HCC Offering Financial Education and Counselor Training

Hawaii Community College’s Office of Continuing Education and Training (OCET) is offering a financial education and counselor training program for the first time beginning on April 20.

OCET partnered with Hawaii County Research and Development to hold this training as part of a concerted effort to improve financial literacy in Hawaii.

The training is based on a community asset building program used by the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs.

Based on their work, local innovations are being tailored for the needs of Hawaii Island communities.

Hawaii based organizations, such as the Hawaii Alliance for Community-Based Economic Development and the Ho`owaiwai Network have been highly supportive and are working hard to implement new strategies toward that end.

Originally offered as a certificate program in New York, the financial counselor program has been tailored for Hawaii.

Graduates of the program offered by Hawaii Community College OCET will receive a Certificate of Professional Development in Financial Education and Counseling.

Students will gain the knowledge necessary to properly conduct a financial counseling session with clients from any background; help them assess their current financial situation; increase their savings, understand their credit and banking situation, and work toward reducing their debt; as well as set financial goals for their future.

The hope is that graduates of the program will take their new skills to work in a wide variety of settings and positions.

Anyone who is interested in, or is currently, working in a counseling setting, as a banking associate, or other social services providers may benefit from enhanced knowledge of financial literacy.

Graduates will be able to help members of our community prevent financial hardships, such as bankruptcy and foreclosure, and coach them through troubles when they arise.

The course will be taught by John K. Kai, president and founder of Pinnacle Investment Group, LLC.

Kai has worked extensively in the field of financial advisory services since 1991 and has done hundreds of investment-related workshops for individuals, organizations, and companies. An active community member, he currently serves on the board of directors of ML Macadamia Orchard, LP and as director of Hawaii Island YMCA.

Classes will be held on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from April 20 through May 25, with the final exam on the morning of June 1.

Tuition assistance may be available for this program.

For more information about tuition and registration, please call Estee Nathanson, OCET coordinator, at 934-2693, or contact her via e-mail at [email protected].