A&FRC provides ‘wealth’ of financial information

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Sondra Escutia
  • 49th Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  The Airman and Family Readiness Center is offering Team Holloman a week of financial education Feb. 20 through 27 as part of the 2011 Military Saves Campaign.

The Holloman campaign is comprised of numerous classes designed to promote healthy financial habits among Team Holloman members.

"Our classes are available to active duty military, retired military and civil service personnel as well as dependents of each category," said Joe Wilson, A&FRC community readiness consultant.

The national Military Saves Campaign coincides with the America Saves campaign. According to the America Saves Web site, the overarching goal is to convince Americans they can build wealth and get assistance in doing so.

The Holloman campaign is also in line with the Department of Defense Financial Readiness Campaign. Mr. Wilson said this campaign promotes the message that financial well-being and personal readiness start with controlling expenses, using credit responsibly and saving for future goals.

"The Department of Defense believes the financial well-being of military members and their families is critical to their quality of life and to the personal readiness required to execute the military mission," said Mr. Wilson.

Additionally, the community readiness consultant said he encourages Airmen and their families to take the "Saver Pledge" as a constant reminder to build wealth, not debt, and as an indicator of the personnel reached by the campaign.

According to the official Military Saves Web site, the Saver Pledge is this: "I will help myself by saving money, reducing debt and building wealth over time. I will help my family and my country by encouraging other American's to Build Wealth, Not Debt."

"You'll be a part of a global movement dedicated to personal financial stability," Mr. Wilson said of taking the pledge. "Financial stability is about a lot more than knowledge -- it takes consistent action over time. Military Saves is a campaign to make every military community a supportive environment to assist in [saving money]."

To take the Saver Pledge or for information on the Military Saves Campaign, visit http://www.militarysaves.org/.

To sign up for one of the Military Saves Campaign classes, contact the A&FRC at 575-572-7754. The following is a schedule of classes:

Home Buying: Teaches the fundamentals of buying a home, financing options, pre-paying a mortgage, veterans benefits, First-time Homebuyers Tax Credit and more. Feb. 22, 8 to 10 a.m.

Bundles for Babies: Teaches the costs, entitlements and tax benefits of having children. Eligible attendees receive a free layette worth $75 for attending this class. Feb. 22, 1 to 3 pm.

Financial Management: Learn about credit/debt management, budgeting, Thrift Savings Plan, saving tools, helping agencies and more. First-term and first-duty station Airmen receive a certificate for a free oil-and-filter change for attending this class. Feb. 23, 8 to 11 a.m.

Basic Investments: Learn about the Military Thrift Savings Plan, individual retirement accounts and retirement planning. Feb. 24, 8 to 10 a.m.

Advanced Investments: Covers mutual funds, Dividend Reinvestment Plans, stock investing, college savings plans and more. Feb. 25, 8 to 10 a.m.