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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Colleagues,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>The following post might be of
interest.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Marie Cora<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Assessment Discussion List Moderator<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>***************************<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Good morning, everyone. Networks Financial Institute
is pleased to announce the release of a national study analyzing adult trends
in financial literacy. What does the term ‘financial
literacy’ mean to Americans? Do we support financial literacy
education? Where do we get our financial information? These are
some of the questions we sough to answer in this study. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>To complement this study, in a few weeks we will be
releasing a second study seeking, for the first time, to detail what financial
literacy programs are available to U.S. adults in all sectors: for
profit, non profit, governmental, and higher education. We will notify you
as soon as this study is released.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Please feel free to contact me with comments or questions,
and please forward this press release to any of your constituents who might be
interested. Thanks so much…<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>----------------</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><ST1:PERSONNAME u1:st="on"><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>David Godsted</ST1:PERSONNAME>,
Director of Financial Literacy</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Networks Financial Institute at </span></font><st1:place><st1:PlaceName><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Indiana</span></font></st1:PlaceName><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> </span></font><st1:PlaceType><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>State</span></font></st1:PlaceType><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> </span></font><st1:PlaceType><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>University</span></font></st1:PlaceType></st1:place><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:address><st1:Street><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>2902 North Meridian Street</span></font></st1:Street><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>, </span></font><st1:City><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Indianapolis</span></font></st1:City><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>, </span></font><st1:State><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>IN</span></font></st1:State><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> </span></font><st1:PostalCode><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>46208</span></font></st1:PostalCode></st1:address><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>(W) 317-536-0291 (F) 317-536-2269</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><a href="mailto:david.godsted@isunetworks.org"><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>david.godsted@isunetworks.org</span></font></a></span></font><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> - </span></font><a
href="http://www.isunetworks.org"><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>http://www.isunetworks.org</span></font></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:150%'><b><font
size=4 face=Arial><span style='font-size:15.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:
Arial;font-weight:bold'>National Study Assesses </span></font></b><st1:country-region><st1:place><b><font
size=4 face=Arial><span style='font-size:15.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:
Arial;font-weight:bold'>U.S.</span></font></b></st1:place></st1:country-region><b><font
size=4 face=Arial><span style='font-size:15.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:
Arial;font-weight:bold'> Adults’ Financial Literacy</span></font></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>(</span></font></b><st1:date
Month="9" Day="4" Year="2007"><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>September
4, 2007</span></font></b></st1:date><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>, </span></font></b><st1:place><st1:City><b><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:
Arial;font-weight:bold'>Indianapolis</span></font></b></st1:City><b><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:
Arial;font-weight:bold'>, </span></font></b><st1:State><b><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial;
font-weight:bold'>IN</span></font></b></st1:State></st1:place><b><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:
Arial;font-weight:bold'>) </span></font></b><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'>—, Networks
Financial Institute at </span></font><st1:place><st1:PlaceName><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'>Indiana</span></font></st1:PlaceName><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:
Arial'> </span></font><st1:PlaceType><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'>State</span></font></st1:PlaceType><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:
Arial'> </span></font><st1:PlaceType><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'>University</span></font></st1:PlaceType></st1:place><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:
Arial'> has released results of a national survey that assesses </span></font><st1:country-region><st1:place><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:
Arial'>U.S.</span></font></st1:place></st1:country-region><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'>
adults’ self-reported levels of financial literacy. The findings
indicate that les than 30% of </span></font><st1:country-region><st1:place><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:
Arial'>U.S.</span></font></st1:place></st1:country-region><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'>
adults view their personal financial knowledge as very good or better.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'>The quantitative
online survey of 805 adults randomly selected from throughout the </span></font><st1:country-region><st1:place><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:
Arial'>U.S.</span></font></st1:place></st1:country-region><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'>
with respondents statistically profiling the </span></font><st1:country-region><st1:place><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:
Arial'>U.S.</span></font></st1:place></st1:country-region><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'>
adult population. The survey aimed to establish a baseline assessment of
U.S. adults’ financial literacy levels, identify the types of information
these adults seek to improve their financial knowledge, uncover areas in which
adults believe they need the most help with personal financial education and
understand perceived barriers adults face in seeking financial literacy
education.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'>Fewer than 30% of
U.S. adults view their overall financial knowledge as very good or better;
however, the research also found that more than half of U.S. adults believe
they understand the concept of managing, saving, spending and investing money
wisely, reporting a need for the most guidance with investing, retirement
planning and taxes. A separate question revealed that despite
economic trends in personal bankruptcy, mortgage foreclosure, a climbing credit
card debt, </span></font><st1:country-region><st1:place><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'>U.S.</span></font></st1:place></st1:country-region><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:
Arial'> adults are somewhat more confident in their knowledge of spending,
insurance, lending/borrowing and banking. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'>Adults perceive a
need for financial literacy. Eight in 10 </span></font><st1:country-region><st1:place><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:
Arial'>U.S.</span></font></st1:place></st1:country-region><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'>
adults think it is important that financial literacy be taught. They also
express a desire to enhance their own personal financial knowledge to assist
them with saving and preparing for the future. However, they are not
actively seeking assistance with these life skills. Sixty-five percent of
</span></font><st1:country-region><st1:place><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'>U.S.</span></font></st1:place></st1:country-region><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:
Arial'> adults have not received any financial literacy instruction in the past
12 months. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'>In identifying
sources of financial education, the research asked respondents to indicate the
most frequently sought sources for financial information. Family members
were highest ranked followed by friends/colleagues and financial
planners. While family and friends were most frequently consulted,
financial planners were viewed as the most valuable source of personal
financial education. Bank personnel were viewed as moderately
valuable. Human resources personnel and credit counselors were reported
as the <i><span style='font-style:italic'>least</span></i> valued
sources. “Respondents’ lack of value in the services
available through human resources departments is particularly disturbing as
these departments typically manage the bulk of individuals benefits, including
insurance and retirement planning options,” noted <ST1:PERSONNAME u1:st="on">David
Godsted</ST1:PERSONNAME>, director of financial literacy at Networks Financial
Institute.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'>Adult consumers
desire facts and personalized assistance in investing, retirement planning and
the wise use of money. Despite the value placed on financial planners, the
vast majority of </span></font><st1:country-region><st1:place><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'>U.S.</span></font></st1:place></st1:country-region><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:
Arial'> adults do <i><span style='font-style:italic'>not</span></i> rely on
someone else to handle their finances. While </span></font><st1:country-region><st1:place><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:
Arial'>U.S.</span></font></st1:place></st1:country-region><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'>
adults express a desire to learn more about financial education, they cite a
lack of funds and time as primary barriers to being more financially
literate. While less than a third of </span></font><st1:country-region><st1:place><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:
Arial'>U.S.</span></font></st1:place></st1:country-region><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'>
adults have sought financial information, assistance or instruction within the
past 12 months, only about one third report that they are likely to seek such
resources in the next 12 months.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'>Networks Financial
Institute released the report during the August 28<sup>th</sup>, <i><span
style='font-style:italic'>Nation’s Foreclosure Epidemic: Causes,
Consequences and Remedies</span></i> conference presented in </span></font><st1:City><st1:place><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:
Arial'>Indianapolis</span></font></st1:place></st1:City><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial'>.
Similar to the research findings, speakers at the foreclosure forum indicated
that a lack of financial literacy is one of the key culprits in the current
foreclosure crisis. A copy of the Adult Financial Literacy Study is
available online at www.isunetworks.org.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><b><i><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold;
font-style:italic'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></i></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><i><font size=3 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial;font-style:italic'>Networks
Financial Institute at Indiana State University was founded in 2003 with a
grant from Lilly Endowment, Inc. The non-profit organization strives to
facilitate a more effective national and international financial services
marketplace through education, outreach and research. Networks Financial
Institute is headquartered in Indianapolis with offices on the campus of
Indiana State University in Terre Haute and outreach in Washington, D.C., and
internationally. For more information about Networks Financial Institute,
visit <a href="http://www.networksfinancialinstitute.org/">www.networksfinancialinstitute.org</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
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12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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