Mission: To provide professional financial guidance, counseling, community-wide educational programs, and debt management assistance to consumers.

Background:
Money Management International was established in 2000 as a telephone and Internet service. It is the largest full service, nonprofit credit counseling agency affiliated with the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, based in Silver Spring, Maryland. MMI has fourteen member groups nationwide helping consumers regain financial control of their lives and reduce their debt. Counseling — including budgeting, assessment, evaluation, and the mapping out of options — is free, as are the educational materials posted on the Web site. Still, 25 to 28 percent of clients need debt-management services, via the Internet or face-to-face, and a customized debt-repayment program, which are fee-based.

Outstanding Web Features:
The most useful area of the MMI Web site contains free financial tools and calculators that help visitors chart current loan payments and learn how long it will take to become debt free, how much they need to save for education or retirement, how much they can afford to pay for a home, and much more. A page of educational services provides Q&As (called Ask Susan) and resources including budgeting tips, online articles, materials for teachers, and useful tools such as travel and holiday gift planners.