Ready to build an investment plan but don't know where to begin?  Do you know your long-term financial goals but aren't sure how to "invest for success"?  Learn the fundamental building blocks of a solid savings and investment plan, including the financial products that are available and where they might fit into a balanced portfolio.  Understand diversification and asset allocation in the context of Abbott's own 401(k) options to help determine what's right for you.

A meal is served during this class.

Learn to take control of your personal finances - instead of letting your money and debt control you.  It's never too late to learn the basics of money management and to begin applying them in your daily life.  This class will provide you with the tools to create a "roadmap" for reaching your financial goals, and to learn to live within your means.

This course is made up of the following two classes, which can be taken separately:

• Where Does Your Money Go?
• Stop Paying Interest - Start Paying Yourself

A meal is served during this class.

What does your credit score say about you?  What is a credit report?  In these times of financial uncertainty learn the answers to these and other pressing questions.  In just 45 minutes you will learn how to read a credit report and receive tips on how to boost your score.

Get the upper hand when buying or leasing your next car.  Knowledge is power when it comes to negotiating these  tricky transactions.  Prepare for the experience by identifying the primary car-buying steps and understanding the importance of developing a plan of attack.  You will be able to negotiate your best deal with confidence.

Start paying yourself and stop paying interest to banks and credit card companies.  Learn the cost of paying the minimum on your credit cards.  Whether your debt is minimal or overwhelming, you can start reducing it with four easy steps.

Think of this as your financial Map Quest.  You've got to know where you are going before you make plans to getting there.  This class will not only show you the importance of financial goal setting, it will assist you with setting your own goals.

Are you the best person to be handling your investments? For many people, a professional financial advisor is a smarter, more comfortable choice. However, choosing the right financial professional — deciding with whom to trust  your money — can be an intimidating process. Learn important criteria, such as qualifications, credentials and compensation methods that will help you evaluate potential advisors, as well as how to handle ongoing monitoring of their efforts.

If your financial goals include purchasing a new home, this class will help you through the key steps you will need to take as well as the major decisions you'll need to make.  From estimating how much house you can really afford, to choosing the right home loan for your situation, this class prepares you to move through the process confidently and with less stress.

Gather ideas on becoming a smarter spender. This course offers advice and money-saving tips for people who want to become smarter consumers. You’ll learn how to reduce utility, insurance, interest, and car related costs, as well as many other ideas including specific ways to lower your grocery store bills.

It's never too early to begin instilling money concepts whether your children are preschoolers or in their early teens. The objective of this class is to help you teach your children to become good money managers and smart consumers. You will be provided with different schools of thought regarding allowances and chores. Take the ideas you like and apply them to your situation.

With all of the different mortgage options available - do you know which one is right for you? Do you know what the choices mean? (fixed rate, ARM, hybrid payment, interest only, etc.) After attending this class, you will have the basic knowledge to analyze mortgage choices and select the product that fits your needs and budget.

Don't let the future take you by surprise.  Learn to anticipate upcoming expenses and plan for them.  Take action toward tomorrow's budget today.

Have you heard of "phishing" and other schemes to steal your personal information and assume your financial identity?  The consequences of identity theft can be extreme, and the best way to deal with this growing threat is to be informed. Learn how to identify phishing attempts on the Internet, how to protect your privacy in your daily financial transactions and the important steps to take if you believe your financial identity has been compromised.

Getting out of debt is essential for a solid financial plan. You can do it and we can help.  This class teaches practical, long-term advantages of a debt-free life and shows you how you can achieve it with a step-by-step plan for debt reduction and, ultimately, debt elimination.  Learn it, practice it and put it to work for you. This class can be taken as Part II of Be the Boss of Your Money.

Your 401(k) is an essential part of long-term financial planning, but if you want to move beyond the basics, this course will help you evaluate how well other types of investments will help you achieve the level of financial success you desire. Topics include choosing and monitoring mutual funds, and important factors to consider when you’re ready to take the plunge into buying, owning and selling individual stocks.

A meal is served during this class.

Are you uncertain of the impact your IRA will have on your taxes? This course will cover investment tax basics such as capital gains and tax rates. Specific taxes relating to investments (IRA’s, bonds, mutual funds and annuities) will also be discussed. Attendees will be given strategies and 10 rules for tax-smart investing to help guide you through the investment maze.

Whether you attend this class with your teenagers or they come on their own, the lessons learned will provide an invaluable start for smart money management.   Credit card companies are actively recruiting teens into the ranks of credit card ownership, so the more they know - and the sooner they know it - the more responsible they are likely to be in managing their own income, savings and credit.  Your teen will experience real life cash flow situations that include the importance of spending control and of being prepared for unexpected expenses.

Pizza and soda are served during this class.

New laws are making it easier for you to obtain your credit report.  Learn how to get yours, how to read it, and what your credit score means to you and to potential lenders.  Strategies for improving your credit score are revealed, as well as how to dispute and correct credit-reporting errors.

Don’t get caught short when disaster strikes. Learn insurance terms and understand just how much coverage you really need for your home, autos and other important possessions. Identify ideas for keeping premiums under control. Because good record keeping can be critical to the insurance claim process, you will also learn basic organization skills and find out which records to keep and how long to keep them.

Many people say they don't know where their money goes. Maybe it's time to find out where your money goes and create a plan to take control for a better financial future. Learn the difference between fixed, flexible and irregular expenses and how to address all of them responsibly and realistically.

This class can be taken as Part I of Be the Boss of Your Money.