the future of personal finance

The Future Of Personal Finance

The Future of Personal Finance Looks Toward Inclusion and Places a Focus on Improving Financial Health

Personal finance is the management of your financial resources through different strategies such as planning, saving, investing, and spending. In other words, personal finance includes all aspects of managing your finances, whether they be short- or long-term, as well as how your financial condition changes throughout your lifetime.

By understanding the fundamentals of personal finance, you can better grasp possibilities and solutions to improve your finances. This knowledge can assist you in setting a budget for immediate requirements while making long-term financial plans. To give you a clearer idea, this article will offer key information about personal finance and how it can catalyze building a more equitable and balanced financial future.

Financial Literacy

Understanding and being proficient in the use of different financial skills, such as investing, budgeting, and personal financial management, is known as financial literacy. The cornerstone of your relationship with money is laid out by financial literacy, which is a lifetime learning process. The earlier you begin, the better off you will be — education is the secret to financial success.

Understanding Personal Finance

The greatest way to begin building a strong personal financial foundation is to improve financial literacy and better understand what personal finance is. It will be easier for you to identify ways to strengthen your own finances and achieve your short- and long-term financial goals once you have a better understanding of what they are.

Personal finance has many different components, yet they fall into one of five categories:

  • Income: It’s made up of your cash flow, or the money you receive from all sources, and is the cornerstone of your personal finances. Your salary, pension, Social Security benefits, rental income, business income, and investment income are all included.

  • Spending: It refers to the money that goes to covering all of your expenses, including food, rent, and even vacations, and other items in your life that need money.

  • Savings: It’s any money from your income that you set aside for the future rather than for immediate spending. Savings is a sum of money that can be used to cover both anticipated and unexpected future expenses.

  • Investing: Investments are expenditures that give you the chance to build savings or a future income. Purchases of mutual funds, equities, bonds, or real estate that you anticipate will provide a high rate of return are examples of investments.

  • Protection: These are financial products that you purchase and in return, they can offer monetary safety or protection against unforeseen financial expenses. Annuities, property or casualty insurance, life insurance, and health insurance are just a few examples of financial products that can be used to manage financial risk.

Financial Inclusion

Since personal finance is the management of anything financial, it encompasses:

  • Budgeting

  • Banking

  • Insurance

  • Mortgages

  • Investments

  • Retirement

  • Tax

  • Estate planning

  • Daily necessities

  • And more

To have solid personal finance management, you also need to understand what financial inclusion is. Financial inclusion refers to the availability to both individuals and businesses of useful and cost-effective financial goods and services, including payments, transactions, savings, credit, and insurance, that are provided sustainably and ethically. As a result, it’s important to have access to all of your financial transactions to better understand your financial inclusion.

Digitalization: Improved Access

The integration of various technologies and methods is referred to as finance digitalization, which enables the finance function to provide value in the digital era. It has the potential to increase the safety, convenience, and accessibility of financial services, all of which would be advantageous for consumers’ and enterprises’ financial health.

Digitalization is a top priority investment for the finance function. It improves processing times, boosts productivity, and lowers expenses. Given how important digitalization is for your finances, you’ll need a reliable source, such as Money Fit. They provide consumers with a range of debt relief solutions to assist them in building a bright financial future through the development of strong fundamental personal finance competencies. With Money Fit, you’ll have improved access to all of your financial transactions, understand your financial situation better, and have strong and advanced financial inclusion.

Essential Drivers for a Balanced and Fair Financial Future

The most common practices you may hear or observe from others in the effort to create a balanced and fair financial future are increasing your source of income, saving more money, and investing. You should work hard to secure a bright financial future, but how can you take these actions effectively? One of the best ways is innovation and working with an institution that has goals similar to yours.

Innovation

One of the best things to happen to humanity in the modern era is innovation. Most people’s lives are considerably improved as a result. But innovation is also a major factor in the finance industry. Because of financial innovation, ordinary people’s lives have improved. Numerous categories can be used to categorize financial innovation. There are advancements in corporate banking and personal banking.

Here are a few examples of financial innovations:

  • Automated Teller Machine (ATM)

  • Credit Cards

  • Electronic Banking

  • SWIFT Messaging System

  • Lockbox

  • Credit Default Swaps

  • Collateralized Debt Obligations

  • Securitization

  • Many more

Along with many other advances, financial innovation also includes better risk management, risk transfer, credit generation, and equity generation. With this type of financial innovation, you can have customized investments and improved wealth management. You’ll be more financially literate and sophisticated with your insurance premium calculations, debt management, and investment planning, which will help you create a solid financial future for yourself.

Partnerships With Institutions

One of the best ways to achieve your financial objectives and ensure a more fair and balanced financial future is to partner with organizations and institutions that share your financial goals. Here are some trustworthy companies and institutions with which you can partner.

Banking Institutions

One excellent strategy to ensure a stable and fair financial future is to collaborate with banking institutions like JP Morgan Chase. They are utilizing the power of technology to find and expand the appeal of the newest financial technology products and services that cater to the demands of people in need. They offer technological innovation and digitization that can help you on your path to achieving your financial goals. A bank company like JP Morgan Chase offers:

  • Financial Solutions: To develop, foster, and scale up novel concepts that improve the financial well-being of low- to moderate-income consumers and historically underserved communities.

  • Financial Inclusion: Foster creative, technologically-enabled solutions to address the financial well-being of consumers.

  • Catalyst Fund: BFA Global’s inclusive fintech accelerator improves financial well-being for underprivileged people worldwide, with a focus on Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, India, and Mexico.

Other bank institutions also offer great innovation and digitalization with programs that not only help you achieve your financial goals but also help other people around the world.

Nonprofit Organizations

A nonprofit company like Money Fit by DRS Inc. provides consumers with a range of debt relief services to assist them in overcoming their current difficulties and building a strong financial future.

The nonprofit organization’s main goals are to prevent financial problems and to aid people in acquiring solid fundamental knowledge of personal finance. Money Fit Academy offers free access to its credit counseling services and personal finance education programs. The fees for their debt management program are often affordable and worthwhile for consumers who are eligible to enroll in our debt relief program, which consolidates unsecured debt into a single monthly payment.

Community Members

Along with collaborating with financial institutions and non-profit organizations, community members are one of the best parties to think about partnering with. For example, a financial corporation such as Capital One is a community member that is focused on creating a world where everyone has an equal opportunity to prosper, particularly in finance.

They help community relief efforts by promoting economic resilience through direct financial transfers. Additionally, they support a variety of projects such as making affordable housing more accessible, helping new businesses by assisting owners with the right pitch, enabling employers to provide financial safety nets, and many others.

By working with community members who share your objective for a secure and fair financial future, you can achieve your financial goal and help others achieve theirs too.

Bottom Line

You are more likely to use additional financial services like credit and insurance to launch and grow enterprises, make investments in your children’s or own health or education, manage risk, and recover from financial setbacks, all of which can enhance your overall quality of life. With excellent financial literacy, financial inclusion, and knowledge of how to use financial innovation efficiently, it all helps you and your family have stable and solid personal finances in both the short term and the long term.

Finally, the future of personal finance is not simply an individual effort. The best driver for solid and fair personal finance is to work with others, particularly those trusted and reliable groups, institutions, and organizations that not only help you achieve your financial goals but also allow you to help others achieve theirs.

the future of personal finance

Finny the Finance Bot says…

What kind of impact does debt have on a relationship?

The future of personal finance is likely to be shaped by advancements in technology, changes in the economy, and evolving consumer habits. Here are some trends and predictions for the future of personal finance:

  1. Increased use of mobile and digital tools: Mobile banking and financial management apps will likely become more prevalent, making it easier for people to manage their finances on the go.
  2. Greater focus on financial wellness: As people become more concerned about their financial well-being, there will likely be a growing interest in tools and services that help individuals manage their money more effectively.
  3. Expansion of financial services to underserved communities: The use of technology will likely lead to the expansion of financial services to previously underserved communities, such as low-income individuals and people in remote areas.
  4. The emergence of new financial products: New financial products, such as robo-advisors, cryptocurrencies, and mobile payment systems, will continue to emerge, offering new opportunities for people to manage their money.
  5. Increased use of artificial intelligence and machine learning: These technologies will likely play a growing role in financial services, helping people make more informed decisions about their finances and improving the accuracy and efficiency of financial transactions.
  6. Greater emphasis on financial education and literacy: As people become more aware of the importance of financial literacy, there will likely be a growing focus on financial education, both in schools and in the wider community.

In conclusion, the future of personal finance is likely to be shaped by technology and changing consumer habits, leading to new opportunities for people to manage their money more effectively.

The author generated Finny the Finance Bot’s text in part with GPT-3, OpenAI’s large-scale language-generation model. Upon generating draft language, the author reviewed, edited, and revised the language to their own liking and takes ultimate responsibility for the content of this publication.

About the Author

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Client Credit Report Authorization

You hereby authorize and instruct Debt Reduction Services, Inc. (DRS, dba Money Fit by DRS) and/or its assigned agents to:
  • Obtain and review your credit report, and
  • Request verifications of your income and rental history, and any other information deemed necessary for improving your housing situation (for example, verifying your annual property tax obligations and homeowner’s insurance fees)
Your credit report will be obtained from a credit reporting agency chosen by DRS. You understand and agree that DRS intends to use the credit report evaluate your financial readiness to purchase or rent a home and/or to engage in post-purchase counseling activities and not to grant credit. You understand you may ask any questions pertaining to your credit report. However, while DRS will review the information with you, the company is not able to furnish you with a copy of your credit profile. You hereby authorize DRS to share your information from your credit report and any information that you provided (including any computations and assessments produced) with the entities listed below to help DRS determine your viable financial options.
  • Banks
  • Counseling Agencies
  • Debt Collectors
  • Landlords
  • Lenders
  • Mortgage Servicers
  • Property Management Companies
  • Public Housing Authorities
  • Social Service Agencies
Entities such as mortgage lenders and/or counseling agencies may contact your DRS counselor to evaluate the options for which you may be eligible. In connection with such evaluation, you authorize the credit reporting and/or financial agencies to release information and cooperate with your DRS counselor. No information will be discussed about you with entities not directly involved in your efforts to improve your housing situation. You hereby authorize the release of your information to program monitoring organizations of DRS, including but not limited to, Federal, State, and nonprofit partners for program review, monitoring, auditing, research, and/or oversight purposes. In addition, you authorize DRS to have your credit report pulled two additional times to conduct program evaluations. You also agree to keep DRS informed of any changes in address, telephone number, job status, marital status, or other conditions which may affect your eligibility for a program you have applied for or a counseling service that you are seeking. Finally, you understand that you may revoke consent to these disclosures by notifying DRS in writing.

Client Privacy, Data Security, and Client Rights Policy

NOTE: This sheet is to inform new or returning clients about our services, records, fees, and limitations that may affect you as a consumer of our services. This form also discloses how we might release your information to other agencies and/or regulators. If you do not understand a statement, please ask a Debt Reduction Services (DRS) counselor for assistance.

Debt Reduction Services, Inc. (DRS) has put into place policies and procedures to protect the security and confidentiality of your nonpublic personal information. This notice explains our online information practices and how we use and maintain your information to conduct our financial education and credit counseling sessions and to fulfill information and question requests. This privacy policy complies with federal laws and regulations.

To provide our financial education and credit counseling services, we collect nonpublic personal information about you as follows: 1) Information we receive from you, 2) Information about your transactions with us or others, and 3) Information we receive from your creditors or a consumer reporting agency. We do not share this information with outside parties.

We use non-identifying and aggregate information to better design our website and services, but we do not disclose anything that could be used to identify you as an individual.

You hereby authorize DRS, when necessary, to share your nonpublic personal, financial, credit, and any information that you provided (including any computations and assessments produced) with the following entities in order to help DRS provide you with appropriate counseling or guide you to appropriate services: third parties such as government agencies, your lender(s), your creditor(s), and nonprofit housing-related and other financial agencies as permitted by law, including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

To prevent unauthorized access, maintain data accuracy, and ensure the correct use of information, we have put in place appropriate physical, electronic, and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect online. We limit access to your nonpublic personal information to our employees, contractors and agents who need such access to provide products or services to you or for other legitimate business purposes.

Debt Reduction Services, Inc. complies with the privacy requirements set forth in the HUD housing counseling agency handbook 7610.1 (05/2010), including the sections 2-2 Mc, 3-1 H(2), 3-3, 5-3 F, and Attachment A.5. At all times, we will comply with all additional laws and regulations to which we are subject regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of individually identifiable information.

  1. Services: DRS provides the following housing-related services: counseling that includes Homeless Assistance, Rental Topics, Pre-purchase/Homebuying, and Home Maintenance and Financial Management for Homeowners (Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase); Education courses that include Financial literacy (including home affordability, budgeting, and understanding use of credit), Predatory lending, loan scam or other fraud prevention, Fair housing, Rental topics, Pre-purchase homebuyer education, Non-delinquency post-purchase workshop (including home maintenance and/or financial management for homeowners), and other workshops not listed above.

Please refer to DebtReductionServices.org for details of our services.

  1. Limits: Our services are limited to our normal weekday business hours. We do not provide individual counseling or education services after hours or on weekends, although our education courses are available 24/7.
  2. Fees: We do not charge fees for our financial management counseling and education. However, if you use them, you may have to pay for our Debt Management Program, Student Loan Counseling, Bankruptcy Certificate Services or certain financial education courses (homebuyer education, rental topics, fair housing, predatory lending, and post-purchase-non-delinquency including home maintenance and/or financial management for homeowners).
  3. Records: We maintain records of the services you receive, including notes about your progress or other relevant information to your work with us. You have the right to access and view your records by making a request to your counselor.
  4. Confidentiality: We respect your privacy and offer our services in confidence with the understanding that we may share such information with auditors and government regulators. Certain laws or situations may also lead to disclosing confidential issues, such as those involving potential child abuse or neglect, threats to harm self or others, or court subpoenas.
  5. Refusal of Services: You have the right to refuse services without any penalty or loss.
  6. Disclosure of Policies and Practices: You will be provided our agency disclosure statement.
  7. Sharing of Information: Sometimes we will need to contact other agencies or we may need to share your information, including your records, with other agencies or with regulators. We will do this only if you sign this form that gives us permission except for limited reasons; please see # 5 above for examples of such situations.
  8. Other: You have the right to be treated with respect by our staff, and we expect the same from you in return. We encourage you to always ask questions if something is not clear. We also encouraged you to express your thoughts and advocate throughout our services.

You acknowledge that this authorization will remain in effect for the duration of time that DRS serves as your housing counselor or financial education provider. You also acknowledge that should you wish to terminate this authorization, you will notify DRS in writing.

Disclosure  Statement

NOTE: If you have an impairment, disability, language barrier, or otherwise require an alternative means of completing this form or accessing information about our counseling services, please communicate with your DRS representative about arranging alternative accommodations.

Program Disclosure Form

Disclosure to Client for HUD Housing Counseling Services

Debt Reduction Services, Inc. and its financial education arm, Money Fit by DRS, offer the following housing counseling and educational services related to housing, personal finance, and bankruptcy certificates to consumers:
  • Housing Education Courses: DRS offers many online self-guided education programs classified as Financial, Budgeting, and Credit Workshops (FBC), Fair Housing Pre-Purchase Education Workshops (FHW), Homelessness Prevention Workshops (HMW), Non-Delinquency Post Purchase Workshops (NDW), Predatory Lending Education Workshops (PLW), Pre-purchase Homebuyer Education Workshops (PPW), and Rental Housing Workshops (RHW). These courses help participants increase their knowledge of and skills in personal finance, including home affordability, budgeting, and understanding the use of credit, as well as predatory lending, loan scams, and other fraud prevention topics, fair housing, rental topics, pre-purchase homebuyer education, non-delinquency post-purchase topics including home maintenance and/or financial management for homeowners, homeless prevention workshop, and other workshops not listed above relating to personal finance and housing. Course details are found below under “Housing Workshops.”
  • Home Equity Conversation Mortgage (HECM) Counseling (RMC): Via telephone and virtual platforms, we offer the required HECM counseling nationwide in addition to in-person counseling in Boise, Idaho. We also offer in-home counseling options in thirty counties across southern Idaho for an additional fee to cover our travel and additional staff time costs.
  • Home Maintenance and Financial Management for Homeowners (Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase) (FBC): Clients receive counseling and materials on the proper maintenance of their home and mortgage refinancing. Clients can find help and resources by phone, in our Boise office, or virtually on all topics related to stabilizing their long-term homeownership.
  • Services for Homeless Counseling (HMC): Clients receive phone, virtual, or in-person (Boise) counseling to evaluate their current housing needs, identify barriers to and goals for housing stability, establish a path to self-sufficiency, and connect with emergency shelters, income-appropriate housing, and/or other community resources (e.g. mental healthcare, job training, transportation, etc.).
  • Pre-Purchase Counseling (PPC): Clients receive counseling through the entire homebuying process. Assistance may involve creating a sustainable household budget, understanding mortgage options, building their credit rating, and putting together a realistic action plan to set and achieve homeownership goals.  Additionally, clients will receive materials and resources about home inspections and other homeownership topics relevant to successfully maintaining a home.
  • Rental Housing Counseling (RHC): Via phone, in-person appointments (Boise, ID), or virtual platforms, clients receive housing counseling relevant to renting, including rent subsidies from HUD or other government and assistance programs. Topics can also address issues and concerns having to do with fair housing, landlord and tenant laws, lease terms, rent delinquency, household budgeting, and finding alternate housing.
DRS also offers the following services:
  • A Debt Management Program (DMP) for consumers struggling to pay their credit cards, collections, medical debts, personal loans, old utility bills, and past-due cell phone accounts;
  • The Budget Briefing and Debtor Education Certificates that are required during the Bankruptcy filing process;
  • A Student Loan Repayment Plan Counseling and application service.

Relationships with Industry Partners

Through such services, DRS has established financial relationships with hundreds of banks, credit unions, and creditors such as American Express, Bank of America, Barclays, Capital One, Chase, Citibank, Credit One, Discover, Synchrony, US Bank, USAA, Wells Fargo, and others.

No Client Obligation

The client is not obligated to receive, purchase or utilize any other services offered by DRS or its exclusive partners to receive financial education or housing counseling services. Alternatives: As a condition of our counseling services, in alignment with meeting our client services goals, and in compliance with HUD’s Housing Counseling Program requirements, we may provide information on alternative services, programs, and products available to you, if applicable and known by our staff. Alternative DMP services include negotiating better repayment terms directly with your individual creditors, paying your debts as agreed, or, in extreme cases, filing for personal bankruptcy. Alternative credit and education services can be found through MyMoney.gov or the Jump$tart Clearinghouse of online financial education resources. Housing counseling alternatives can be found through HUD at www.hud.gov/findacounselor.
Finally, you understand that you may revoke consent to these disclosures by notifying DRS in writing.

Housing Counseling and Education Fee Schedule

 

Online Education Program Fees*

Homebuyer Education Course: $59 per participant

  • Self-paced course available here, our online housing counseling and education center. Certificates will be automatically generated upon completion of the course (approximately 6-8 hours)

RentalFair HousingPredatory Lending / HOEPAPost-Purchase (Non-delinquency post-purchase workshop, including home maintenance and/or financial management for homeowners) Online Workshops: $49 per participant

  • Approximately 1 hour each

Other Self-Guided Financial Literacy Webinars (e.g. creditbudgetinghomeless preventiondebt prevention): $0

One-on-one Counseling Fees*

Pre-purchase Homebuying Counseling, Rental Counseling, Post-purchase Ownership Maintenance and Financial Management: $75

  • Session by the hour

Reverse Mortgage/HECM Counseling with Required Certificate:

  • $200†

Credit Report Fee: Paid Directly by Client

*Fees for all but our online education courses and workshops can be paid online by debit card, credit card, or PayPal or in person by cash, check or money order to: “Debt Reduction Services, Inc.” Registration fees are non-refundable 24 hours or less before the start of an in-person course or workshop. Certificates are non-transferable

*Fees may be waived for households with income of 150% or less of that identified on the US Department of Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines Page

†Home visit counseling is available in 30 southern Idaho counties for potential HECM borrowers at additional costs to cover our travel (IRS reimbursement rates apply) and staff time ($50 per hour or fraction there).

Housing Counseling and Education Fee Schedule

 

Online Education Program Fees*

Homebuyer Education Course: $59 per participant

  • Self-paced course available here, our online housing counseling and education center. Certificates will be automatically generated upon completion of the course (approximately 6-8 hours)

RentalFair HousingPredatory Lending / HOEPAPost-Purchase (Non-delinquency post-purchase workshop, including home maintenance and/or financial management for homeowners) Online Workshops: $49 per participant

  • Approximately 1 hour each

Other Self-Guided Financial Literacy Webinars (e.g. creditbudgetinghomeless preventiondebt prevention): $0

One-on-one Counseling Fees*

Pre-purchase Homebuying Counseling, Rental Counseling, Post-purchase Ownership Maintenance and Financial Management: $75

  • Session by the hour

Reverse Mortgage/HECM Counseling with Required Certificate:

  • $200†

Credit Report Fee: Paid Directly by Client

*Fees for all but our online education courses and workshops can be paid online by debit card, credit card, or PayPal or in person by cash, check or money order to: “Debt Reduction Services, Inc.” Registration fees are non-refundable 24 hours or less before the start of an in-person course or workshop. Certificates are non-transferable

*Fees may be waived for households with income of 150% or less of that identified on the US Department of Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines Page

†Home visit counseling is available in 30 southern Idaho counties for potential HECM borrowers at additional costs to cover our travel (IRS reimbursement rates apply) and staff time ($50 per hour or fraction there).