Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Tom Wade | Wanda Butler, lead financial readiness specialist for the 81st RD, gives financial advice during the 81st and 88th Readiness Divisions joint financial symposium. The event was designed to equip attendees with knowledge spanning fundamental personal finance to advanced long-term wealth management. see less
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Army Reserve divisions team up to boost Soldier financial readiness
PINELLAS PARK, Fla. – Part of a Soldier’s overall readiness is financial stability. Soldiers learn that unmanaged debt can derail a career and revoke security clearances, leaving them unable to stay mentally in the fight. To address this, the 81st Readiness Division and 88th Readiness Division combined forces to host a joint symposium aimed at educating and equipping tomorrow's leaders today.
A total of 86 Army Reserve Soldiers, ranging in rank from sergeant to colonel, attended the two-day symposium. The event was designed to equip attendees with knowledge spanning fundamental personal finance to advanced long-term wealth management. Topics briefed included debt reduction, budgeting, credit, tax strategies, estate planning, Veterans Affairs home loans, the Thrift Savings Plan, retirement planning, continuation pay, portfolio management, behavioral finance, and investing.
"This has been, without question, one of the best Army training I have attended in my entire military career," said Master Sgt. Rhonda Nikole, senior human resources noncommissioned officer for the 81st RD G-3. "For the first time, I walked away from training with information that I could immediately apply to my own life and financial future."
The symposium is viewed as a direct investment in Soldier readiness. Financial stress heavily impacts mental health, family stability, mission readiness, and retention. Giving Soldiers the knowledge and confidence to build wealth changes lives far beyond their military careers.
"As this pilot symposium is evaluated, it is my belief that Army leadership should continue investing in this program," said Wanda Butler, lead financial readiness specialist for the 81st RD. "The return on investment will be immeasurable."
Butler emphasized that the training deserves maximum visibility across the force. "This training deserves maximum visibility across the Army and should become a standard offering," Butler said. "I believe it should be offered early on in a Soldiers career, especially those with less than 10 years of service, because the earlier they receive this knowledge, the greater the long-term impact on their financial future."
