CCOA

09/02/2026

Upcoming FREE Civil Legal Clinic focused on estate planning event in Fort Smith!

Planning for the future starts today. Join us for a FREE Civil Legal Clinic focused on estate planning and get help with important legal documents that protect you and your loved ones.

📅 September 24, 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
📍 Fort Smith Senior Activity Center
2700 Cavanaugh Rd., Fort Smith, AR 72908

Free assistance available for: ✅ Wills
✅ Deeds
✅ Advance Directives
✅ Powers of Attorney

Don't put off planning for tomorrow. Take advantage of this opportunity to receive free legal guidance from experienced professionals.

📲 Register today by scanning the QR code, using the registration link, or emailing [email protected].

📣 Help spread the word by sharing this post with friends, family, and community members who could benefit from these free services.

09/01/2026

From a very happy client who is now debt free! "You have all brought such blessings to my life! I will never be able to thank you enough!"

CCOA's Debt Management Program can help you become debt free and enjoy financial freedom too! Call (479) 521-8877 or visit www.CCOAcares.com to schedule your free appointment.

09/01/2026

FREE Civil Legal Clinic in Fayetteville on September 22!

Facing a legal issue? Free help is available.

Legal Aid of Arkansas and community partners are hosting a FREE Civil Legal Clinic in Fayetteville on September 22.

Whether you need guidance with estate planning, record sealing, family law matters, or landlord-tenant issues, our team is here to help.

📍 St. Paul's Episcopal Church
🗓️ September 22, 2026
⏰ 10 AM - 2 PM

✅ Free legal assistance
✅ Trusted legal resources
✅ Community support

📲 Reserve your spot today by scanning the QR code or emailing [email protected].

09/01/2026

A good tip that can especially help those with impulsive spending
!

One simple habit can make a big difference: pause before you purchase. Giving yourself time to think can help separate your needs from your wants and reduce impulse spending. Try the 24-hour rule and see how many purchases you decide to skip.

09/01/2026

Congratulations, Robin!👏

08/28/2026

Financial Fact Friday: We had this question yesterday at a financial class we gave -- Does unpaid medical debt hurt my credit score?

Yes, it can, but only in certain situations:

Unpaid medical bills less than $500 won't hurt your score and aren't on your credit report.

You usually get a 1 year grace period from the delinquency date before it goes on your credit report.

Older credit scoring models like FICO 8 treat unpaid medical collections like other types of debt. But newer models like FICO 9 and FICO 10 give medical debt less weight. VantageScore -- the credit bureaus alternative to FICO scores -- will ignore medical debt entirely.

08/26/2026

A great way to set financial goals!

Ready to make your financial goals stick? 🎯

Use the SMART framework to create goals that are clear, realistic, and achievable. A little planning today can lead to big results tomorrow.

08/26/2026

Good info from the BBB about the 5 riskiest scams last year.

🚨 Which scams posed the biggest risk to consumers in 2025?

According to the latest BBB Scam Tracker Risk Report, these were the Top 5 Riskiest Scams of 2025:

💸 Investment/crypto scams – Promises of huge returns with little or no risk? That’s a major red flag.

💼 Employment scams – Be cautious of job offers promising easy money, especially when you're asked to pay upfront or provide sensitive information.

🛍️ Online shopping scams – Fake websites. Fake deals. Real money lost.

❤️ Romance/friendship scams – Not everyone in your DMs is looking for love or friendship. Some are looking for your money.

🔨 Home improvement scams – Unfinished projects, questionable contractors and money lost can turn a home improvement project into a nightmare.

Know the risks before scammers find you.

📖 See the full report and learn how to protect yourself: BBB.org/RiskReport

08/26/2026

Gerald shares his story about meeting with a CCOA financial counselor after a life event, to help him better manage his money.

08/26/2026

Got credit card debt? Check out our short blog of helpful strategies to deal with it.

Take control of high credit card balances with practical repayment strategies and free guidance from certified non-profit financial counselors at CCOA.