Beacon to host Financial Planning workshop

Sep 8, 2009 3 min read

By MARIANNE PATON

In today’s economic atmosphere, many question whether or not their current investment strategies are the best way to invest their hard-earned dollars. With the ups and downs associated with an ever fluctuating stock market, investments such as a 401k or IRA may not be as wise an investment as they once were.

To address some of these issues, the Beacon of HOPE will offer a free workshop to those interested in learning more about wise financial investments in today’s volatile marketplace. The workshop will take place at Pine Island Growers on Stringfellow Road in Bokeelia Wednesday, Sept. 23, from 10 a.m. to noon. Presenting the workshop will be a financial planner from Edward Jones, Belinda Marud, who brings 25 years of banking experience with her to her new employer.

“I have a passion for helping the Pine Island community. I have been actively involved with the Kiwanis, Habitat for Humanity, the Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce and the Matlacha Hookers and see this as an opportunity to share my knowledge with regard to investing with my community,” said Marud. “I have found that many people are afraid of what might happen to their investments and it is my goal to help alleviate some of that fear with the free workshop.”

Marud says she will address finances from A to Z and demonstrate why people should save and why they should invest. The attendees also will learn the terms associated with investing to help them to better understand how their money is or isn’t being invested.

The workshop will be conducted over a four-week period consisting of four, two-hour sessions that will be held once a week at Pine Island Growers. In addition to presentations by Marud, light snacks will be offered as well as ample opportunities to ask questions.

Marud has been with Edward Jones for one year and has undergone extensive training to assure her clients that she can help them to decide the best way to invest their money whether to meet long-term or short-term goals.

Edward Jones has more has nearly 10,000 offices in the U.S. and Canada with more than 12,000 financial advisors who tend to the needs of nearly 7 million clients. While Edward Jones is a large firm, it prides itself in face-to-face relationships with its clients and the communities in which they do business.

Space is limited for the financial investment workshop and the first 12 to register will attend free of charge. Those remaining will be put on a waiting list in lieu of future workshops. For more information or to reserve a seat for the Sept. 23 session, call Marud at 283-2582.