Financial Empowerment

Treasurer Curtis Loftis is a passionate advocate of financial education and frequently travels around the state speaking about the importance of budgeting, managing credit cards, saving money and investing wisely.

Here are some resources for children, parents, teachers and others who are interested in improving their financial literacy.

Financial Literacy Summer Reading List (PDF) – A downloadable list of children’s books that can share a lesson or spark a conversation about personal finance, no matter a child’s age.

Lucky Ducky and the Smart Plan Coloring Book (PDF) – A free, downloadable children's coloring book created by the State Treasurer's Office in conjunction with noted S.C. cartoonist Robert Ariail. It shares the story of how Papa Pig plans to save for Lucky Ducky's college education, promoting a fun and easy way for kids to start learning about the importance of saving for a future college education.

South Carolina Financial Literacy Master Teacher Program – The South Carolina Financial Literacy Master Teacher Program provides financial incentives to K-12 teachers who are experts in the area of financial literacy and have a desire to teach professional development workshops to other educators in their schools and districts.

FDIC Teacher Resource Center – The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) offers a number of resources to help teachers provide meaningful financial education.

Junior Achievement of Greater South Carolina – Junior Achievement is the nation’s largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their futures and make smart academic and economic choices.

SC Bankers Association – The Young Bankers Division offers a variety of financial literacy resources recommended by bankers who use them.

SC Economics – SC Economics provides teachers with training and resources necessary to help them implement training in economics and financial literacy in classrooms across the state.    

National Endowment for Financial Education

360 Financial Literacy – a service of the American Institute of CPAs

National Association of State Treasurers

Practical Money Matters – a variety of articles covering personal finance tips from Visa, Inc.

Learn how to manage your personal debt, monitor your credit history and understand credit cards.

National Foundation for Credit Counseling

Annual Credit Report.com

Future Scholar 529 College Savings Plan – helping families save for their loved ones’ future education

Palmetto ABLE Savings Program – providing individuals with disabilities a pathway for greater financial security

America Saves – a non-profit, corporate and government partnership

Building Wealth – Dallas Federal Reserve

Savingforcollege.com