Welcome to Asset Development! 1

What is Asset Development? Asset Development is buying a home, investing in a business, learning a new skill or putting aside money in a savings account for emergencies. Provides long term benefits. Assets are usually thought of as economic resources: Assets are anything that can be turned into cash(minus the debt). A home, a business, a car, a computer or a saving account is an asset. Assets can also be human resources: Skills or education can be considered assets though in this presentation we will focus on the economic type.

What is Asset Development? Asset development is: “Saving money and making investments that increase in value over time”. “As individuals develop assets, they and their families will be more able to move out of poverty”. Task Force on Financial Literacy, _living/asset_development 3

Did you know that having assets? 1.Increases your chances to stay where you live 2.Helps you think positively about your future 3.Enables you to stick to a career choice 4.Helps you get better terms from the bank 5.Provides a foundation for risk taking 6.Increases your ability to make choices 7.Improves the wellbeing of children 8.Increases community connections 9.Increases political participation (Michael Sherraden, 2005). 4

Programs to Help Develop Assets 1.Social Security – Social Security Work Incentives – Plans for Achieve in Self-Support (PASS) – Property Essential to Self-Support (PESS) 2.Internal Revenue Service – Earned Income Tax Credits 3.Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority – Individual Development Accounts (IDA’s) 4.Trust funds – Private Trusts – ARC Master Trust 5

Existing programs that help people with assets Homestead Acts (not good for everyone) G.I. Bills Home interest mortgage deduction Tax shelters for retirement savings Individual Tax deductions Business Tax deductions Trusts

Currently existing programs that can help individuals with disabilities such as Social Security Work Incentives, Individual Development Accounts (IDA’s) and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) are highly underutilized. “Asset building is an anti-poverty strategy that helps low-income people move toward greater self-sufficiency by accumulating savings and purchasing long-term assets. Helping people purchase an asset, as opposed to simply increasing their income, provides stability that may allow them to escape the cycle of poverty.” Assets for Independence/Administration for Children and Families Asset Development

Asset Development and Financial Literacy Financial Literacy is a large body of information about finances. One of the parts is Asset Development. 8 Asset Development

Where To Learn More Contact your local Indiana United Way (317) Contact your local Community Action Program (CAP) (317) or Contact the local Purdue Extension office (765) Contact the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (800)

Information Websites Indiana Institute on Disability and Community-Benefits Management Individual Development Accounts (IDA’s) Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority National Disability Institute Self Sufficiency Programs Housing and Urban Development (HUD) local offices Development Social Security Southern Indiana WIPA