole life insurance?
What Happens to Debt When You Die?
Someone is going to have to sort out your finances, including any debt you may have.
Bank Of America Better Money Habits
Saving & Budgeting
Steps for creating a budget, sticking to it, and building savings.
Credit
How to manage credit and build a strong credit history.
Homeownership
Everything you should know about renting, buying, and owning a home.
Personal Banking
Information on how banks work, managing your accounts, and teaching your kids about money.
College
Ways to make paying for college more manageable.
Investing
How to invest, build wealth, and save for retirement.
Debt
Strategies for managing debt and paying off credit cards.
Auto
Pointers for every step of the car-buying process.
Taxes & Income
Guidance on tax planning and making the most of your pay and benefits.
Privacy & Security
Ways to keep your financial information safe and prevent identity theft.
Consumer Federal Protection
Bureau Consumer Education
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Auto Loans
Whether you’re planning to get a car or having trouble managing your auto loan, we have unbiased resources and tools to help you get the best deal and avoid surprises that can cost you money.
Money Transfers
When sending money, you want to be confident that it will get there. Our resources explain your rights and how to take action if an error occurs.
Bank Accounts & Services
When choosing and using your bank or credit union account, it’s important to know your options.
Mortgages
Whether you’re thinking of buying a home, already have a home loan, or are having trouble paying your mortgage, we have resources to help you every step of the way.
Credit Cards
Whether you’re thinking of buying a home, already have a home loan, or are having trouble paying your mortgage, we have resources to help you every step of the way.
Payday Loans
When you’re considering a payday loan, or when you’re paying one back, it’s important to understand how they work and know your rights.
Credit Reports & Scores
Understand credit reports and scores, learn how to correct errors and improve your credit record over time.
Prepaid Cards
Choose the right prepaid card or account for you and better understand your rights.
Debt Collection
Our resources, including guidance on the CFPB’s Debt Collection Rule, can help you understand how debt collection works and what your rights are.
Reverse Mortgages
Learn more about Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs), the most common type of reverse mortgage loan.
Student Loans
Whether you are preparing for college, attending school, or already repaying your student loans, we have tools and resources to help you make the best decisions for you.
FDIC Money Smart
Your Money Values & Influences
Internal values and goals, external influences, and their relationships to financial decisions.
You Can Bank On It
Financial products, services, and providers.
Your Income & Expenses
How to track income and expenses.
Your Spending & Savings Plan
How to develop a spending and saving plan, and how to prioritize spending when money is short.
Your Savings
Saving money for expenses, goals, and emergencies.
Credit Reports & Scores
Credit reports and scores, building productive credit histories, and repairing and improving credit.
Borrowing Basics
Options for borrowing money and the costs.
Managing Debt
Different kinds of debt and ways to manage it.
Using Credit Cards
How credit cards work and how to manage them.
Building Your Financial Future
Ways to build assets, including buying a car and getting training and education.
Protecting Your Identity and Other Assets
Ways to recognize, respond to, and reduce the risks of identity theft, along with strategies for protecting other assets.
Making Housing Decisions
Different types of safe and affordable housing, including specific information on renting.
Buying a Home
The home buying process, including mortgages.
Your Money Values & Influences Disasters: Financial Preparation and Recovery
How to financially prepare for and recover from disasters.
WISER
WISER Fact Sheet Library
You will find an assortment of helpful fact sheets including:
- Managing Income
- Savings, Debt and credit
- Retirement; Social Security
- Investment Basics
- Health, Long-term Term Care, and Insurance
- Taxes
- Home Ownership
- Financial Caregiving
All are downloadable in PDF format.
Calculate your RISE Score
Will you have enough retirement income to cover your essential expenses and live the life you want? The Retirement Income Security Evaluation (RISE) Score® is a measure of income security that can help you determine any gaps between your expected retirement income and monthly expenses.
Widowhood Resources
Women are 3x more likely to experience the death of a spouse than men. For many women, widowhood means taking on and making important decisions about current and future financial, legal, and personal matters at a particularly difficult time.
Social Security Resources
Social Security is an essential source of income for widows. It is never too early to start understanding Social Security benefits for you and your family.