Family Financial Skills

The Massachusetts legislature is looking at funding for asset building anti-poverty strategies through two separate bills. The House budget provides resources to implement a financial education program aimed at Gateway City students in the k-12 public school system. The Senate budget restores $100,000 in funding for state Individual Development Accounts, which help low-income individuals build savings.

By Ben Forman

Family asset building is steadily emerging as an economic development strategy with the potential to strengthen Gateway Cities. The approach is focused on supporting individuals and helping them gain assets that provide long-term economic stability. As noted in a recent evaluation conducted by the UMass-Boston McCormack School, the benefits of this approach can translate into real gains for local economies.

By John Schneider

By John Schneider

I sat down with Tony Broh, author of our latest report, "Planning for College: A Consumer Approach to the Higher Education Marketplace", to discuss major themes in this new research.

By Marj Malpiede

One of the many lessons that has come out of the sub-prime mortgage crisis, if not the entire economic downturn, is the need for new thinking in the areas of financial literacy and consumer protection.  As part of new program called Family Financial  Skills, MassINC pulled together a group of experts to discuss what can be done to increase citizen’s education on financial services while addressing the increased risks families are forced to undertake.