With extensive programs and workshops on job hunting, personal money management, financial planning and small business fundamentals, there’s something for everyone.

San Francisco, CA — Clear the calendar this April for a packed month of personal and business finance and professional skills events from San Francisco Public Library. “Just in time for National Financial Literacy Month, we can all take steps towards better financial health by exploring a windfall of virtual programs focused on job and career seekers, personal finance needs and small business resources, all aimed to help San Francisco survive, thrive and work towards economic recovery,” says Lia Hillman, Librarian and Fourth Floor Manager at the Main Library.

Highlights of Financial Literacy Month programs, part of an ongoing series called Work it offered by the Library’s Business, Science, and Technology Center, include valuable programs and series focusing on personal money management and cultivating healthy financial habits. Work it programs have been tremendously popular during this period of economic hardship. Attendance at these programs increased more than 175% over 2019.

Financial experts help pave the way towards a brighter financial future. In partnership with the Office of Financial Empowerment, the Office of the Treasurer & Tax Collector and SFPL, San Francisco Smart Money Coaching (SMC) offers two workshops: Saving with Purpose and Understanding Credit, as well as ongoing one-on-one personal finance coaching. One compelling testimonial to the assistance of SMC from an anonymous client: “I am single, live in SF, and work full-time. I started Smart Money Coaching because I was totally broke. I also needed help with opening a checking account. My coach was able to help me with opening the checking account and increase my credit score. I really value the moral support I received with goal setting and the help I got with cash flow analysis.” Sign up for your one-on-one personal finance coaching session here: cccsofsanfrancisco.fullslate.com.

For those who are just getting started in their life journeys, as well as those who are approaching retirement, Work it has specially tailored programs. Carly Matthews, CFEI, a passionate financial literacy advocate, presents a 4-part series for young adults and families. In partnership with other financial experts, she offers Why Money Psychology Matters; How to Budget and Save for Your Future; Investing for Beginners and Investing 101: How to Invest in Stocks. Tax wizard Heather Liston, CFP®, offers Your Financial Golden Years: Managing Taxes Around Retirement Time. Wondering how to plan your estate? Stu Bronstein offers Estate Planning – What's It All About? and Ariel Siner offers Estate Planning: Understanding the Basics.

Learn how to make your money grow. BetterInvesting stock guru Harriet Chan presents an Introduction to Value Line Investment Survey Report and Dividends Investing for Beginners. And for intermediate to advanced investors, SFPL offers The ABCs of REITs with Rich Arzaga, CFP®, AIF® and Options Trading and Wealth Management: Manufacturing Money & Sleep with Jonathan Masse, a Registered Investment Advisor.

For job seekers, Tim Bombosch, PhD, offers Timely Tips for Successful Job Searches to teach proven strategies to help advance their career, even during hard times. The Employment Development Department teaches essential skills such as How to Apply for a State Job, Resume Writing and Interviewing Essentials. Jewish Vocational Services presents outstanding workshops on topics such as LinkedIn – Beyond the Profile with David Robins, How to Ace Your Interview and Get the Job with Lynn Winter Gross and 50+ Job Search Strategy with David Robins. Resume expert Christina Gotuaco will show you how to draft your resume, and LinkedIn expert Shari Tishman offers the third part of our 3-part series on LinkedIn.

Small business entrepreneurs can gain start-up tips from Deyanira Arauz, Economist and Financial Wellbeing Coach of Operation Hope. The Foundation Directory Online by Candid offers monthly workshops for nonprofits on how to find grants using the database. Reference Solutions database educator, Bill Carlson, demonstrates how retail businesses can use the database to increase business. Additionally, a 3-part series on How to Start a Small Business with Mark Bettini, MBA comes in June.

The Bridge at Main, SFPL’s literacy and learning center, offers regular programs to help build basic knowledge and skills for the workplace. In April, The Bridge offers programs on Google Drive and Google Photos, as well as ESL classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, to afford enjoyable ways to connect with the community. And that’s not all: The Bridge also hosts Tech Week in mid-May, a full schedule of programs aimed at all skill levels from beginning to expert.

 

Programs

Timely Tips for Successful Job Searches

Come hear about proven job search strategies to help you advance your career, even during hard times. After the presentation, ample time is devoted to questions and answers.
Register
April 1, 10 a.m.
 

How to Apply For a California State Job

An Employment Program Representative from the California Employment Development Department covers everything you need to know to navigate CalCareers, what a Statement of Qualifications requires and how to effectively write one to submit with the job posting. They review and utilize the Duty Statement for your advantage when applying to positions.
Register
April 1, 1 p.m.
 

How to Apply for City Jobs

Gain an understanding of the City’s online application process as well as helpful tips on how to apply.
Register
April 1, 4 p.m.
 

Why Money Psychology Matters

Success with money isn't about IQ, how good you are at math or how much you earn; it's about behavior. Understand your beliefs about money and learn tools to successfully improve your financial well-being. This is the first of a 4-part personal finance series for young adults and families. Event speakers: Carly Matthews, CFEI, and Alex Caswell, CFA, CFP®
Register
April 2, 1 p.m.
 

Tools for Job Seekers

Explore job-related resources at the library and beyond. Learn about finding employment, creating résumés and career development.
Register
April 3, 4 p.m.
 

Your Financial Golden Years: Managing Taxes Around Retirement Time

Between ages 59.5 and 72, you have a lot of flexibility and control over your tax situation. We talk about how to avoid big jumps in your tax bracket during your retirement years and other related topics like: How is Social Security taxed? How to manage taxation of your RMDs? What happens if you relocate to another state when you retire?
Register
April 6, 12 p.m.
 

Introduction to Value Line Investment Survey Report

For intermediate stock pickers, learn how to research and analyze stocks by industry, get weekly updates on financial markets and recommended portfolios, get the latest developments on covered securities, special topical reports and more using Valueline. Presented by Harriet Chan, Director and Teacher of San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of BetterInvesting.org since 2000. Ms. Chan has 40+ years of experience in investing in the stock market.
Register
April 7, 2 p.m.
 

LinkedIn - Beyond the Profile

Once we optimize the LinkedIn Profile, we have to put the rest of the program to work to accelerate our job search. Let’s focus on taking advantage of LinkedIn’s Networking capabilities and how that will help grow our connections and enhance our Job Search. Presented by David G. Robins.
Register
April 8, 10 a.m.
 

How to Budget and Save for Your Future

Establish a money management system that works for your personal needs. Learn how to become debt free and financially independent over time by managing your cash flow. Event speakers: Carly Matthews, CFEI, and Carrie Friedberg, MA, FBS ® and CFC.
Register
April 9, 1:30 p.m.
 

Reference Solutions Database for Retail Businesses

Access targeted information about other businesses or consumers in your community or across the country to grow your retail business.  Presented by Bill Carlson, Customer Success Representative
Register
April 12, 10 a.m.
 

How to Ace Your Interview and Get the Job

Avoid common mistakes and make your age and experience work for you by preparing for a successful interview. Presented by Lynn Winter Gross, MA, Jewish Vocational Services Career Advisor. Former advisor of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce and Media Consultant for California Community colleges.
Register
April 13, 10 a.m.
 

Saving with Purpose

Saving money is much easier with a goal in mind. This workshop shows you how to choose the right goals for you, and overcome barriers to achieving them. Presented by Troy Roberts, CFC.
Register
April 13, 1 p.m.
 

How to Get Grants with Foundation Directory Online

Looking for grants for your nonprofit? Learn how to use Candid’s Foundation Directory Online (FDO). FDO is the most comprehensive prospect research tool for fundraisers, with nearly 200,000 grantmaker profiles.
Register
April 14, 10 a.m.
 

Start-Up Tips for Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs are a special breed of people with varied qualities. They are self-starters, highly motivated, risk-takers and hard workers. This workshop covers the checklist to get your business started, including business entities, components of a business plan and access to capital.

Presented by Deyanira Arauz, Economist and Financial Wellbeing Coach of Operation Hope. Arauz, who is Spanish bilingual, has years of experience coaching entrepreneurs to become business owners.
Register
April 14, 4 p.m.
 

LinkedIn for Job Search, Part 3

To truly take advantage of the power of LinkedIn for your job search and career goals, you must do more than make a profile and get connections. This workshop introduces you to the concept of personal branding and shows you how to use LinkedIn features to establish your own brand and build a reputation as an expert, opening up new doors and opportunities in your career. This is Part 3 of a three-part series presented by Shari Tishman.
Register
April 15, 4 p.m.
 

How to Apply for Permanent Civil Service Employment

Gain an understanding of the City’s Permanent Civil Service (PCS) application process as well as tips on how to apply.

Presented by the Diversity Recruitment Team, Department of Human Resources
Register
April 15, 4 p.m.
 

Estate Planning – What's It All About?

Learn the basics of estate planning, and what you can do to protect your family, in this entertaining and informative program. Stuart Bronstein is a different kind of lawyer. He studied psychology in college, intending to be a therapist. But later he came to the conclusion that he could help people more as a lawyer! Bronstein received his JD degree over 30 years ago from the University of California. Since then, he’s spent his time helping people deal with business and financial issues, plan their estates and handle their probates.
Register
April 16, 2 p.m.
 

Resume Writing Essentials

An Employment Program Representative from the California Employment Development Department covers the essentials to creating a winning resume in today's job market.
Register
April 19, 1 p.m.
 

Google Drive

Learn the basics on how to use Google Drive, an online file storage service. We demonstrate how to navigate the platform, upload, organize and share files.
Register
April 20, 11 a.m.
 

Dividends Investing for Beginners

Dividend investing is a slow and steady way of investing and growing your wealth. We review resources to find other dividend paying stocks, compare two Blue Chip companies that have raised their dividends and review how automatic reinvesting affects dividends. Presented by Harriet Chan, Director and Teacher of San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of BetterInvesting.org since 2000.
Register
April 20, 2 p.m.
 

50+ Job Search Strategy

There is no denying that ageism exists, like other forms of discrimination. We can complain about it and blame every employment rejection on ageism – or – we can get proactive and pursue the right jobs in the right companies in the right way. Let’s talk about it. Presented by David G. Robins.
Register
April 21, 10 a.m.
 

Resume Writing

An interactive class to assess and improve your resume and cover letter to increase your chances of successfully landing an interview. Bring your resume and a description of your most desired job.
Register
April 21, 12 p.m.
 

The ABCs of REITs

Real Estate Investment Trusts, known to many as REITs, can help investment reduce risk by allocating to dozens or hundreds of investment properties and can be purchased for significantly less than directly owned properties. Learn the advantages of adding them to your portfolio. Presented by Rich Arzaga, CFP®, AIF®. For intermediate and advanced investors.
Register
April 22, 2 p.m.
 

Investing for Beginners

This introductory class is a follow up to ‘How to Save and Budget for Your Future.’ Understand why and how people invest while managing risk. Learn about different types of investment accounts and financial advisors. Event speakers: Carly Matthews, CFEI, and Craig Braemer, CFA, CFP®.
Register
April 23, 1:30 p.m.
 

Options Trading and Wealth Management: Manufacturing Money & Sleep

Learn how to buy low & sell high in the options market with institutional strategies - explained with good humor & sound financial knowledge. This program is for people with intermediate to advanced investing skills. Presented by Jonathan Masse, CFA.
Register
April 26, 10 a.m.
 

Google Photos

Learn to store and organize digital images with Google Photos. We demonstrate how to upload, make minor edits, create albums and share your photos all in one place.
Register
April 27, 11 a.m.
 

Understanding Credit

Learn what lenders look for when approving credit, factors affecting your ability to qualify for credit, how FICO is scored and the impact money management has on your future credit standing. Presented by Howard Feitel, Jr. , CFC.
Register
April 27, 2 p.m.

Estate Planning: Understanding the Basics

Learn the basics of estate planning in order to make empowered decisions for you and your family. Presented by Ariel Siner.
Register
April 27, 4 p.m.
 

Advance Your Career Without Additional and Costly Degrees
Leveraging the Power of Continuing Education

Today’s economy demands more and more skills from employees who are often expected to show up with the skills needed for the job. Come explore valuable continuing education and training strategies that don’t come with the cost of expensive advanced college degrees.
Register
April 28, 10 a.m.
 

Interviewing Essentials

An Employment Program Representative from the California Employment Development Department covers everything you need to know to win the interview and land the job.
Register
April 29, 1 p.m.
 

How to Invest in Stocks

This is a follow up to ‘Investing for Beginners.’ Learn how to start investing in stocks through analysis, tools and resources. Learn how to invest safely with very little money while managing risk and tax consequences. This is the last of a 4-part personal finance series for young adults and families. Event speakers: Carly Matthews, CFEI, and Craig Braemer, CFA, CFP®.
Register
April 30, 1:30 p.m.
 

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Jaime Wong

Public Relations Officer

San Francisco Public Library

415-214-2279| Jaime.Wong@sfpl.org