The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) adopted a resolution today to become an official co-sponsor of 2011 Metro Washington Financial Planning Day during its September 14 Board of Directors meeting. The collaboration is part of a first-of-its kind effort involving local governments and thousands of financial planners nationwide united in an effort to provide free financial education and programming to communities throughout the U.S.

COG’s endorsement of the Financial Planning Day initiative aligns with its own strategic plan for 2011. In the resolution, COG recognizes the “national recession had a significant impact on the ability of individuals and families to not only afford essentials but plan for their future,” and “improving financial education and planning skills of residents in the National Capital Region is key to helping emerge from the economic downturn.”

Metro Washington Financial Planning Day is organized by the Government of District of Columbia, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and the Financial Planning Association of the National Capital Area, and is part of a national Financial Planning Days initiative created by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Financial Planning Association, Foundation for Financial Planning and the U.S. Conference of Mayors. 

The event will be held at the Columbia Heights Educational Campus (Bell Multicultural High School) in Washington, DC and will feature experts from the Financial Planning Association® and highly qualified CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professionals, all volunteering their time and expertise to work with local residents one-on-one to address important financial issues. 

Financial planners will be set up at their own tables to meet one-on-one with attendees to answer questions on getting out of debt, retirement planning, investment strategies, income taxes, insurance, mortgages and foreclosures, among many other topics.  The advice will be offered on a “no strings attached” basis and planners will not give out business cards or sell financial products or services.
 
TO PARTICIPATE:  Metro Washington Financial Planning Day is free and open to the public.  Free online registration is available at www.FinancialPlanningDays.org/DC, or by calling toll free at 877-861-7826. Walk-ins are also welcome.

Note to the Media: Members of the news media are invited to attend the event and interview the organizers. We will also have attendees available for interviews. The event will be held on October 15 at the Columbia Heights Educational Campus (Bell Multicultural High School) in Washington, DC.  Events will begin at 10:30 am and will run until 4:00 pm.  The venue is conveniently located just one block west from the Columbia Heights Metro Station on the Green and Yellow Lines.  Paid parking is available at the nearby DC USA Shopping Center. 

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