Tag Archives for financial literacy

Senate Aging Panel Highlights the Importance of Financial Literacy

Published in RINewsToday on May 18, 2026

Chairman Rick Scott (R-FL) and Ranking Member Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging held a hearing last month called “Empowering Seniors Through Financial Literacy: Tools to Protect Savings, Prevent Fraud, and Promote Independence.” The hearing, held during National Financial Literacy Month, focused on the need for financial education and income security for older Americans.

The April 15 hearing lasted just over an hour and focused on improving financial and retirement security for older Americans. During his opening remarks, Sen. Scott announced the release of a bipartisan 2026 Financial Literacy Booklet to help older Americans spot and avoid scams.

At SH-216, the Senate Aging Committee confirmed its continued work to protect older adults from financial exploitation and built on earlier efforts, such as the 2025 Fraud Report.

New Resource for a Secure Retirement

The new 39-page bipartisan booklet, Guarding Your Nest Egg: A Financial Resource for Older Adults, helps older Americans manage their finances, protect themselves from fraud and scams, and plan for a secure retirement.

As Sen. Scott noted: “For so many Americans, especially our seniors, it’s hard to find the information,” Sen. Scott said in his opening statement. “And when you do find it, it’s often incredibly complicated. As a country, we have done a poor job of ensuring people know their options and what route will work best for their needs.”

Sen. Scott says financial literacy is one of the most powerful and most underused tools to protect older Americans. “When they understand how their benefits work, they make better decisions,” he says.

“When they know how to read a financial statement and recognize bad actors, they’re harder to deceive. When they understand the difference between a legitimate investment and a pitch that’s too good to be true, they protect themselves. And when they know where to turn for trusted help, they realize they are not navigating this alone,” said the Florida Senator.

Finally, Sen. Scott added, “The best part is that this doesn’t require a new government program or more federal bureaucracy.” He stressed that the solution is not more federal spending, but “clear information, trusted messengers, and a commitment to getting that information into people’s hands.”

The Senate Aging Committee’s new booklet helps readers make smart retirement and financial decisions. It covers an array of topics, including Social Security, Medicare, housing, charitable giving, disaster preparedness, and even planning for unexpected events. Throughout its pages, practical advice is given to help older adults protect their savings and avoid fraud and scams.

Sen. Gillibrand, in her opening remarks, noted that over 11,000 Americans turn 65 every day. Longer lifespans mean more years in retirement, so careful retirement planning is needed, she says, stressing that aging populations put pressure on budgets and healthcare programs at all levels.

The New York Senator mentioned a recent statement by President Donald J. Trump, who suggested that Medicare and Medicaid should be managed by states rather than the federal government. She countered that comment, noting that since Medicare and Medicaid were enacted in 1965, older Americans have come to rely on these federal programs and expect them to be in place when needed.

Sen. Gillibrand pointed out that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data show about 44% of adults over 65 have a disability. Many people don’t see themselves in these statistics, and some find it difficult to plan to take care of a child or adult with special needs. Even when people set financial goals and save, unexpected events can still occur, she says.

Expert Witnesses disclose Insights on Financial Literacy

The Senate Aging Panel brought four expert witnesses from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), the American Bankers Association Foundation, AARP, and the financial planning community to testify at the hearing. These witnesses stressed the value of financial literacy and highlighted the growing complexity of fraud schemes. They also called for a coordinated approach that leverages education, training, partnerships, and legislation to protect older Americans’ finances.

“For older Americans, financial literacy is not a luxury; it is key for building wealth, protecting savings and preserving autonomy,” says Christine Kieffer, Interim President of the FINRA Investor Education Foundation. Kieffer explained that financial literacy helps manage financial difficulties, but it is not enough to prevent scams. It should be combined with awareness of scams, an understanding of persuasion tactics, and a coordinated approach to ensure real protection.

Sam Kunjukunju, Vice President of Consumer Education at the American Bankers Association Foundation, suggested banks protect and educate older consumers, train bankers, work with law enforcement and adult protective services, and use technology. He also called for a nationwide education campaign and federal laws allowing banks to delay suspicious transactions.

From large banks to small community banks, these financial institutions offer fraud prevention workshops, online banking training, and financial wellness seminars, and coordinate outreach efforts with community organizations, says Kunjukunju, citing several examples.

Carly Roszkowski, AARP’s Vice President of Financial Resilience Programming, shared that 64% of adults worry about having enough money to retire, and nearly one in five non-retirees have no retirement savings. She discussed the real financial challenges older adults face.

AARP provides practical, easy-to-use digital tools (calculators, guides, and other resources) that enable older adults to make informed decisions about their financial future, thereby strengthening their long-term retirement security, says Roszkowski.

“The retirement system now shifts risk to the individuals, but education and support never caught up,” said Roszkowski in her testimony, explaining that the U.S. retirement system now places primary responsibility on individuals to manage savings, investing, and turning those savings into lifelong income.

“Financial literacy works – but only when it’s practical, sustained, timely, and paired with decision support,” adds Roszkowski.

Furthermore, Roszkowski argued that since individuals now bear more risk, financial literacy should be taught throughout one’s life. This approach should cover complex decisions that must be made in later years, as well as fraud risks, drawing on trusted, accessible sources.

In his testimony, Scott Kahan, a certified financial planner, also shared his experience navigating Medicare at age 65, even after 40 years in finance, to illustrate how complex it can be.

“Many people don’t use a financial planner for retirement planning. They might think they don’t have enough money or believe free help online is enough,” says Kahan, warning that this belief is often wrong and misleading.

Getting help from skilled, ethical financial planners like CFPs is essential and should not be considered a luxury, Kahan states, describing this assistance as a lifeline for managing financial complexity and avoiding fraud.

At this hearing, the expert witnesses said that today’s scams are sophisticated schemes that use Artificial Intelligence, voice cloning, and psychological manipulation. They also pointed out how hard it is to make wise choices about when to take Social Security, enroll in Medicare, and manage savings, especially when information is complex, hidden, and difficult to find on government websites, or even biased.

The witnesses also called on banks, government, regulators, nonprofits, and law enforcement to work together to help older Americans make better financial decisions and avoid scams. They often said that information and warnings should come from trusted sources such as family, bankers, financial planners, or groups like AARP.

 A Final Note…

Hopefully, the testimony at the Senate Aging Committee hearing will push Congress to move quickly to establish a “uniform national framework” that eliminates inconsistencies among state laws and better protects older Americans from today’s increasingly sophisticated fraud and scams. Possible steps include a federal “safe harbor” law allowing banks to delay disbursements or temporarily hold transactions when fraud is suspected, the creation of new task forces focused on combating elder fraud, and increased funding for national financial literacy campaigns.

The witnesses’ testimony about scams and complex systems may prompt federal agencies, such as the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Social Security Administration, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, to make their communications and processes easier for older adults to access.

To watch the April 15 Senate Aging Committee Hearing, go to Empowering Seniors through Financial Literacy: Tools to Protect Savings, Prevent Fraud, and Promote Independence | United States Senate Special Committee on Aging

Download/read the “Guarding Your Nest Egg, a Financial Resource Guide for Older Adults:   https://www.aging.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/guarding_your_nest_egg_a_financial_resource_guide_for_older_adults.pdf

Raimondo Rolls out Educational Initiative to Financially Empower Rhode Islanders

Published in the Pawtucket Times, August 2, 2013

Everybody has been hit hard over the years with the economic downturn in the Ocean State. The statistics are startling about the impact on Rhode Islander’s pocketbooks. According to the Office of the General Treasurer, two-thirds of Rhode Islanders reported some difficulty in covering their expenses and paying bills. Startling the average borrow in our state has $13,221 in credit card debt, the 5th highest amount in the nation. Almost 47% of the Ocean State’s homeowners are “cost burdened,” that is home ownership costs more than 30 percent of their income.

During her first term, overcoming strong opposition of union groups, Rhode Island General Treasurer Gina M. Raimondo, working with Governor Chafee and leadership in the General Assembly, successfully redesigned Rhode Island’s state-administered public employee pension system. Now the Smithfield native, and mother of two, who graduated from LaSalle Academy, Harvard University and Yale Law School, who became a Rhode Scholar at Oxford University, goes into full gear to financially empower the state’s residents to make informed disciplined choices to achieve their financial goals.

Raimondo’s interest in financial empowerment came from her memories of growing up in a modest-income family, and a house with three kids and her grandfather. “My family had to become very smart about saving and budgeting,” she noted. By financial juggling and hard work, she was able along with her two siblings to attend college. According to Raimndo, getting a good college education allowed her to climb up the career ladder and eventually run for General Treasurer.

Building a Prosperous Financial Future

Recognizing that everyone could use a little free help understanding and managing their finances, last October, Raimondo, in partnership with the Providence-based Capital Good Fund, kicked off their financial empowerment initiative to provide guidance, though the Rhode Island Financial Coaching Corps, to provide free financial help to Rhode Islanders balance their home budgets, managing debt, building up credit and plan for their retirement.

According to Raimondo, becoming financially secure and taking care of your family can become tricky with the huge number of financial products available today. One can become confused with the different types of mortgage and banking products available, especially the proliferation of pay day loans, credit cards and reverse mortgages, she says. “If people are not careful they can be hit hard by hidden fees or hidden risks by choosing the wrong product,” she says.

Recently, Raimondo took her Smart Money Tour out on the road visiting local libraries, farmers markets and senior centers, “right into the community,” she says, noting that it might become a permanent initiative if it proves to be successful. At these locations treasury staff, through an online computer data base, (treasury.ri.gov/unclaimed) also helps people locate their lost or abandoned property for free. Unclaimed property includes items such as long forgotten bank accounts, stocks and dividends and life insurance claims. During the last fiscal year, Treasury returned more than $8 million to over 8,000 Rhode Islanders.

Supporting Common Goals

According to Executive Director Andy Posner, of the Providence-based Capital Good Fund, he met Raimondo during her campaign for Treasurer and found a kindred soul. She had similar interests in bringing financial literacy to Rhode Islanders and a desire to fight predatory practices (pay day loans that have interest rates of 260 percent and rent-to-own centers where consumers ultimately pay more than the product is worth).

Capital Good Fund trains volunteers, for the Empower RI initiative, in financial coaching techniques and provides them with curricula to use either in one-to-one sessions with employees at companies who contract for the service or to those interested in getting help, learning about this assistance at community events or through newspaper coverage or social service agencies.

Since the inception of the program over 200 Rhode Islanders have been helped, says Posner. Currently, the Financial Service Corps, has 17 active volunteers, he added.

Joining the Financial Coaching Corps

Jerry Leveille, a Burrillville resident, jumped at being a volunteer with the Financial Coaching Corps after reading the mission of Empower RI, “Moving Rhode Island forward – one person at a time – through financial empowerment.” The 68-year old retired banker, who served as a senior vice president and lending officer, had worked for over 51 years at Warwick-based Greenwood Credit Union.

Filling out the application at the Capital Good Fund, he was accepted, trained and now has worked with two clients.

In one case, Leveille stated that 83-year-old widow learned the art of balancing her checkbook after the death of her husband, who had managed the family’s household account, paying the bills for over 58 years. The woman still coping with the recent death of her husband only needed a couple of sessions to learn this financial skill.

Meanwhile, Leveille says that a 62-year old woman who worked for a large Rhode Island company for over 30 years made a personal decision to retire. She would later learn that this financial decision would reduce her income by a whopping 40 percent. This was combined with mortgage problems. The single older woman owed more on her family homestead than its market value. She could not get her out of state mortgage company to lower the eight percent interest rate or allow her to extend payments.

Before coming to Leveille “her only choice was to walk away from the mortgage or continue to work,” he said, noting that if this occurred the lender would most likely suffer a $60,000 loss. “As a volunteer I was not going to talk her out of retirement, it was not my role to do this. Ultimately, the Financial Coaching Corps. volunteer would refer his client to Rhode Island Housing who is in the process of negotiating a lower interest rate on her behalf.

“We must be very nonjudgmental when we work with our clients,” says Leveille, noting that humans do make mistakes they regret when making bad financial decisions. “We are there to be helpful. It is what it is and we try to find the appropriate solution,” he says when counseling client.

Cumberland resident, Randy Sacilotto, who serves as Navigant’s vice president of business and community development, joined Raimondo’s effort to ratchet up the state’s financial literacy knowledge. Sacilotto, with 21 years working for the credit union, also brings to his clients the expertise he gained from training to become a certified financial counselor, accredited by the National Credit Union Foundation.

Sacilotto, 52, has met with two individuals and one couple, teaching them how a household budget works and another couple on tips on refinancing their home.

Working on budgeting, Sacilotto told his clients to track the spending of “every penny,” for two to four weeks. Write everything down, he says, because you will learn where your money is spent.

“We don’t always actually know what we spend on things,” he says, and if you track your results, cutting spending on things you don’t need can allow you to put your money into more important things, like saving for a house,” notes Sacilotto.

Finding Satisfaction in Financial Problem Solving

Emerson Gardner, a retired manager of the New York-based Bank of America’s International Banking Office, brought this experience and working in the City’s AARP Money Management Program, to the Ocean State in 2010. Two years later he would join Raimondo’s Financial Coaching Corps.

One of the original volunteers, Gardner is already working on his fifth client (their ages range from early 30s to their 50s). “Any time you help a person get their credit rating up or confront their debt problems it begins with creating a budget,” he says, noting that people need to learn how to live within their incomes.

While Gardner’s clients profit from his expertise gleaned from his banking days and a Masters of Business Administration received from Harvard University, he benefits, too. “I get satisfaction in helping clients solve their problems.” The retiree likes the flexibility of the program, allowing him to decide who to take and when to schedule the counseling session.

“For a person who has financial skills and the time to give because they are retiring, it is a great thing to do,” quips Gardner.

Those interested in volunteering for the Financial Coaching Corps, or meeting with a financial coach should visit http://www.fcCorpss.org.

Pawtucket’s Smart Money Tour is scheduled for August 30, 2013, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the City’s Leon Mathieu Senior Center, 420 Main Street, Pawtucket RI.

Herb Weiss, LRI ’12, is a Pawtucket-based write who covers health care, aging and medical issues. He can be reached at hweissri@aol.com