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About Us

We are a group of volunteers representing nonprofit organizations, government and municipalities, financial institutions, insurance and real estate companies, investment companies and other related businesses that have a common goal of helping people make better financial decisions.  We serve the greater Wausau area without specific boundaries.

We meet the second Tuesday of each month at 8:30 a.m. with most meeting held at UW Extension, 212 River Dr, Wausau.   New members are always welcome.

Organization

Money Smart Week

 Chair: Joanne  Janikowski
Wisconsin's campaign is a state-wide effort including Get $mart Wausau leadership.  It's goal is to help you find personal finance resources at no cost.  Programs through  local businesses, nonprofit organizations and Get $mart Wausau.

Money Conference

 Chair: Richard Entenmann
Partnering with Asset Builders of America, the Coalition promotes financial education and wealth building strategies.  Asset Builders mission is to promote financial education and wealth-building strategies to enhance the quality of life for low-income youth, families and communities.  To accomplish this we offer the Money Conference and Finance & Investment Bowl Challenge.

Membership Education

 Chair: Pam Anderson

The membership committe recruits local professionals, nonprofit organizations and businesses interested in programming to better the financial wellness of our citizens. This committee  provides  opportunities for professional education.


Convenience Lending

 Chair: Karen Bauer
Awareness of sub-prime and predatory lending practices and legislation.  Keeps the group informed of alternative lending products and policies.

Personal Finance

 Chair: Jackie Carattini
Workshops held throughout the year.  Budgeting class is offered on a regular basis. 

Get Checking is a newer program offered as needed.

Home Buyer Education

 Chair: Arlene Scalzo
Home buyer education pre-purchase program is offered three times annually.  Program is set up as a 6-hour program that meets the educational requirements for a variety of programs including some offering down payment assistance.

History

2003 – Wausau Area Financial Education (Home Buyer Education)
WHEDA, Catholic Charities, UW Extension and the City of Wausau Community Development started   conversations with concerns for offering home buyer education.  In working together we thought classroom education would be a benefit for all agencies.  In time management, this meant those individuals that wanted/needed more personalized would work with the agency designed for the appropriate service or counseling.

The Home Buyer program was modeled after the program WHEDA has done in Milwaukee since the 1990’s.  This would then include the local government, financial institutions, Realtors and housing related professionals to become involved in the education process.  As we worked together, we became aware of other financial needs and how we can work together.  We named ourselves the Wausau Area Financial Education Group.

2005
As interest grew to provide additional financial education programming, Money Smart program was introduced.  This was a 10 module program with topics from banking, checking accounts, credit cards, borrowing basics and types of loans, credit and credit reports, personal budgets, savings, home buying, consumer rights and other financial decisions.   As programming was being offered additional community partners joined us.  Over the next few years, our membership grew to include other business partners that had an interest in the financial health of our community.   We changed our name to Get Smart Wausau.

The Federal Reserve and Department of Financial Institutions began an initiative called Money Smart Week WI.  This concept was started in most areas as a city initiative but WI attempted to take it state wide offering free financial education opportunities sponsored through local businesses and nonprofit organizations.  Get Smart Wausau area was one of the first 12 teams participating Money Smart Week in Wisconsin.

 2006
Get Smart Wausau and Asset Builders teamed together to offering a program called the Money Conference.    Asset Builders is the lead nonprofit organization and offers this program in seven locations throughout Wisconsin.  The Money Conference is held on a Saturday that offers approximately 30 different topics related to personal finance.  The programs are slated for all people ages beginning at age 6.  The topics range from personal budgets, managing credit, investments, home buying, nutrition & menu planning, employment strategies or other topics related to finances.

2010
We continue to offer programming for financial education.  The collaboration has grown with a core of volunteers for various programs.   From our programming, we offer 3 classroom home buyer programs, 10 monthly budgeting programs, GetChecking on an as needed basis, the annual Money Conference and we participate as a team for Money Smart Week activities.