It's no secret that it's often hard for young adults to get ahead financially. Challenges include avoiding credit card traps, coping with rising health insurance premiums, navigating retirement plans and more.

The nonprofit group Traction (www.getTraction.org) will sponsor a discussion on economic issues facing young adults next week in Durham.

The featured speakers will be Patrick Lyons, author of "Map Your Financial Future: Starting the Right Path in Your Teens and Twenties," and Tamara Draut, author of "Strapped: Why America's 20 and 30 Somethings Can't Get Ahead."

The free event will be held 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, at Joe & Jo's, 427 W. Main St., downtown Durham. For information, e-mail: scott@getTraction.org.

MEETINGS

FISTICUFFS NETWORKING GROUP: "Put Some Punch in Your Networking Efforts," 7:30 a.m. Fridays, The Executive Center office building. Contact: David Churn at dchurn@equitysrvs.com or 855-0909, ext. 14.

OPEN NETWORKING MEETING: 8:15 a.m. Fridays, Carolina Cafe & Bakery, Westin Parkway, Cary. Contact: Jim, 787-7601 or jbowdish91@yahoo.com.

SCORE: Raleigh Chapter: free consultations offered by The Service Corps of Retired Executives in partnership with the Small Business Association, 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday, Century Post Office building, Salisbury and Martin St., Suite 306, downtown Raleigh. SCORE also manages offices in Cary from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Wake Technical College, and Morrisville from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday at the Chamber of Commerce. To schedule an appointment, 856-4739. SCORE-Orange and Chatham counties: 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce, 104 S. Estes Drive, Chapel Hill. To schedule an appointment: 968-6894 or 967-7075.

CPA/LAW FORUM: Triangle chapter meeting, 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, Cardinal Club, Raleigh. Topic is "North Carolina Education Lottery; History in the Making." For practicing CPAs and lawyers. Contact: 876-1206 or www.triangleforum.com

RALEIGH NETWORKING GROUP: 8 a.m. every other Tuesday, Brigs Restaurant, 8111 Creedmoor Road, Raleigh. Business-to-business referrals. Contact: Barbara, 524-2916.

BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL WOMEN'S DINNER MEETING: 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Crabtree Embassy Suites, Raleigh. Members $20, nonmembers $35. Reservations: 899-5043 or www.bpwraleigh.org.

BIOLOGICAL AGENTS AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES CLUSTER NETWORK: "Unmet Needs in the Public Health Sector," sponsored by RTRP and RTI International, 8 to 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Research Triangle Partnership/RDU Airport Authority building. Contact: mharris@rti.org.

REFERRAL EXCHANGE NETWORK: 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Wednesdays, 2501 Blue Ridge Road, Suite 150, Raleigh. Contact: 266-0954.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS: Greater Raleigh chapter meeting, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Capital City Club, Raleigh. Janis Pettit of SmarTrack on "What You Don't Know Could Hurt You." Contact: www.nawbo-raleigh.org or 424-8242.

DOWNTOWN RALEIGH TRIANGLE BUSINESS BUILDERS: 11:45 a.m. Wednesdays at Hi5. For information, contact Gary at 484-0225 or gary@ruizagency.com.

GREAT EXPECTATIONS BUSINESS REFERRAL EXCHANGE: 11:45 a.m. Wednesdays, North Raleigh. Reservations: Jan Wynns, 876-5777 or ge.janwynns.com.

THE TRIANGLE BUSINESS EXCHANGE: business networking group, 11:45 a.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month, Golden Corral in Fuquay-Varina. Contact: www.trianglebusinessexchange.com or 577-6364.

KNIGHTDALE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: Professional Women's Networking Group, noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, 207 Main St., Knightdale. Members $7, nonmembers $15. Reservations required, 266-4603 or knightdalechamber@knightdalechamber.org.

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