By Mark Richmond
Staff Writer

Students and faculty suffering from financial woes now have a place to turn to. The Purdue Financial Planning Assistance program offers a free public service to individuals with monetary problems.

The clinic was founded for the dual purpose of educating student counselors and providing a service to the community. Anyone with monetary concerns ranging from income tax questions to credit problems can receive help from the clinic.

Flora Williams, a professor in the School of Consumer Science, said "It's a teaching clinic and we learn from every case. Over half the students say they have financial concerns. Some of it is not enough money. Some of it is mismanagement, etc." Students trying to balance work with school and others with credit card debt problems are also common.

But the service is not restricted to just Purdue students or faculty. Williams said, "We also work with locals, even professors and staff.

"It's a free service, but it takes awhile. Every client will get a written plan that will improve their situation. It's all very confidential. We promise each client that we will come up with at least one good idea that will positively impact their lives."

The process for obtaining help from the clinic is simple. Clients first go to a general meeting, which is held at 3:30 on Tuesdays in Matthews Hall. The client is then introduced to two counselors. The client and counselors go over confidentiality issues and then address the financial problem. The counselors then access what can be accomplished and schedule a second appointment with the client. Counselors then research the client's financial problem and then develop a plan of action. The entire process requires three meetings over a period of one to two months.

Williams said "For some people this is the first time they've ever spoken to someone about their finances." First time clients shouldn't be intimidated to talk to a counselor about their monetary problems.

Williams also stated that the majority of clients have credit-related issues. Williams said that "50 percent of problems come in because of credit problems. That's a big concern because employers and landlords now do credit checks." This can be a big problem for people with a bad credit history.

Students that find themselves with an overwhelming debt from spring break may find the clinic to be a good source of financial advice. Although the clinic won't make their debt magically disappear, clients can count on receiving advice that may improve their financial situation.