What worries you most about marriage and money?

Newsworthy	May 2008

Smart uses for your tax refund
Each year, roughly 70 percent of Americans get an income tax refund. Thanks to the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, beginning in early May most also will receive an additional tax rebate check of up to $600 (up to $1,200 for joint filers) - even those who don't earn enough to owe federal income tax.

Innovative Educator: Marla Edwards, Mission Hills High School, San Marcos, California
It's a classically California tale - a resourceful business plan for a film production company leads to a coveted prize. This scene played out in Marla Edwards' classroom at Mission Hills High School in San Marcos, California. Visa auctioned an autographed football signed by NFL players for teachers, and Edwards won the prize. She awarded it to the student in her class with the most inventive, practicable business plan for a teen venture. Find out how the winning student used his financial and film ingenuity to score big. Read more...

Marriage Planning: Tips for Tying the Budget Knot
Chances are you’ve heard that marriage changes everything. It’s certainly true for money management. Every couple faces the unique challenge of learning how to join forces and finances. But here Jean Chatzky offers practical, realistic tips for money and marriage that will really set you straight for better and for worse. Learn More

Financial Literacy Education: Early intervention is everything
Jean Chatzky on Financial Education
There's a very simple reason so many millions of Americans find themselves overwhelmed by personal debt. They don't know any better. They've just never received training that could help them manage their finances.

Money management skills aren't something you're born with. They're something you're taught and learn how to do. Yet millions of young adults graduate from high school and college without basic skills - things like balancing a checkbook or critically comparing credit card offers. Read More

Watch online. Anytime. Financial Literacy & Education Summit 2008 On-Demand Video
The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and Visa Inc. thank all who watched the Financial Literacy & Education Summit 2008 webcast on April 21st. This year's event was a unique gathering of some of our nation’s leading thinkers and practitioners in the field of financial literacy education. We heard extraordinary insights, powerful inspiration, and new and surprising connection. Watch now.

Free FICO® Score Estimator
Keep on top of the scores - not of the big games, but of your own credit risk. Use Visa's free score estimator from FICO®, the most trusted name in credit scoring, to answer 10 easy questions. Based on your answers, you'll get a free estimated range of your three scores from the main credit bureaus - Experian, TransUnion and Equifax. Your FICO scores affect the amount and terms of loans lenders offer you. Stay ahead of the financial game and get your score today.

Jason Alderman’s Practical Money Matters

May 16, 2008
Marriage is also financial partnership
Nothing erases the glow of a honeymoon faster than money woes. In their haste to live happily ever after, many couples don't do their homework before the ceremony and then are unpleasantly surprised to learn they're starting out their next life chapter deeply in debt – or married to a spouse who has very different financial priorities.

May 9, 2008
Be shrewd when passing along assets
If you’re among the 45 percent of Americans who've already written a will, you may think you've done everything necessary to ensure a smooth transition of your assets to your heirs. Not necessarily.

May 2, 2008
Graduating to 'the real world'
Anyone who's graduated from college understands the relief of leaving behind years of cramming for exams and living on dorm food. With the next chapter of their lives now at hand, this year's grads deserve kudos for successfully negotiating the twists and turns of higher education.