Dear Neighbor,

This month I am holding a three-part series with experts from the nonprofit Financial Planning Association of Metro New York who will provide guidance on managing personal finances and practical steps you can take to improve your financial life. The first installment will be tonight at 7pm, with "A Guide to Eliminating Debt, Understanding Credit, Credit Cards, and Your Credit Score."

Also, on September 21st, I will be hosting a Virtual Town Hall on the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) program, which helps low and middle-income older adults be able to afford to stay in their homes.

I hope you will join me for one or all of these events. Below you will find more information and registration details.

Best,

Liz Krueger

State Senator

A Simple Guide to Credit, Income Taxes, and Investing 

A Three-Part Financial Road Map

Tuesdays, September 12, 19 & 26, 7 pm– 8 pm

Is managing your personal finances challenging? Are you struggling with debt, credit card bills or taxes, or wondering how to invest for the future? If so, don’t miss important conversations on debt, credit scores, income taxes, and the pros and cons of investing in stocks, bonds, and alternative assets. Experts from the nonprofit Financial Planning Association of Metro New York will provide insights on the steps you can take to improve your financial life. Each hour-long session will include a Question-and-Answer section moderated by Senator Krueger.

Tuesday, September 12 from 7 pm – 8 pm

Part I - A Guide to Eliminating Debt, Understanding Credit, Credit Cards, and Your Credit Score

• Anja Luesink, Advocacy Committee Member, Financial Planning Association of Metro NY
• Stephanie Chau, Advocacy Committee Member, Financial Planning Association of Metro NY

Tuesday, September 19 from 7 pm – 8 pm

Part II - Income Tax Planning: A brief overview of how much tax you pay and how to manage taxes effectively 

• Anja Luesink, Advocacy Committee Member, Financial Planning Association of Metro NY
• Stephanie Chau, Advocacy Committee Member, Financial Planning Association of Metro NY

Tuesday, September 26 from 7 pm – 8 pm

Part III - The Power of Investing: Stocks, Bonds, and Alternative Assets

• Tim Hamilton, President-Elect, Financial Planning Association of Metro NY
• Edward Hadad, Board Member, Financial Planning Association of Metro NY

You will have the option of joining online through Zoom or Facebook, or by phone. Please note that you do not need a Facebook account to view an event through Facebook. After you register, a confirmation email with the Zoom link and call-in information will be sent in advance of the event. Following each event, a recording will be emailed to everyone to who registered and posted on my website.

Please let us know if you plan to attend any or all of the sessions and RSVP to https://tinyurl.com/FinancialRoadMapTownHall.

Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption Program

Thursday, September 21, 7 pm – 8:30 pm

If you--

• Live in a rent stabilized, rent controlled, or Mitchell-Lama apartment?
• Are at least 62 years of age?
• Have an annual household income of $50,000 or less?
• Pay at least one third of your income on rent?
• Want to avoid paying future rent increases? 

If you answered yes to all these questions, you are likely eligible for the Senior Citizens Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) program, which helps older adults remain in their homes by freezing their share of the rent. If you do not receive SCRIE, you should attend this virtual town hall to learn whether you are eligible, how you can benefit, the application process, and where you can get help applying.

If you already participate in SCRIE and have any questions or concerns, this is an opportunity to get answers from the experts.

The September 21^st Town Hall will feature:

• Kim Lerner, Director, Benefits Outreach Program, LiveOn NY
• Inie Park, Ombudsperson, Office of the Tax Payer Advocate, NYC Department of Finance

The event will include a question and answer session with Kim Lerner and Inie Park. Attendees will be able to submit questions through Zoom and Facebook during the event but are *strongly* encouraged to submit them in advance.

Attendees have the option of joining online through Zoom or Facebook, or by phone. Please note that you do not need a Facebook account to view an event through Facebook. After you register, a confirmation email with the Zoom link and call-in information will be sent at least a week in advance of the event. Following each event, a recording will be emailed to everyone to who registered and posted on my website.

Please let us know if you plan to attend the Thursday, September 21^st Virtual Town Hall and RSVP to https://tinyurl.com/2023SCRIETownHall.