To receive a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 discharge, a debtor must complete a two hour financial management course. The basic feedback that I am getting is that the course is somewhat helpfull. Many debtors have not been schooled in money management. Thus, for many debtors, this is the first opportunity to gain some knowledge. For others however, the financial management course is nothing more than a hoop to jump through.
The long term effect of the course will not be known for some time. Other than surveying those that have participated, there is truely no barometer to test.