Financial Counselor Program available to spouses

  • Published
  • By Connie Hempel
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  With constant moves to different duty stations, it can be hard for military spouses to find a career that can easily follow them.

Thanks to cooperation between the National Military Family Association and the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning, military spouses can earn an Accredited Financial Counselor designation and enter a career field that offers the flexibility needed when dealing with the demands of the military lifestyle.

In its fourth year running, the FINRA Foundation Military Spouse Fellowship for the Accredited Financial Counselor Program provides 200 military spouses the education necessary to enter the financial counseling career field; however, the program is only open for applications until April 30. The fellowship covers training costs as well as the first two attempts at both exams; a $1,100 value.

The program consists of two-courses covering topics on Financial Counseling, and Debt Management and Personal Finance. Once each course is completed, there is a test on each subject covered in the course. The minimum passing score for each exam is 70 percent.

"It's a self-paced correspondence course with webinars and reading material," said Joy Hopper, Airman and Family Readiness Center chief. "Upon successful completion of the course, (fellowship recipients) are awarded the same certification that the people in my office hold," Mrs. Hopper said.

According to the NMFA web site, because it is a growing career field, employers are found throughout the country in both small and large communities. This means that no matter where a military member gets orders to, being an Accredited Financial Counselor means there is a high potential employment opportunity there.

"The demand for financial counseling services is on the rise, and this program offers a great opportunity for military spouses to build a flexible and rewarding career," Mrs. Hopper said.

Mrs. Jane Jackson, spouse of Master Sgt. Paul Jackson, 315th Training Squadron, was one of last year's fellowship recipients. She knows that leaving one location every three to four years just to start all over again at a new one makes it difficult to find a job. "Being a financial counselor is a great portable career," she said.

Although working towards her certificate sometimes seems like hard work, it offers her an opportunity to give back to the community. Part of the course requires practicum hours which can be gained by writing articles or attending conferences. Jackson earns her hours volunteering at the AFRC auditing financial counseling classes or working on financially-related projects. Additionally, she said that the fellowship application is similar to any job application, but with an essay.

Eligible individuals are current or surviving spouses of one of the following: active duty Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, active duty National Guard or Reserves; retiree; Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service; or National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

For more information or to apply for the Financial Counselor Fellowship, visit www.MilitaryFamily.org, click on Get Info, Supporting Your Family, Spouse Employment.