Money Smart Week: Get free financial advice

If you're looking for some free financial advice on everything from budgeting to retirement planning, this may be the week to get it.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago is sponsoring Money Smart Week, a public awareness campaign designed to help consumers better manage their personal finances, from April 18-25.

It's a program that began in Chicago in 2002 and has expanded to all 50 states with an estimated 4,500 to 5,000 free events taking place.

"We are trying to shine a bright light" on what's available to consumers to help them better manage their personal finances, says Alejo Torres, senior outreach program manager for the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.

Educators, financial planners and others will host events at libraries, businesses, schools, financial institutions and government agencies to teach people about a wide range of financial topics including credit and debt management, home buying, estate planning and budgeting, he says. "Consumers can choose what they need help on," Torres says. The activities are listed at moneysmartweek.org.

Kids can get involved too. Some libraries will offer story hours that feature books such as the Berenstain Bears' Dollars and Sense, he says.

Torres says events are coordinated with the help of thousands of organizations across the country. National partners of Money Smart Week include the American Library Association, the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the United States Department of Agriculture Cooperative Extension.

Sari Feldman, president-elect of the American Library Association, says events at libraries will range from shred fests so people can destroy old financial documents to programs on how to save and plan for college, to information on building your retirement nest egg.

And one of the best parts of the week: "All of the educational events are free," Torres says.