"Sharpen Your Financial Coaching Skills" is a new Iowa State University Extension training which focuses on how to help clients with personal finance issues.

It's a five-week course, but involves only two face-to-face sessions - the rest of the coursework is completed on-line, on your own schedule.

It is being offered this fall in eight locations around the state, including Fort Dodge. It will be offered again in the spring, but not at the Fort Dodge location.

The face-to-face sessions will be held from 1:30 to 4 p.m. on Sept. 1 at the Webster County Extension, and again from 1:30 to 4 on Oct. 6 for the final session.

The fee is $60 - this includes a toolkit of resources, tools, and reference materials.

In addition to equipping you with financial management principles, tools, and coaching strategies, the course will also provide guidance on how to recognize your limits, and know when a referral to a full-fledged financial counselor or technical specialist is needed. Pre-registration is required- preferred deadline is August 20.

For more information and the brochure, go to www.extension.iastate.edu/webster/news/sharpen.htm