Kurt Burnett Personal Finance: Kurt's Picks

Below is my own referral list for credit reporting, debt management, consumer protections, budgeting, and other personal finance topics. But first, a few thoughts about financial counseling and financial advising.
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Regarding Financial Counseling

Personal financial problems are clearly linked to reductions in workplace productivity, embezzlement, depression, marital problems, and even murder/suicide.

With feelings of desperation and helplessness, we will grasp at any shred of hope, and deceptive and fraudulent debt relief companies take full advantage of our vulnerability. They bombard us through the Internet, late-night television, illegal robocalls, and even through our local yellow pages. Though there are effective, reputable counseling agencies out there, it's difficult to tell the difference until it's too late.
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When there is financial trouble there is seldom a single "good" solution, one must simply decide upon the least damaging among the various alternatives. For an overview of common alternatives that people consider, read the Federal Trade Commission's "Coping with Debt".
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Most organizations on this page are nonprofits, government, or educational institutions, and are considered among the most credible sources of information and services. Please note that even among nonprofit organizations the quality varies, and the quality and experience of individuals within an organization vary as well. I encourage you to shop for a financial counselor or advisor like you would for a doctor, attorney, accountant, or mental health counselor - if something doesn’t feel right, or if it seems too good to be true, get another opinion.
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Before contacting a counselor, please read the Federal Trade Commission's "Fiscal Fitness: Choosing a Credit Counselor". You may also want to ask for referrals from friends, relatives, or others who you trust.
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Regarding Financial Advising

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) is the largest independent regulator for all securities firms doing business in the United States. FINRA provides guidance on how to select an advisor, describes what professional designations mean, what to look out for, what questions to ask, and so on. It also has a “Broker Check” feature and “Smart Saving for College—Better Buy Degrees” (this includes information about 529 college savings plans).
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Someone considering either annuities or mutual funds might benefit from Investopedia's tutorials covering annuities and mutual funds. Additional Investopedia tutorials.

Referrals

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CONSUMER PROTECTION

Indiana Attorney General

ID Theft Victim Kit

Federal Trade Commission

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

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LAFAYETTE AREA RESOURCES

Information and Referral

        Lafayette Crisis Center
        First Call 211
        Phone 765-423-2255 (or “211” in some Indiana counties)
        On the Web
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NOTE: In 2014 the Crisis Center merged with Mental Health America of Tippecanoe County.
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General credit counseling, budgeting help, or credit reporting questions

Purdue Federal Credit Union 765-497-3328 or 800-627-3328

Joe Redmon jredmon@purduefed.com. See a video of Joe discussing credit reporting

Fraud Alerts from Purdue Federal Credit Union

Housing counseling: pre-purchase, foreclosure, and reverse mortgage

Homestead Consulting 765-423-1284

Joe Kellogg joe@homesteadconsulting.net

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For a new checking account if you’ve had trouble in the past Bank On Tippecanoe
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Paying for College

Ivy Tech Financial Aid Offices. Lafayette: 765-269-5000 ext. 5200 lafayette-finaid@ivytech.edu

See a video of Beverly Cooper, Ivy Tech Community College of Lafayette's Director of Financial Aid

Purdue University Division of Financial Aid Lafayette 765-494-5050

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Nonprofit legal assistance

Indiana Legal Services Lafayette office 765-423-5327 or 800-382-7581

Legal Aid Corporation of Tippecanoe County 765-742-1068

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NATIONWIDE

Annual credit report

Annual Credit Report Request Service.

By phone: 877-322-8228, online, or by mail (download form).

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Budgeting; credit counseling; debt management plan; credit reporting, housing counseling; bankruptcy counseling; bankruptcy education

The National Foundation for Credit Counseling 800-388-2227. Even though there may be an online listing for a Lafayette office, CCCS of Lafayette closed in 2010 and none has reopened to date.