Saint Martin's business students will present free seminar on new financial laws affecting consumers

Nov. 16, 2005

Lacey, Wash. – Wait! Before you begin running up big credit card bills this holiday season, plan first to attend a cautionary seminar being presented Nov. 22 by the Saint Martin’s University Business and Economics Club.

Several changes in the financial industry recently have taken place or are being implemented with the beginning of the new year that have serious ramifications for consumers. The collective changes may well catch consumers unaware, since many have not been well-publicized. And for those already in marginal financial health, they could cause undue hardship.

The free seminar, “The Perfect Financial Storm,” is from noon to 1 p.m. Nov. 22 at the university’s Worthington Conference Center, 5300 Pacific Ave. SE, Lacey. Students will be sharing what they’ve learned from their research about changes affecting us all so that consumers can make informed spending decisions as the holidays approach.

Among the topics students will be covering are:

• Probable interest rate increases being made in December by the Federal Reserve.
• The rise in personal debt loads from the compounding of higher interest rates.
• A new law increasing minimum monthly payments on credit card debt.
• Credit card companies becoming more aggressive about fees, interest rates and grace periods.
• The newly instituted bankruptcy laws.
• Growing problems, predators and confusion in the credit counseling industry.
• Equity and interest ramifications of a possible real estate market collapse.

For more information about the seminar, please contact Riley Moore, Ph.D., the club advisor, at 360-438-4511; rmoore@stmartin.edu.

For more information:

Riley Moore
Assistant professor, economics and finance
(360) 438-4511
rmoore@stmartin.edu

Deanna Partlow
Media coordinator / senior editor
360-438-4541
dpartlow@stmartin.edu