GAINESVILLE — If you want to help others manage their finances, UF/IFAS can train you through the Florida Master Money Mentor Program (FMMM).

Lisa Leslie, a family and consumer sciences agent, Accredited Financial Counselor® and Certified Financial Planner™ with UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County, and Jill Breslawski, a family and consumer sciences agent and Accredited Financial Counselor® for UF/IFAS Extension Okaloosa and Walton counties, will host a free webinar from noon to 12:30 p.m., Oct. 6. You can register for the online program: at https://ufl.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYucuihrj4pGNTcWcDFr0q6xdDP98DfDKro. It is open to the public.

During the webinar, Leslie will provide an overview of the FMMM program. She will include examples of how the program has helped residents and give a demonstration of the online learning modules.

Many people have attested to what FMMM has meant to them. Leslie told of one mentor who worked with a young couple that was struggling financially. In addition to financial guidance, the mentor helped them with resume-writing and job interview techniques. A couple of years later, the couple called their mentor to tell her how much their financial situation had stabilized and to thank her for helping them turn their lives around.

The successful program began as a partnership between Bank of America, Tampa, and UF/IFAS Extension. Last week, Bank of America received the UF/IFAS Extension Advocate Award at the UF/IFAS Dinner of Distinction for their continued support of this program and the people who benefit from it.

“Florida Master Money Mentor training covers basic personal finance topics and teaches you how to empower others to take control of their personal finances,” Leslie said. “A person can choose to participate in the training for professional development, personal interest or as the first step toward becoming a University of Florida Master Money Mentor volunteer.”

Although the Oct. 6 webinar is scheduled as an overview of the course, you can register for FMMM and take classes anytime.

Participants in the training modules can work at their own pace. Topics include behavior change theory, financial decision making, cash flow management, credit and debt management, saving and investing for future goals.

They also include pre- and post-class quizzes, presentations, case studies and group discussions.

After you complete the course, you can volunteer as a money mentor, based on the needs of your county Extension office.

The public can apply for scholarships to take FMMM at https://ifas-youthfamcomm.catalog.instructure.com/courses/floridammm.