Our Financial Education Services
Through strong partnerships with other nonprofits, we help our clients achieve financial autonomy and literacy through personalized 1 on 1 financial coaching and group financial education sessions.
Banking Basics
Understand the differences between the types of financial institutions and their services (i.e. banks vs. credit unions)
Understand the many benefits of using these financial institutions
Decide what kind of financial institution and account is best for you
Discuss the different types of accounts (checking vs. savings)
Learn how to open an account
Budgeting and Saving
Learn about the six steps to build your own budget and keep better track of your finances
Get tips on how to start saving money and see how your savings adds up over time
Dealing with Debt
Learn the basics of debt management
Definition and how debt works
Understand strategies on how to more effectively repay debt
Learn what the differences between good and bad debt, as well as other types of debt (Deductible vs Nondeductible, Fixed vs. Variable)
Rights regarding debt collection: what debt collectors can and cannot do
Building Credit
Learn what credit is used for and why it is important (i.e. favorable interest rates, trustworthiness, etc.)
Find out what goes into a credit a score and who can access your credit
Understand how to achieve good credit and how to avoid bad credit
Decide if a credit card is right for you and how to obtain one (Secured vs. Unsecured)
Predatory Financing
Understand what predatory financing is
Unfair or Abusive Lending and How to Avoid It
Five main types
How to determine if financing is predatory
Where to seek alternatives
Learn about safe and trustworthy sources
Our Current Education Partners
The Columbus Metropolitan Library
Ascent offers bi-weekly education sessions for customers of the Hilltop branch of the Columbus library.
Community Refugee and Immigration Services
Ascent offers weekly education sessions with CRIS. Ascent’s education team works with a translator to offer tailor personal finance education to immigrants and families to the Columbus Community.
The Empowerment Team
Ascent partners with The Empowerment Team for their My Home Program. Ascent tailored its financial education sessions to focus on saving and budgeting for buying a home in the Linden Community.
Interested? Get in touch with Ascent Education!