After years traveling the country teaching financial education, I am excited to announce a financial education series in my home state of New Hampshire. As you know, I am selective when picking partners and I simply couldn’t be happier with the “public-first” attitude displayed by Total Candor’s partners in this initiative:

• New Hampshire Public Television
• Business NH Magazine (Millyard Communications)
• The University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension Program

Together, we will host three events this spring, including a March event in Durham, an April event in Manchester, and a May event in Plymouth. For more information or to register, visit this page. To watch a promo video appearing every few minutes on Public TV (take that Big Bird), click here.

Hope to see you on March 9 (or shortly thereafter)!

I’m in Chicago today preparing to deliver a presentation tonight to graduating seniors of Northwestern University. The crowd gets bigger every year (I’ve been told that attendance will once again exceed 100).  While I’d love to believe the crowd growth is due to a combination of my exemplary speaking skills and the brilliant marketing of the Northwestern Alumni Association (who sponsors the on-campus event), there is probably one enormous additional factor at work.

You: Free drinks afterwards?

I said attendance would exceed 100 not 1,000.

You: Seriously, you should do the drink thing.

It’s a good idea and there is a separate bar tending night, but I’m thinking we should still keep the two separate. Now if the university were to suggest your idea . . .

If I had to wager as to the most important reason the crowd size gets bigger, I’d say it’s due to an increased awareness as to the importance of acquiring at least a basic financial literacy prior to entering the proverbial “real world.”

I wish the reason wasn’t fear but I am glad there’s more interest.  Not only because a larger crowd is more energizing for a speaker, but because greater financial literacy is good for the country.  While I’ll speak for only about an hour tonight, if I do my job correctly, I will change many people’s lives – really. I know this because I can recall a few very important points from my collegiate education (both in and out of the classroom) that stay with me to this day.

I hope to see you tonight. If not, please keep reading here.  If you work for an organization and would like to see this education in your neck of the woods, please contact me.

Money is often reported to be one the biggest sources of discontent in relationships.  Even if you are fortunate to share the same value system as your friend/significant other/spouse, disagreement about priorities can still cause stress.

At 3PM today, the good folks at LifeTuner will be hosting a chat with Motley Fool writers Robert Brokamp and Dayana Yochim.  Topics will include:

• Reducing money and relationship conflicts
• Avoiding peer pressure overspending
• Recognizing how family shapes your money management
• Finding friends that can help you better manage your money
• Managing love and money issues

For more information about the speakers, to submit a question in advance or to just get the link to listen, visit this LifeTuner page.

I am heading down to Washington, D.C. today for the first ever personal financial planning national educators conference.  The wonderful non-profit, Jump$tart, has put together this conference.  Approximately 250 teachers of all grades from nearly every state will attend.

Along with Sheila Bair, Chairwoman of the FDIC and Janet Bodnar of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, I am honored to be offering a general session seminar.  I am also very excited to meet some of these presumably very motivated teachers and to learn of the challenges they face everyday in trying to incorporate this incredibly critical education.

Next week, I’ll be back with a recap.  But since the conference runs all weekend long, feel free to pipe in below with any questions you have.

I have a few speaking engagements during the next month to let you know about.   You can always stay abreast of my future workshops by joining the Total Candor mailing list.

Do You Live on Earth?

Next up is a webinar sponsored by the Northwestern University Alumni Association.  This year, they have decided to open it up to the public.  There’s a nominal fee, plus an oppportunity to purchase a discounted and autographed copy of Beyond Paycheck to Paycheck (a great gift idea if you already have your own).  Some key data:

When?  October 15 at 1PM ET and 9PM ET. The 9PM is not a replay; I will lead both webinars live, meaning you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions regardless of which webinar you attend.

For more information and to register: 1PM ET event or 9PM ET event

Live Near Las Vegas?

On October 23, I’ll be speaking at the AARP National Event as part of the worldwide introduction of LifeTuner.

Currently in beta, LifeTuner is a major financial literacy initiative by AARP targeting the 18-34 demographic.  There’s a nominal charge for admission for this multi-day event with many big name speakers and entertainers, including Jonathan Pond and Jean Chatzky.  Learn more about the AARP National Event.

Do You Teach in a Classroom?

On November 8, I’ll be a general session speaker at the  first national educator conference devoted entirely to personal finance education.  Jump$tart – a tremendous non-profit I’ve worked with in New Hampshire previously, is leading this important initiative. Other general session speakers include Sheila Bair, the chair of the FDIC, and Janet Bodnar, editor of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance.

Learn more about the national educator conference.

I recently began working with LifeTuner a financial education web site run by folks at an international non-profit who simply “get it.”  Earlier this month, LifeTuner left private beta and is now open to everyone.  Put visiting LifeTuner atop your to-do list.

What you’ll see should you visit is that LifeTuner is hosting a live chat with yours truly June 10.  Keep reading for more information, or register (for free, of course) here. Remember saving strategy # 4, right?

You: Enjoy free stuff.

Yeah, this qualifies.

#      #      #      #     #

Life Beyond the Paycheck: Tips For Getting Ahead With Money
When:  Wednesday, June 10 20 at 9 p.m ET/ 6 p.m. PT

Tired of scraping by to make ends meet? Looking for ideas on how you can get ahead?

Join us for our next LifeTuner chat with Michael Rubin, author of Beyond Paycheck to Paycheck, and president of Total Candor, a financial education company.

Rubin will share tips and answer questions on things most everyone can do to decrease spending, increase savings and start to go above and beyond the paycheck-to-paycheck lifestyle.

You must register through EventBrite to attend the Web-based chat. We will email details of how to log on once you register.

I’m heading out the door later today for DC and Chicago.

You: Why? Those two places aren’t even near one another.

Thanks for the head’s up. First, I’m flying down to BWI today in preparation for my keynote presentation tomorrow at  the Montgomery County Elder Law Series.  With previous keynoters including The Washington Post’s Michelle Singletary and current year speakers including the editor of Kiplinger’s Retirement Report, it’s a true honor to participate in this award-winning series.

You: What will you be speaking about?

The title of my seminar is Don’t Be Cheap, Be Fiscally Responsible! Top Saving Strategies for These Crazy Times. I’m looking forward to my time with the boomer population.

You:  What’s bringing you to Chicago?

I’ll be in Chicago for my annual presentation to Northwestern University’s graduating seniors. Like in previous years, the event which began in 2006, is part of the Countdown to Commencement series. My widely attended seminar enables graduates to confidently manage their finances right from the start.  It’s a shame not every university provides this opportunity, but I am grateful for the trust Northwestern places in me – and I know the graduates have always appreciated the university and the alumni association for making the event possible and popular.

If you’re in DC or Chicago and want to meet up, send me a tweet.  I’m on Twitter now so you never know . . .

Gary: Want to grab dinner?

No.

At 1PM today, I’ll be leading a saving strategies webinar.  It’s hosted by Skillsoft, a leading provider of on-demand e-learning and performance support solution.  (Their subsidiary, Books 24 x 7 has a robust database of wellness books and picked up Beyond Paycheck to Paycheck early last year.)   Learn more about the webinar and register.

The event begins at 1 PM ET and lasts about one hour.  You’ll have the opportunity to ask questions.

That’s “live” not “live,” by the way.

You: What?

There are obvious limitations of this medium.

You: The TV show on NBC?

Of blogging.

You: I’ve never seen that episode.

No, this has nothing to do with Patricia Arquette. What I mean is that it’s hard to tell from the subject line whether people would wonder if I’ve survived a short period of contemplating “ending it” or if they can infer that what I really mean is that they can see me live (long “eye” sound) this week and next as I tour the country.

You: Why didn’t you just change the subject?

Of the blog?

You: Yes.

Then you wouldn’t know I was on tour.

You: You’re on tour?

Yes!

You: Where?

This week I’ll be in Minnesota, Chicago, Philadelphia, Delaware, and New York this month as part of the Beyond Paycheck to Paycheck seminar tour. ING DIRECT provides these seminars at their fun, high-tech, and cutting-edge cafe locations.

At each event, you can attend the seminar, ask questions, get a free drink, and receive a free copy of Beyond Paycheck to Paycheck (autographed if you hang out for a bit at the end). All this – regardless of whether you are an ING DIRECT customer! All they ask is that you register in advance, which you can do here.

Did we mention that these event are free? Remember Saving Strategy # 4?

Most of my upcoming live events are now posted online. I look forward to meeting you soon!

I’m heading out of town next week and will be delivering retirement planning seminars at the ING DIRECT cafes in New York, Philadelphia, Wilmington (DE), and Los Angeles.  These events are free and are open to customers and non-customers of ING DIRECT alike.  Audience members receive a copy of Beyond Paycheck to Paycheck and the opportunity to learn a lot of the Total Candor education firsthand. There’s also plenty of time for Q & A as well.

You can register with ING DIRECT here. If you don’t live near one of their cafes, then you should really consider moving.  Just kidding.  But tell a friend who lives in one of these cities.  Then bug ‘em by asking for all the details, since you let ‘em know about it in the first place.

Hope to see you soon!