Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Jared Aldape | Mary Spear, a financial educator at Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) Joint...... read more read more
U.S. Navy story by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jared Aldape
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Department of Defense personnel and their family members gathered inside the Navy Operational Support Center (NOSC) auditorium at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story (JEBLC-FS) to take financial responsibility at a leadership forum Jan. 27.
The conference is part of an all-encompassing financial year-round saving program highlighted annually as the “Military Saves Campaign.”
The event kicked off as Capt. Frank Hughlett, commander, JEBLC-FS, signed the Military Saves Week proclamation ratifying the installation's involvement in pledging to save.
“Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek - Fort Story fully supports the Military Saves Campaign and its commitment to assisting military families, including officers, Sailors, Airmen, Soldiers, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, family members, retirees and civil servants in taking immediate financial action to build wealth, not debt,” said Hughlett.
This year’s campaign runs from Feb. 23-28, and is an annual opportunity for the Department of Defense to increase the knowledge of its service members and their families in establishing savings goals and creating good habits that set money aside for emergencies, future needs and retirement.
“Although the economy is improving slowly, the number of financial challenges facing our sailors today has not declined,” said Mary Spear, a financial educator at Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) JEBLC-FS. Spear also explains that unhealthy financial practices can hinder a service member’s career.
“The Department of the Navy Central Adjudication Facility reported that 62 percent of all sailors who had their security clearances revoked or denied had a financial issue,” said Spear.
Peter Bielagus, a motivational financial educator, was the keynote speaker for the event. Bielagus has been called “Young America’s Financial Coach,” whose strategies help put money back into service member’s pockets.
“I’ve been helping service members since 2007. Fiscal responsibility is so important, and I would like to impress upon you all to take actions to secure your finances,” said Bielagus.
During the event, Bielagus shared tips and strategies to build wealth, emergency savings, eliminate debt and increase personal net worth.
“Start before you need to start, there’s never going to be an ideal time to save; there will always be something in the way. It starts today,” said Bielagus.
Attendees also had the opportunity to meet with finance experts, credit unions, nonprofit institutions and community officials for information and assistance at the event.
“This event was truly resourceful,” said Engineering Aide 1st Class Asdru Arana, an event participant. “It’s like an epiphany, that all of a sudden you realize that you have the power to control your financial future.”
FFSC JEB Little Creek is offering a number of free events as part of the campaign to help DOD personnel and their families build wealth, not debt. Events include a children's financial fair hosted by Navy child and youth program (CYP) and a mobile shredding station where participants can eliminate hard to dispose of invoice and billing receipts that may contain accounting and personal information.
In addition, FFSC has prepared seminars and workshops to help educate all members of the military on how to improve their financial fitness throughout the month of February in consumer practices, credit cards, ID theft and how to identify financial scams.
“The majority of service members seen by command financial specialists and FFSC financial counselors this past year have revealed a lack of basic saving, investing and financial planning for the future,” said Spear. “The Military Saves Campaign seeks to reverse this persistent trend.”
Hampton Roads FFSCs will be spreading the savings message and urging the community to participate in Military Saves Week and take the Military Saves Pledge at www.militarysaves.org/take-the-pledge.
| Date Taken: | 01.29.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 01.29.2015 13:01 |
| Story ID: | 153039 |
| Location: | VIRGINIA BEACH, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 108 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Joint Expeditionary Base takes the Military Saves Pledge, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT