Personal Finance: Get Smart About Money
Are you ready to get smart about money?
Milwaukee Public Library has resources that can help you reach your personal financial goals.
Whether you're looking to buy your own home, invest for college, or get out of debt, we want to help.
Investment Database
For complete stock and investment research, turn to Value Line. Online access to the Investment Survey is available. The Investment Survey, Small & Midcap Survey, and Special Situations Service, are all available in print at the Business & Technology Room at the Central Library. Available to City of Milwaukee library card holders.
Personal Finance Basics
For information on budgeting, buying a car, dealing with debt, avoiding scams, and more the FTC Consumer Information website is a great resource.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
The CFPB provides tools to make better financial decisions regarding budgets, banking products, and long term goals. The Ask CFPB tool provides impartial answers to many financial questions. The organization also works to protect consumers regarding financial products.
Federal Financial Literacy and Education Commission
The website mymoney.gov provides materials from a collection of agencies focused on improving financial literacy skills. The website provides information on earning, borrowing, saving, and investing for all ages.
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
FINRA provides basic protections and unbiased tools for investors. The website includes budgets, calculators, and general information on college savings, retirement, investments, and financial scams.
Turn to Gale Legal Forms when performing do-it-yourself Wisconsin legal work. Types of forms included are those used for divorce, wills & estates, real estate, bankruptcy, power of attorney, name changes, landlord & tenant, paternity and small business. Sample letters are also available to use as models. The forms in this database are integrated with the Gale Small Business Builder product to help small business owners meet legal requirements of starting a business. Available to City of Milwaukee library card holders.
For one week each spring organizations around the country focus on providing financial information, including many libraries. Any time of year you can review financial resources on the Money Smart Week website and review past events.
Credit Counseling/Bankruptcy/Identity Theft
A resource provided by the Federal Trade Commission, you can report identity theft and get assistance with a recovery plan.
Identify Theft Resource Center
ITRC is a national resource center providing victim assistance at no cost to consumers throughout the U.S. If you believe you are the victim of identity theft you can contact the ITRC Victim Assistance Center Toll Free (888) 400-5530. The ITRC website also includes information on medical identity theft, child ID theft, and more.
National Foundation for Credit Counseling
NFCC is the nation's largest financial counseling organization with more than 600 community-based offices located in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. NFCC Member Agencies provide financial counseling and education to millions of consumers each year in person, over the phone, or online. To locate an NFCC Member Agency in your area call 800-388-2227. Para ayuda en Español Ilama al 800-682-9832.
You are entitled to receive one free copy of your credit report from the United States' official website, AnnualCreditReport.com. You may also request a report by phone by calling 1-877-322-8228. In addition, the postal mail address for requesting a report is:
Annual Credit Report Request Service
P.O. Box 105281
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281
Through this website you can get a copy of your credit report from the three main credit reporting agencies; Equifax, Experian, and Transunion.