Continuing Education
BUSINESS
BASIC WINDOWS
7
weeks Bill Leakakos
This course is designed for those with very little (if any) knowledge of computers. Learn the concepts, terminology and components of the personal computer. This course teaches you the basics of using your computer including how to turn it on and turn it off. Learn to open and close software, maintain and update your computers operating system, organize your hard drive, and manage files and folders (delete, restore, copy, move and rename). Learn how to perform internet searches and how to browse the internet safely. Class size limited to 22.
Starts 9/24
Thursday 7:00-9:00 p.m. $45**
Maple Ave. O243
INTRODUCTION TO EXCEL
7 weeks Maxine Washington
At the completion of this Excel course, you will have a strong foundation of skills in creating basic worksheets, as well as multiple worksheets that use the three-dimensional workbook environment; utilizing the auto sum and the paste function to create formulas; developing, defining, printing and deleting ranges; formatting worksheets using various techniques that will raise the level of worksheet appearance; using the auto fill, custom lists, filtering and sorting feature; moving and copying data by using shortcut menus, drag-and-drop editing and toolbar buttons; various printing options and creating charts using Excel worksheet data. A perfect class for those new to using and/or needing Excel! Join us! Handouts will be provided in each class. Class size limited to 22.
Starts 9/21
Monday 7:00-9:00 p.m. $45**
Maple Ave O241
INTRODUCTION TO MICROSOFT ACCESS
7 weeks Howard Kunz
If you’re using Excel and Word to manage your records or business operations, you can work more efficiently using Access – the database component of the Microsoft Office Suite. Access provides a better, quicker, more versatile, and safer way to manage your lists and business. This course will teach you Access basics and how to apply them to your needs. Because Access is an advanced program, students should be comfortable using Windows based programs and have some experience with Word and Excel. Class size limited to 22.
Starts 9/24
Thursday 6:30-8:30 p.m. $45**
Maple Ave. O241
SPECIALS FOR BUSINESS
10 PROVEN STRATEGIES TO HELP SECURE YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE
One Night Kevin Newman
If you’re like most people, you could probably use some help in achieving your financial goals. This seminar and brochure introduce people to 10 time-tested strategies that can work for them, no matter what their age or income level. The presentation and brochure contain easy-to-use worksheets, helpful checklists, and financial strategies that can benefit everyone.
Tuesday, October 20 7:00-8:30 p.m. $7**
B118
A MUST FOR “SELLING A HOME IN A CHANGING MARKET”
One Night Bret McArthur
The days of just putting a home in the MLS and a sign in the ground are over. The agent you hire must be up-to-date with all the tools necessary so you get SOLD and for Top Dollar. Topics Covered: Understanding the Local Market Conditions, How to Sell Your Home at the Highest Possible Price, Determining Your List Price, 21 Home Selling Tips, Staging and Preparing Your Home for Sale, The 10 minute Showing drill, 7 Mistakes Sellers Make When Selling Their Home, Contract to Closing and What Is Involved, New Roof or Furnace – Which Should I Do?, The Internet’s Role in Selling Your Home, Interview Questions to Ask Before Hiring an Agent, Home Marketing Options and Resources, and How to Have Agent’s Lined Up and Waiting to Show Your Home Before All the Others. This class will give you the competitive edge and tools necessary to get your home Sold for the Highest possible price. The instructor is a Regional Developer and Broker for a leading International Real Estate Franchise.
Thursday, October 15 7:00-9:00 p.m. $7**
B115
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS & REFERRALS TO LAST A LIFETIME ~ NOT A LUNCHTIME
One Night Mame Noonan
The #1 reason customers stop doing business with you is because they forget about you. Keep your name in front of them and do it regularly. That’s the key! Enhance your business with Relationship Marketing by using Send Out Cards. It could be exactly what you’ve been looking for – the perfect follow up and customer retention system. Send Out Cards is a company that allows you the chance to be one of the few who sends out the “real” cards, surprising every recipient with a personalized, quality card. You’re able to send a printed greeting card with your own personal message. You can choose it, write your message and click send all with in 60 seconds. Send Out Cards will print, address, stuff and mail it for you (with a real stamp). Come get an overview of our website, learn how to send a card, import contacts, create your own custom photo cards, add your own handwriting and signatures and voice bubbles, thought bubbles and captions. If you’re a casual sender of cards or perhaps a small business doing periodic mailings to stay in touch with clients, you won’t want to miss this entertaining and informative class. Imagine creating one card for the holidays, sending it to multiple people and having each one personally addressed. It doesn’t get any easier than this. Lots of sample cards will be available.
Thursday, October 1 7:00-8:30 p.m. $7**
B117
BUYING A HOME: “THE AMERICAN DREAM”
One Night Bret McArthur
First-time buyers, move-up or downsizing buyers, learn what it takes to come out on top when buying a home in today’s market. Topics covered: 6 Costly Mistakes Made by Home Buyers, How Mortgages Work, Understanding Local Market Conditions, Buying a Home with No Money Down, How Much House Can I Afford?, What To Expect Contract to Closing, Attorney & Inspectors Roles, How Seller Motivation Affects Your Offer Price, 10 Tips to Successful Real Estate Investing, and “Buyers Agent” and the Advantages of Having One. Today’s market is changing and the knowledge gained from this class can save you thousands of dollars when buying a home. Each class participant will receive valuable money-saving coupons from various professionals involved with the home buying process. The instructor is a Regional Developer and Broker for a leading International Real Estate Franchise.
Tuesday, October 13 7:00-9:00 p.m. $7**
B115
BUYING A HOME IN A SHIFTED MARKET
One Night Cecil Provost
The real estate market has shifted – now what? Is it smart to buy real estate any more? Should I buy now, or wait? How can I get the best deal? Is mortgage financing still available? What’s happening in the local real estate market? Where are things headed? Join one of the Area’s top Realtors for a 90 minute discussion on the state of the local real estate market and how to take advantage of the opportunities that exist.
Monday, October 5 7:00-8:30 p.m. $7**
B111
COMPUTER MAINTENANCE, SECURITY AND UPGRADES
Two
Nights Matt Banks
This class will teach you what regular maintenance you should be doing to your computer, even if you’re just looking at your family photographs! Is your computer not running up to speed? Worried that someone might get your personal information when browsing the internet or shopping online? Are viruses, worms, spyware, or other malware bogging down your computer? This class will teach you how to remove any harmful products in your computer that may have been installed. Also covered are operating system and software updates, computer and network security, how to back up your files, and general ways to make your computer run faster, including hardware upgrades. Many people forget how valuable their computer is until something goes wrong. By performing regular maintenance and keeping your system secure, just like your car, you will keep it running its best!
Tuesday, October 6
and October 13 7:00-9:00 p.m. $12**
Maple Avenue O241
ESTATE PLANNING FOR THE OVER-40 CROWD
One Night Dean Coon, Attorney at Law
"Good luck is the residue of timely planning." We will explore a variety of estate planning options suitable for singles or married couples. Topics will include revocable trusts, Medicaid eligibility, wills, probate avoidance techniques, etc. Instructor has been a certified elder law attorney for the past 10 years under the auspices of the National Elder Law Foundation, as accredited by the American Bar Association. Questions are welcome.
Wednesday, September 23 7:00-9:00 p.m. $7** B114
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT LIFE & DISABILITY INSURANCE
One Night Kevin J. Johnson, LTCP, CLTC
Brian M. Johnson, CLTC, MBA
No matter what age you’re at, 25 or 85, Life & Disability Insurance has its place in your overall Financial Plan. Learn why. Learn the differences among the many carriers as well as the different plans. What’s better? Term, Whole Life or Universal Life…They all have their place! Don’t need Life Insurance any longer?...you’ll learn about “Life Settlements” & how they might be able to give you a windfall of money that you never expected. Why disability insurance is so critical to have and why and how to design the right Plan of Protection for Employers, Employees & Professionals. Each attendee will receive “How much Life Insurance Should I Own?” Workshop Instructors are Kevin J. Johnson, LTCP, CLTC, President/CEO New York Long-Term Care Brokers. Ltd. and Brian Johnson, one of the most knowledgeable young Insurance Professionals in the Capital District specializing in Long-Term Care, Life & Disability Insurance.
Tuesday, October 20 7:00-9:00 p.m. $7**
B115
HOW TO OWN YOUR PAYCHECK AGAIN
One Night Leo Quinn
Learn how to get completely out of debt, including your mortgage in less than 10 years...sometimes as little as 5 years and get this...the more debts you have the BETTER. That's not a misprint. If you can pay all your debts and bills on time now, this will work for you and yes, the more DEBTS you have, the better it will work and the FASTER you will get out of debt! There is no magic here. You don't need to cut out all your fun or cancel your vacations. You will learn a BETTER way to pay your debts using the money you already use to pay them. HINT: Stop paying that little bit extra on all your debts. You'll learn where to put that "extra" (if you have any) and why. Five years from now, will you be deeper in debt, or will you be like Heidi who took the class in 1998? "The class has helped me to make dramatic changes to my spending habits (now being more aware of where my money goes), my debt elimination and future investment plans. In one year, I have paid off over $12,000 in debt." A $20.00 materials fee will be collected by instructor the night of class.
Tuesday, October 6 7:00-9:00 p.m. $7**
B118
MODULARS MAKE SENSE
One
Night Cecil Provost
As Bob Vila says, “Modular homes are like the hybrid car of the house-building industry. They save money, they make sense, but they haven’t caught on yet.” This 90 minute workshop will explore the myths and realities of modern modular construction, discuss the modular building process and help anyone considering new home construction be a better-educated consumer. Instructor is Cecil Provost, President of Saratoga Modular Homes and one of the area’s Top Realtors.
Monday, October 19 7:00-8:30 p.m. $7**
B116
MY FUTURE PLANNER
One Night Kevin Newman
This innovative seminar helps you “dream big” about your retirement years. The program includes sections on travel, volunteer work, focus on family, and opening a business, among others.
Tuesday, October 13 7:00-8:30 p.m. $7**
B118
NEW FUNDING ALTERNATIVES FOR LONG-TERM CARE NOW AVAILABLE IN
NEW YORK STATE
One
Night Eileen Dunn
and Kevin Newman
The simple fact is, when you need care, it has to be paid for. The question is what’s the most effective way to fund this expense and what programs are available now to pay for it. Participants will learn the necessary terminology to understand what Medicare covers, how Medicaid works and what services must be paid for out-of-pocket. We’ll discuss the eligibility criteria for these government programs, current changes taking place in these programs and how the future benefits of these programs will likely change. We’ll then discuss the funding options available to alleviate the financial burden including: life insurance with a long-term care rider that is now available in New York, long-term care insurance and the New York State Partnership for Long-Term Care. Eileen Dunn is a certified care manager and national presenter and speaker on long-term care. Eileen@trinityeldercare.com Kevin Newman is a certified long-term care specialist and financial advisor in the Capital District. Kevin@longtcare.com
Session I: Wednesday, October 7 or
Session II: Monday, October 19
6:30-8:00 p.m. $7**
B114
NEW YORK STATE PARTNERSHIP
One Night Eileen Dunn and Kevin Newman
This class will explain the NYS Partnership for Long-Term Care and the plan options available. You will learn about long-term care from a health care perspective to become an educated consumer regarding long-term care plans. You will discover if the Partnership is appropriate for you, learn the terms necessary to ensure a policy will maximize home care benefits and provide flexibility of who can provide the care. Each company is different and it’s crucial that certain language be included. Also discussed is the claims process of long-term care insurance from experienced care managers in the long-term care industry. Eileen Dunn of Trinity ElderCare is a certified care manager and long-term care specialist. Eileen@trinityeldercare.com. Kevin Newman is a certified long-term care specialist and financial planner in the Capital District. Kevin@longtcare.com
Session I: Tuesday, September 29 or
Session II: Thursday, October 29
6:30-8:00 p.m. $7**
B114
PAYING FOR COLLEGE MADE EASIER
One Night Bob Shorb
Find out about how to pay for college, how financial aid works and what you can do now to plan ahead for paying for the high costs of your child’s education. Topics will include what a college looks for when giving out student scholarships, the financial aid application process, financial aid programs, college savings plans and tuition tax breaks. A sample case study will be provided to explain how an actual financial aid award is determined. Get the knowledge and information needed to be successful in using financial aid to provide more choices for your child’s college educational opportunities and to be better prepared for meeting the cost of a college education, It’s never too early to plan! Especially designed for parents of middle school children, but certainly relevant to parents of senior high school students as well. A $5 materials fee payable to the instructor the night of class will provide you with a notebook of information to take home.
Wednesday, September 23 7:00-9:00 p.m. $7**
B111
PROTECT YOUR ASSETS WITH LONG TERM CARE INSURANCE
One
Night Mark C.
DuPont, CLTC
This course is designed to explain the factors and criteria of Long Term Care including the New York State Partnership Program. We’ll cover the answers to the following questions: What assets are exposed, what are protected in the event I need to apply for Medicaid? What if I don’t qualify for LTC insurance, how do I still protect my assets? How do I help my parents, how do I protect my children in the event of a long term disability? Can I protect my home? (i.e. tenancy with rights of survivorship) What is the partnership and how does it relate to Medicaid in NYS? Let’s discuss the myths and misconceptions of Trusts given today’s new Medicaid laws. Mark C. DuPont is Certified in Long Term Care and the Partnership Program for NYS and is a Financial Planner with Saratoga Strategic Planning, LLC, a local financial firm at 120 West Avenue in Saratoga Springs. Email: mdupont@jhnetwork.com
Monday, October 5 7:00-9:00 p.m. $7**
B120
SELLING YOUR HOME IN A SHIFTED MARKET
One Night Cecil Provost
The real estate market has shifted – now what? CAN you sell a home now, and if so, how? Should I try to sell now, or wait? What’s really happening in our local market? Where are things headed? Selling real estate in today’s market definitely requires a different approach. Join one of the area’s top Realtors, who has experienced many of these market cycles, for a 90 minute discussion on how to sell a home in this shifted market.
Monday, September 21 7:00-8:30 p.m. $7**
B116
“SOONER IS BETTER THAN LATER” The Do’s and Don’ts of Estate Planning
One Night Debra Verni, Esquire
This program is designed to assist you with developing an estate plan that fits your lifestyle. Issues discussed will include why everyone should have a Will, Living Will and Health Care Proxy and how to effectively use a Medicaid Trust to protect your assets. There will be ample time for questions. Debra Verni is an Elder Law Attorney.
Thursday, October 15 7:00-9:00 p.m. $7**
B117
START SAVING FOR COLLEGE
One
Night Mark DuPont,
CLTC
This course is designed to explain 529, and other college funding programs, including but not limited to, the pros and cons of each program. Learn the answers to the following most frequently asked questions: Can I afford to save for my child’s education? What if I have more than one child in college? What if I fund a qualified college funding program and my child receives a full ride? What are the penalties involved in that money? What are the NYS approved 529 plans and can I receive state tax credit? What are the tax implications of distributions from 529 plans? Can I use any qualified retirement plans to fund my child’s education and if so, how? What are the advantages to using a ROTH IRA to fund my child’s education? Mark C. DuPont is a Financial Planner with Saratoga Strategic Planning, LLC, a local financial firm at 120 West Avenue in Saratoga. Email Mark at mdupont@jhnetwork.com
Wednesday, October 21 7:00-9:00 p.m. $7** B120
TAKING CONTROL: A Financial Workshop for Women
Two Nights Tonia Kelley
Many women believe that their financial well-being is linked solely to their marital status or their ability to earn an income. True financial independence, however, has much more to do with taking control of the finances you have, setting financial goals and learning to use financial strategies that will help you meet those goals. This workshop will present the basics and teach you some sophisticated financial concepts. You’ll gain a working knowledge of the six areas every financial management program must consider – cash management, risk management, investment, tax, and retirement planning and estate conservation. We’ll discuss paying for college tuition and long-term care, saving on taxes and retiring in comfort. I’ll share special information for women who are divorced or widowed including tax implications, estate planning, investing a retirement plan distribution or property settlement, and many other concerns that directly affect your family’s future. Single, married, working or widowed, Every Woman can take control of the money she has, make it grow and plan for financial security. It’s just a matter to taking the time to learn how. A $20 materials fee payable to the instructor the night of class provides you with a financial management workbook with 120 pages of sound ideas and proven strategies. It’s an excellent resource that is filled with valuable financial information you can use again and again.
Tuesday, September 29
and October 6 7:00-9:00 p.m. $12**
B115
THE 7 WAYS TO MAKE LONG TERM CARE INSURANCE AFFORDABLE
One Night Kevin J. Johnson, LTCP, CLTC
Brian Johnson, CLTC, MBA
Not only will you discover which LTC Insurance carrier is best for your solution…you’ll learn about what’s better - Traditional or Partnership Plans, why a Cash Plan may be more desirable than a Reimbursement program. What Tax incentives, credits or deductions are available today for individuals and business owners. “Income Option Strategies” to help you afford Long-Term Care insurance. Each attendee (or couple) will receive “The Senior Solution” a family guide to keeping seniors home for life. Workshop Instructors are Kevin J. Johnson, LTCP, CLTC, President/CEO New York Long-Term Care Brokers. Ltd. and Brian Johnson, one of the most knowledgeable young Insurance Professionals in the Capital District specializing in Long-Term Care, Life & Disability Insurance.
Tuesday, September 22 7:00-9:00 p.m. $7**
B115
THE 10 BIGGEST MISTAKES PEOPLE MAKE WHEN RETIRING & HOW YOU CAN AVOID THEM
One Night Bill Losey
You only get one shot at retirement. This is not a drill! Don’t let luck and guess work form the foundation of your financial security. At this town-hall style workshop you’ll learn the common mistakes people make when retiring and more importantly, how to avoid them. Come armed with your questions and concerns, and walk away with straight answers and sound advice. A $20 materials fee will be due and collected at the workshop. Bill Losey, CFP®, is the resident retirement planning expert for CNBC’s “On the Money”. He has been named one of America’s Top Financial Planners and is the author of Retire in a Weekend! Bill also publishes Retirement Intelligence, a free weekly award-winning newsletter and owns Bill Losey Retirement Solutions, LLC, an independent registered investment advisory firm in Wilton. He can be reached online at www.MyRetirementSuccess.com.
Tuesday, September 29 6:30-8:00 p.m. $7**
B114
TIPS ON HOW TO BUY A NEW CAR
One Night Barry Levine
Learn how you can have access to accurate, unbiased information about the vehicle of your choice. Topics covered are: successful negotiation techniques, using rebates and incentives to your advantage, maximizing trade-in value, how to spot dealer questions you should never answer, how to use the dealer invoice to your advantage, the best time to buy a new car and many more.
Wednesday, September 23 7:00-9:00 p.m. $7**
B112