My Articles and Links
- Single & Searching? Finances First
- Life Lessons from a Fish
- Stop, Think and Save...At Least Once a Year
- Healthy Finances For Couples - How to Have the Money Talk
- Where Does Etiquette Fit?
- Financial Resiliency - Five Tips to Help You Bounce Back!
- Want Good Credit? - Back to Basics (Part 1 of 2)
- Want Good Credit? - Beyond the Basics (Part 2 of 2)
- Helpful Tips for Dealing with Recession Fatigue (not my usual)
- Start Your New Year Right By Checking Your Credit Reports
- The Importance of Networking (and why it is important in this economy)
- Simple Tips to Boost Your Credit Score
- Wall Street Journal Article 9/17/08: Wall Street Got You On Edge? Join the Club (contributor)
- The ABCDs of a Healthy Financial Plan
- Ten Ways to Wreck your Credit
- SIMPLE Steps YOU Can Do NOW to Prevent Identity Theft
- Identity Theft: A Four-Part Series for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
- Reducing the Stress of Family Holiday Gatherings
- Hold Onto Reason - Tips for the Holiday Season
- Holiday Spending Tips (click to open)
- Magical Slippers
Interviews
- YouTube Video:"Let's Talk About Credit" - Kathy Jo with Melanie Foote-Davis - August 2017
- Dealing with Life Changes: An Interview with Kathy Jo Pollack for Stress Management4Women - January 2011
- Interview with the Institute of Management Accountants - October 2008
Audios
- "Weekend Focus" with Hosts Paul Morgan and Corey Klug and Life Coach Kathy Jo Pollack. Spanning 11 years from 2009-2020 - News Radio 1170 WWVA. Listen to podcasts of the shows.
- Click to listen to audio highlights from "Want Good Credit" teleclass
- Click to listen to audio highlights of "Be the Chooser" teleclass
- Voice America Internet Radio 9/15/08: "Coaching for Financial Success in a Recession" (guest speaker) - Show Summary
Resources, Information and Links
Personal Finance
- Free!Your Financial Plan Quiz (click to open)
- Free! Monthly Budget Worksheet (Excel) (click to download & save)
- Free! Online Review of Budgeting Software, courtesy of Money Blue Book
- Free! How-to Guide: Manage Money With Your Mate
- Free! Cost Cutting Tips (click to open)
- Free! Online Calulators
- National Credit Union Administration. Find a Credit Union and learn more.
Identity Theft - Information & Links
- FTC Booklet: Identity Theft - A Recovery Plan (Current version 10/2020) (click to open)
- AnnualCreditReport.com is the official site to help consumers to obtain their free credit report. Or call 1-877-322-8228.
- ChexSystems is a nationwide specialty consumer reporting agency under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). ChexSystems' clients regularly contribute information on closed checking and savings accounts. ChexSystems provides services to financial institutions and other types of companies that have a permissible purpose under the FCRA. ChexSystems' services primarily assist clients in assessing the risk of opening new accounts. Or call 1-800-428-9623.
- Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft Information Website with resources, forms and links
- Federal Trade Commission Tax-Related Identity Theft Information
- Federal Trade Commission: Credit Freezes are NOW Free (as of 9/21/18)
- Consumer Reports: Why a Credit Freeze is Better Than a Credit Lock
- NerdWallet: The Difference Between Fraud Alerts and Credit Freezes
- How to Recover from Identity Theft from IdentityTheft.gov
- Are You at Risk for Identity Theft? Test Your "Identity Quotient" (click to open)
- IRS Identity Theft Information for Taxpayers with signs, steps, and prevention tips.
- 10 Opt-Outs to Increase Your Privacy
- SIMPLE Steps YOU Can Do NOW to Prevent Identity Theft
- What to Do When You Receive a Data Breach Notice
- 100 Advanced Tips to Reduce Identity Theft
Additional Resources & Links
- AnnualCreditReport.com is the official site to help consumers to obtain their free credit report. This central site allows you to request a free credit file disclosure, commonly called a credit report, every week, from each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Or call 1-877-322-8228.
- Bankrate.com provides news, tips and advice to compare mortgage rates, home equity loans, CDs, car loans, credit cards and money market accounts.
- ChexSystems is comprised of member financial institutions that regularly contribute information on closed checking and savings accounts. ChexSystems shares this information among its member institutions to help them assess the risk of opening new accounts. Use this link to order your free financial report.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) CFPB's mission is to make markets for consumer financial products and services work for Americans. They supervise banks, credit unions & other financial companies, and enforce federal consumer financial laws.
- Credit Karma provides consumers with a FREE credit score. Use this service to track your score and stay informed.
- Credit Unions - a Smart Choice. Find a credit union and learn more!
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC), created in 1914, is the nation's consumer protection agency. It deals with issues that touch the economic lives of most Americans. Visit this website for practical information on a variety of consumer topics including credit reports, financial issues, identity theft, and the National Do Not Call Registry.
- Mint.com offers free online money management and budgeting software. Selected as the "best budgeting site" by Kiplinger's magazine and the best online personal finance tool by Money Magazine.
- myFICO.com provides information on credit scoring. A credit score is the number that is formulated based on your credit history helping lenders evaluate your credit risk.
- National Do Not Call Registry gives you a choice about whether to receive telemarketing calls at home. Most telemarketers should not call your number once it has been on the registry for 31 days. If they do, you can file a complaint at this Website. You can register your home or mobile phone for free.You can register online at www.donotcall.gov or call 1-888-382-1222 from the phone you wish to register. Registration does NOT expire.
- National Foundation for Credit Counseling promotes the national agenda for financially responsible behavior and builds capacity for its Members to deliver the highest quality financial education and counseling services. Call 1-800-388-2227 to speak to a counselor near you.
- Opt-Out of credit offers. You have a choice about whether you want to receive prescreened offers of credit and insurance. You have two choices: you can opt out for five years or permanently. To Opt-Out for five years call 1-888-567-8688 (1-888-5OPT-OUT). To Opt-Out permanently, visit www.optoutprescreen.com to initiate your request and print the form. The phone number and website are operated by the major consumer reporting companies.
- QUIZ - Are You at Risk for Identity Theft? Test Your "Identity Quotient" (click to open)
- Social Security - this is the official Social Security website.
Inspiration & Motivation
- Confidence Self-Check FREE personal assessment
- Power in Praying Through A-Z 52 Inspirational notes, bible quotes, and prayers at your finger tips by Hyacinth Gooden-Bailey
- Mental Health Mugs Share a cup and advocate for mental health
- FREE! VIA Character Survey Discover your best qualities in 15 minutes with this scientific survey of character strengths courtesy of the VIA Institute on Character.
Featured author "Life Choices: Putting the Pieces Together." I am one of 26 real-life authors who share their personal story of how they put together the pieces of their life puzzles. Contact me to purchase the book ($24.95 + tax).
Eden Sterlington's "SatisFillment: Your Proven Pathway to POWER Action Guide" I was honored to be one of the first to read & review this empowering book. Click for more details and to order.
Life - Balance - Stress
- FREE worksheet! Spring Clean Your Life
- FREE! Learn to Meditate - Courtesy of Fragrant Heart
- Free! Download Now! Adult Coloring Book to help relieve stress, increase mindfulness, and boost creativity courtesy of The Letters of Gratitude
- Free! Complete your Wheel of Life (click to open) Instructions included.
- Free! Chart Your Stressors (click to open) Use this chart to identify and manage your stress.
Relationships
- Free! Take the Relationship Readiness Quiz (click to open)
- Click to listen to audio highlights of "Be the Chooser" teleclass
-
Conscious Dating (the book) - Click to learn more & purchase the book
Etiquette
- Free! Take the Business Etiquette Quiz (click to open) and see how you do.
- Top 12 Business Etiquette Tips (click to open)
Careers
Kathy Jo Pollack © 2007-2024. All Rights Reserved.