Student Affairs

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Sokolov-Miller Family Financial Literacy and Life Skills Center will offer its fall 2026 MoneyCounts webinar series, a collection of free virtual sessions designed to help Penn State students and families build practical money management skills.

All webinars will be held from noon to 1 p.m. Participants can register online. After each session, participants can schedule a free, confidential appointment with a financial professional.

The series includes the following sessions:

This session is designed for current and prospective students and parents who are navigating college expenses. Participants will learn about completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and explore funding sources including scholarships, grants and federal and private loans. The webinar also will cover practical strategies for saving on education costs and maintaining eligibility for financial aid.

Financial Literacy Overview, or FLO, will provide an introduction to money management and the center's Ladder to Financial Wellness. The session will cover the five rungs of the ladder: budgeting, building an emergency fund, managing debt, planning for the future and growing wealth. Attendees will learn how to identify the next achievable step in their personal financial wellness journeys.

This webinar will focus on the benefits of budgeting, the budgeting process and several methods participants can consider. It also will highlight tools and resources that can help people maintain a successful budget.

This session will explain how credit works, how credit scores are calculated and what individuals can do to maintain good credit. Participants will learn why credit matters and how it can affect financial health.

This webinar will look at the pros and cons of credit cards, the relationship among credit cards, credit history, credit reports and credit scores, and how to read a credit card billing statement. It also will include tips for responsible credit card use and management.

This webinar will address budgeting and strategic debt repayment plans, student loan debt and options for managing debt, including consolidation, negotiation, repayment plans, settlement and bankruptcy. Participants will learn about steps they can take to better manage debt and move toward greater financial stability.

Attendees will learn how to keep personal and financial information secure, recognize warning signs of fraud and identity theft and respond if their identity is stolen. The session will focus on proactive steps to protect personal data and reduce the risk of financial harm.

The final webinar in the series will explain the difference between saving and investing, different saving and investing vehicles, risk tolerance and strategies to mitigate market risk. The session also will discuss planning for long-term financial goals, including retirement.

The Sokolov-Miller Family Financial and Life Skills Center's mission is to provide students and the Penn State community with the ability to use knowledge and skills to manage financial resources effectively for a lifetime of financial well-being. The center hosts workshops, class and group presentations, webinars, personal one-on-one meetings and online self-study modules about a variety of financial topics to the entire Penn State community. 

Penn State Student Affairs supports holistic student success through advocacy, education, engagement and care. With more than 30 programs and units, Student Affairs helps students thrive in and out of the classroom, discover community and belonging, build leadership skills and create lasting memories. All programs and events are open to all students, regardless of sex, gender, sexual orientation, race or other protected class. Student Affairs is committed to building a community of belonging for all. Learn more about Student Affairs programs at studentaffairs.psu.edu.