Best Practices

In this section, Consumer Action's outreach and training staff share tips, best practices and pointers to help you design your trainings.

• CFPB Watch: Elders at risk of eviction, credit bureau lapses, and a big birthday
  The Bureau’s newest tool helps renters (and landlords) locate local emergency rental assistance programs for help repaying up to 18 months in back rent and utilities.
• Don’t leave thousands on the table this season
  Consumer Action has just published an updated version of our Get Credit for Your Hard Work guide reflecting increases in income limits and credit amounts. The guide for the 2021 tax-filing season (i.e., 2020 tax returns due in April) is available to download now in English, Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese. A Korean translation will be available by mid-January.
• The enduring impact of racism on your finances
  In an era of “alternative facts” and the ongoing systemic persecution of Black Americans, Consumer Action felt it critical to dedicate our Fall 2020 Consumer Action News to the impact of race on personal finances. The latest free quarterly newsletter examines the areas of individual and household finances most affected by entrenched racism—from car and student loans to mortgages and auto insurance. In each area, Consumer Action explores leading proposals for dismantling these barriers to financial inclusion.
• CFPB Watch: Flagrant redlining, fake foreclosures, and stimulus funds
  The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is suing non-bank mortgage lender Townstone Financial Inc. for redlining.
• Out & About: Black women talk finances
  Audrey Perrott attended the Currency Conversations campaign with our network of community-based organizations.
• PACE home improvement loans: Borrowers beware!
  Things your clients should know before pursuing a PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) program loan. While they sound like a dream come true for cash-strapped homeowners, the dream has turned into a nightmare for many, since PACE loans have minimal underwriting guidelines and limited consumer protections.
• Help and savings hacks for income tax season
  Consumer Action provides additional resources to help you with your 2017 tax preparation.
• Bank On San Francisco connects consumers with checking, savings accounts
  Consumer Action and our partners provided details on the Bank On San Francisco program in the last quarters of 2017.
• A hidden gem for housing professionals
  The article explains how Counselor's Corner provides the tools and resources for housing counseling professionals.
• Out and About: New credit building toolkit and certification program
  Consumer Action’s Audrey Perrott attended the credit building training from Credit Builders Alliance’s (CBA).
• Educational sessions on elder financial abuse, ID theft and more
  Consumer Action’s Linda Williams presented top ten financial scams targeting seniors.
• Out and About: Earthquake insurance for CA residents
  Consumer Action encourages consumers to stay adequately insured and to reassess their insurance needs annually based on life changes.
• Out and About: A rule to close the payday pit of despair
  Consumer Action supports stronger federal consumer protections against payday loans
• Out and About: More transparency and accuracy in credit reporting
  Consumer Action’s Audrey Perrott attended a Credit Builders Alliance webinar titled What you need to know about new credit reporting requirements: Impacts of the NCAP for reporters and others.
• Out and About: Measuring your financial health
  Center for Financial Services Innovation (CFSI) hosted a webinar entitled Measuring Financial Health: Eight Key Metrics, in which they presented their research on the eight ways to measure financial health in a holistic way.
• Review the car purchase contract before signing
  Rose Chan, consumer advice coordinator at Consumer Action, advised consumers to study car purchase contract carefully before signing it.
• Fifty shades of gray: The confusing world of Social Security and Medicare
  Consumer Action Outreach team taught the attendants the right strategy for Medicare and Social Security benefits.
• EMERGE conference promotes financial inclusion for underserved
  The EMERGE conference brought together stakeholders to network and generate ideas for the financially underserved market.
• Protecting privacy in an era of smart police
  The California Department of Justice convened a forum on “smart policing” technologies.
• Is your ‘Check credit report’ light blinking?
  This article answers your questions on why you should check your credit reports and other information regarding credit reports.
• Hotline Chronicles: Can undocumented person get a credit card?
  Get the details on what financial institutions look for in a credit card application for undocumented person.
• MoneyWi$e: Then and now
  Consumer Action has trained many community partners at various meetings since 2002, and continues to enhance the MoneyWi$e training experience.
• No docs, no bank account? Keep looking!
  Consumer Action's Nelson Santiago, who works at the Los Angeles office, works with community-based organizations focusing on immigrants.
• Business opportunity or pyramid scheme?
  This article offers advice when considering a business opportunity that might be a pyramid scheme.
• Effective training, publications evaluation process vital to our success
  Consumer Action continues to tweak its evaluation process to ensure we receive the greatest participation and most detailed feedback from those who use our materials and attend our training events.
• Flipcharts the fairest of all
  Suggestions to help you add a visual element to your trainings.
• Coping with stage fright
  This month "Tips for Training Success" discusses practices and techniques that will help you avoid stage fright.
• MoneyWi$e financial education for the military
  Watch a YouTube video about Consumer Action's financial literacy outreach to military families.
• Speaking effectively to your audience
  This month "Tips for Training Success" discusses how you can improve your presentations skills to speak more effectively to your audience.
• Using body language
  This month "Tips for Training Success" discusses how you can use body language to make your trainings more effective.
• Preparation and practice makes perfect
  This month Tips for Training Success discusses how to prepare for a presentation.
• Lead without taking the reins
  This month Tips for Training Success discusses techniques for effective facilitation.
• Give your ‘pitch’ a facelift
  This month "Tips for Training Success" discusses the need for an effective and engaging "quick pitch" to get your message across.
• Facilitator behavior and strategies
  This month Tips for Training Success offers tips for improving your behavior and effectiveness as a facilitator.