Information Experts

IE Teams with FDIC to Help Millions of Americans be Money Smart

Information Experts works with the FDIC to make downloadable podcasts of financial literacy program, available free of charge through www.fdic.gov/moneysmart.

RESTON, VIRGINIA, June 18, 2009—In today’s tough economy, Americans are looking for sound, unbiased information on how to make money go farther and work better for the future. That’s where the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s (FDIC) award-winning Money Smart financial literacy and training program comes in.

Money Smart is a comprehensive financial education curriculum designed to help individuals outside the financial mainstream develop financial skills and positive banking relationships. To date, nearly 1.5 million have benefitted from the Money Smart curricula.

Money Smart’s success as a classroom curriculum for teaching adults how to become more financially savvy paved the way for Information Experts (IE) to help spin-off other Money Smart products. In 2008, IE worked with the FDIC to translate the adult lessons into Money Smart for Young Adults, a series of eight highly-interactive, scenario-based courses that engage young people aged 12 to 20 in money management discussions. The FDIC makes Money Smart for Young Adults available on CD free of charge to schools and community groups. The D.C. school system was the first to embrace Money Smart for Young Adults for distribution to all of its schools.

Information Experts also designed, developed and helped the FDIC launch the Money Smart Podcast Network, a brand extension of Money Smart. The Money Smart Podcast Network presents the Money Smart program in an MP3 format available for free and immediate online listening or downloading. “I’m confident that the addition of podcasts will help the FDIC reach even more people trying to improve their understanding of finances,” said Laura Green, the Information Experts FDIC project manager.

Through the Money Smart Podcast Network, financial literacy content is provided in a radio talk show format and presented in small segments, making it possible to listen and learn in short spaces of time. As with the Money Smart for Young Adults curriculum, it is once again possible to completely customize the learning experience, selecting only modules and segments of interest. The downloadable MP3 files are bundled for consumer convenience, as well as for distribution to local banks who partner with the FDIC in financial literacy campaigns. A DVD is also available.

“It’s a great demonstration of how IE’s branding expertise complements our approach to education and information dissemination,” Ms. Green added. IE was responsible for all aspects of the site design and development and, working closely with the FDIC, branded the site, creating a logo, look and feel for the website and DVD.

Young people are a big part of the reason the FDIC launched the podcast network. “Kids are going to be more receptive to the Money Smart lessons when presented in a format they are already comfortable with. Still, finances aren’t something kids or adults are used to talking about, so it was essential that both the site and DVD be extremely intuitive and user-friendly,” noted Dennis Schulte, Information Experts’ Director of Development.

About Information Experts
Information Experts is an award-winning strategic consulting firm offering integrated communication solutions to commercial, public sector and not-for-profit organizations. Our services help clients bridge the gap between vision and mission fulfillment through all facets of internal and external communications including branding, messaging, education, Websites and outreach materials. Clients look to Information Experts for help defining their position in the marketplace, maximizing their human capital potential, and reaching new and potential customers in forward facing and relevant ways. Founded in 1995 and headquartered in the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area, Information Experts is an 8(a) certified, woman-owned business serving the needs of clients across the United States, in Europe and the Middle East.