Financial literacy Program

 

Financial literacy is important to the Army: Soldiers who are financially fit are better able to fulfill the duties of the mission and report greater family satisfaction. Increased financial management issues affects Army and Family readiness. Financial literacy training provides the pathway for sustaining financial well-being and resiliency with benchmarks of meeting all financial responsibilities, building wealth, and obtaining a sound financial future, and a secure retirement. It provides Soldiers required training and resources to help avoid debt and create practical solutions for financial goals.

Personal Finance Counselors are available to provide services for personal and professional milestones. These milestones include the following: Promotion, PCS, Pre-Deployment, Post-Deployment, Continuation Pay, vesting in the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), Disabling Sickness or Condition, Marriage, First Child and Divorce.

Who are Personal Finance Counselors or PFCs?  

  • PFCs are professionals, with experience and training, who understand military life.
  • They hold a minimum of a bachelor’s degree and national certification — (Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC®), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®) or Certified Financial Planner (CFP®)).
  • PFCs provide a wide range of services on or off base: Personal and family financial counseling and planning.
  • Education and training
  • Awareness and information

Find a Personal Finance Counselor

Personal Finance Counselor prohibited services.
While PFCs provide valuable services through a wide range of financial readiness capabilities, there are several services that are prohibited.

Personal Finance Counselors cannot:

  • Act as an agent for a military aid society in providing emergency financial assistance.
  • Provide financial investment advice in specific investment funds/opportunities.
  • Make financial or financially related decisions on behalf of a client to include, but not limited to, TSP asset allocations, designation of beneficiaries for assets, etc.
  • Perform inherently governmental functions such as certification training and responding to media queries on behalf of the government.

Financial Counseling:
Personal Financial Counselors (PFCs) employ different modalities to address the needs of service members and their families including face-to-face counseling. PFCs can provide confidential counseling, as well as counseling to meet legislative or policy-driven requirements.

Limits of confidentiality/informed consent.

All PFCs are required to inform their clients as to the limits of confidentiality (LOC) they, as non-medical, non-clinical counselors, have with their clients in accordance with DODI 6490.06, “Counseling Services for DOD Military, Guard and Reserve, Certain Affiliated Personnel, and Their Family Members.” PFCs may also provide counseling sessions required at certain milestones under The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY 2016, DOD regulations and service-specific requirements. These milestones trainings or counseling sessions may include, but are not limited to:

  • Initial entry training
  • Arrival at first duty station
  • Arrival at subsequent duty stations (E4 and below, O3 and below)
  • Date of promotion (E5 and below, O4 and below)
  • Entitled to continuation pay
    • At each major life event Marriage
    • Divorce
    • First child
    • Disabling sickness or condition
    • During leadership training
    • Pre-deployment and post-deployment training
    • Transition

Accessing Personal Financial Counselors (PFC) Services

How do I contact or request a PFC?
Please visit: https://finred.usalearning.gov/pfcMap

Financial literacy Helpful Resources

U.S. Army Financial Literacy Program
For Soldiers
For Families

The U.S. Army Family Web Portal:
OLMS is the official site for the distributed learning and milestone training.
Click here to earn your certificate of completion. 

Financial Literacy Policies, Laws, and Regulations 

Contact Us:

 

Email Us!
List of Family Programs Directors and Coordinators
National Suicide Prevention Call or Text: 988
Support specialists are available at Military OneSource: 1-800-342-9647
Safe Helpline - Sexual Assault Support for the DoD Community Toll-Free: 1- 877-995-5247

OCONUS Veterans/Military Crisis Lines
Europe: 844-702-5495 or DSN 988
Pacific: 844-702-5493 or DSN 988
Southwest Asia: 855-422-7719 or DSN 988

External Link Disclaimer
The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the United States Army Reserve of the linked websites, or the information, products or services contained therein. For other than authorized activities such as military exchanges and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) sites, the United States Army Reserve does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. All links are provided consistent with the mission of this website.

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