Just like physical fitness,
   financial fitness is a 
   lifetime commitment that
   offers great long-term rewards. 

   The earlier you start
     ... the better!

VCU is committed to helping its employees stay in strong financial shape.  This site offers a number of tools and resources to help you reach and maintain your financial fitness goals.

Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view some of the documents below. 

Money Management

Getting Started

Budgeting

Debt Management

Saving

Building Wealth

VCU Benefits

Investment

Personal Finances

Life Events

Consumer Rights

Coping with Financial Emergencies

Retirement

Programs and Resources

Tools

Calculators, Checklists, and Worksheets

Money Management...

Getting Started

Financial Literacy:  The Money Knowledge You Can’t Do Without
Finance is not just for experts — everyone needs to know the basics.  For example, you could be wasting thousands of dollars a year by not knowing the interest rate on your credit cards.

Financial Myths:  What You Think You Know Can Hurt You
A major financial decision can be an expensive mistake if made with sketchy facts or outright error.  Learn a few of the common mistaken ideas about finances.

Practical Advice for Everyone on How to Save and Manage Money
No matter how old or young you are, there are some basic things you can do to better manage and protect your money.

FDIC Online Money Smart Web Seminar
Financial education about investing and how it works for those just starting out.

The Basics of Money (Kiplinger.com)
How  to invest, manage your money and spend wisely

Budgeting

First Step to Financial Success  
How to control day-to-day financial affairs.  

Everything You Need to Know About Budgeting  
Budgeting is the foundation of every financial plan.  It doesn't matter if you're living paycheck to paycheck or earning six figures a year.

U.S. Financial Literacy and Education Commission
Financial education resources.

Debt Management

BALANCE Debt Management Servicesfor Virginia Credit Union members only
If you are having trouble keeping up with your bills, this service provides free, confidential consultation with a professional counselor.

Smart Money - Debt Management
Articles dealing with credit card management.

Saving...

Building Wealth

Savings Fitness:  A Guide to Your Money and Your Financial Future
From the Federal Citizen Information Center

Ten Tips for Building Wealth
From Fortune Magazine

Money Management
Build your savings to make the most of your money.

Personal Finance Advice Portal
A collection of blogs, tools, discounts and tips contributed by the user community, geared toward saving money and proactively managing your personal finances.

VCU Benefits

Flexible Benefits Plan
Medical and Dependent Care Reimbursement Program 

VCU Tax-Deferred Annuity (TDA) and Cash Match Programs
Put aside money today to build income for retirement.

Investment

Fidelity Investments
Whatever your destination... get guidance on investing. 

Five Keys to Investing Success
From the editors of Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine.

Investopedia
Your source for investing education.

TIAA Financial Services Leaning Center
Investing vs. saving.  Get the information you need to create your plan for the financial future you want.

Personal Finances...

Life Events

360 Degrees of Financial Literacy
Information to help make sound financial decisions at every stage of life ... from childhood to retirement.

Financial Literacy for Everyone
Every phase of life has unique challenges.  Circumstances and needs change over time.  Build an understanding of the various challenges and opportunities throughout the life cycle.

Hands On Banking
The money skills you need for life.  Want to take charge of your own finances and reach your goals?  Just pick your age group and get started!

VCU Discount Booklet
Take advantage of these discounts and resources to help balance work and home responsibilities throughout the life cycle.

Consumer Rights

Debt Collection FAQs - A Guide for Consumers
From the Federal Trade Commission

Equifax Identity Theft Insurance
Equifax Personal Solution products available to VCU employees at discounted prices.

Coping with Financial Emergencies

Value Options, Inc.only for COVA Care members in the Commonwealth of Virginia Health Benefits Program
This Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides confidential, professional counseling, education, and referral services to employees and their family members. 

Virginia State Employees Emergency Fund (VSEEF)
This program supports active employees who have emergencies.  Funds are made through short-term grants payable to companies, not individuals.

Virginia State Employee Loan Program 
This program is available to active, classified full-time non-probationary employees who have been employed with the Commonwealth for at least 12 months.  Employees who are paid on a monthly or semi-monthly (1st and 16th) are eligible for this program.

Tax Impact of Job Loss
Tax issues for displaced workers.

VCU Cares: Coping with the Economy in Good Times and Bad
Tough economic times force hard choices on ourselves and our families.  These resources may help.

Retirement...

Programs and Resources

Virginia Retirement System (VRS)
VRS is a defined benefit plan in which participants are eligible to retire... (1) with full benefits at age 65 with at least five years of service or (2) as early as age 50 with 30 years of service.  A reduced benefit is available at age 50 with 10 years of service or at age 55 with five years of service.

VCU Optional Retirement Plan (ORP)
The ORP is a defined contribution plan in which eligible VCU faculty may elect to participate in lieu of participating in the VRS.  The University makes a contribution of 10.4% of creditable compensation for ORP participants.

Tax-Deferred (TDA) Annuity (403b) Program
The TDA is a tax-savings program in which eligible faculty and staff set aside money (on a pre-tax basis) to build income for retirement.

Purchase of Prior VRS Service
The Virginia General Assembly passed legislation that simplified and expanded the ability for employees to purchase credit for prior service.

Individual Counseling Sessions
This website provides a listing of campus dates with vendors for the VCU Optional Retirement Plan (ORP), VCU Tax-Deferred Annuity (TDA) Program, VCU Cash Match Plan, and Virginia Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP)

Pre-Retirement Planning Resources
When planning for retirement, there are many aspects to consider.  Retirement income, health and life insurance are just some of these topics.

Procedures for Part-Time Employment of Retirees   Word version
These procedures apply to the employment of faculty and staff who have retired from Virginia state service through VRS, ORP, and VaLORS.

Tools...

Calculators, Checklists, and Worksheets

Home Budget Calculator
Enter income and monthly expenditures to see how much money is left to save and where money is being spent.

On-Line Calculators
The Virginia Credit Union provides a number of calculators to help with financial planning:  personal finance, checking and savings, mortgage and home finance, retirement, life and credit insurance, investments ... and more!

Help Dealing with Student Loans
These calculators and tools help students and graduates "deal with" repaying their student loans.

FREE Printable Financial Checklists for the Home
These financial checklists help determine how much debt you have, monthly payments, and monthly expenses.

Household Budget Worksheet
This worksheet is designed to project expenditures in various categories, and then compare those projections to what is actually spent.