News & Tribune Article Features Sparking Change!

May 1, 2012 By Whitney

I am so pleased with the response our attendees had to our big event – we all walked away with a new level of awareness about our own habits and attitudes in addition to ways to help those we serve and those we love create a more stable financial future!

Check out the article here.

Thanks, as always, to our local paper for covering important events in the community!

Filed Under: Asset Building, Family finances, Financial Expert, financial literacy, Financial Stability, Money Smart Week Indiana, Southern Indiana Asset Building Coalition

Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day

January 20, 2012 By Cricket

  • Did you know that the Southern Indiana Asset Building Coalition offers FREE tax preparation at a dozen sites in the Southern Indiana area?
  • Did you know that qualified applicants can receive as much as $6,000 from the EITC?
  • Did you know the EITC is the Federal Government’s largest benefit program for workers?
  • Did you know we want to partner with YOU to spread the word about these important services to our community?

The Southern Indiana Asset Building Coalition will hold
Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day
at the Jeffersonville Township Library on
January 27th, 2012.


A panel of esteemed guests, including trained and certified tax preparers, will offer information on qualifying for the tax credit, tax services and the advantage to receiving a tax credit like this.

Registration begins at 11:30 and the panel discussion, with time for questions, begins at 12:00 p.m. Lunch will be provided.

We’re doing this because we feel it is vital to spread the word to the community. As tax season begins and people are trying to find every possible advantage, we are dedicated to provide information about this important tax credit.

The EITC is particularly important for people in the following categories:

  • Whose earnings declined or whose marital or parental status changed
  • With limited English skills
  • Living in rural areas
  • Who are Native Americans
  • Who have disabilities or are raising children with disabilities
  • Without children
  • With earnings below the filing requirement
  • Living in non-traditional homes, such as a grandparent raising a grandchild

“EITC is a financial boost for working people in a recovering economy and allows more funds to flow within your community. It’s money that can make lives a little easier.” Whitney Bishop, Executive Director, SIABC said.

Not only does the Southern Indiana Asset Building Coalition want to spread the word about the EITC, we can help those who qualify, and others, prepare their taxes at one of our many tax prep sites in 4 counties of Southern Indiana. We are asking that you partner with us to spread the word to those who most need to hear about these crucial services. You never know, it could even impact YOU!

For more information about the tax credit and our services please contact the SIABC office at 812.206.7520 . If we join together to promote financial advantages to everyone, we strengthen our community as a whole.

Filed Under: Earned Income Tax Credit, Featured, Financial Expert, financial literacy, Financial Stability, Southern Indiana Asset Building Coalition, vita tax preparation

Suze Orman – LIVE!

April 14, 2011 By Whitney

Posted by Cricket – Guest Contributor

On March 15, 2011, I had the opportunity to hear Suze Orman at The Louisville Free Public Library, thanks to SIABC! I admit I am not a loyal follower of the well-known author/speaker/financial guru and I think dread is probably the emotion I felt going in. My thought process was something like this:

“Oh great. Someone else telling me how much I have screwed up my finances.”

“Just what I want to hear, a lecture on investing and saving for the future, when I would just like to be able to put gas in my car for the week.”

“That’s nice for people who have  a lot of money to do something with, but I barely get by as it is.”

So going in, I pretty much thought I wouldn’t take home anything but a bunch of guilt! I was SO WRONG!

Suze Orman was talking to real people like me. Some of her more significant messages that I took home were: 

  • There is a NEW American Dream. This isn’t the same world or economy that my parents were basing their hopes and dreams on. 
  • You need to go ‘back to class’ in terms of your money. 
  • Be REAL about what is coming in and going out. 
  • It’s ok to rent a house if it provides more security for your situation. That was such a relief? How many of you have been taught all your life that home ownership makes your life more valuable? 
  • If you are living in order to just pay the mortgage and nothing else, SELL YOUR HOUSE! 
  • Most importantly: STAND IN YOUR TRUTH!  Be honest with yourself about your financial situation and go from there. 

It was so eye opening and I have been giving a lot of thought to what she said.

She had a great Q/A session with the crowd of over 500 people and gave some really great advice to questions about money and marriage, saving for retirement, other Financial Advisors and so much more. I admired how she was willing to take whatever questions were thrown her way and some of them were pretty challenging! She also talked with great affection about her Mama which was so sweet to hear!

Suze Orman is on tour promoting her new book: The Money Class (www.suzeorman.com) BUT she advised everyone to check it out of the library if they don’t have the money to buy it!

So what about you?

  • Do you listen to Suze Orman or someone like her? Why or why not?
  • Are you scared to stand in your financial truth?
  • How do you and your partner/spouse/roommate discuss financial issues?
  • How much did your parent’s financial situation influence how you manage your own money?

Now would be a great time to join the 6 MONTH MONEY CHALLEGE going on at SIABC!

Filed Under: American Dream, Asset Building, Changing Economy, Financial Expert, financial literacy, Financial Stability, Southern Indiana Asset Building Coalition, Suze Orman