FORT MEADE FINANCIAL READINESS The Key to Family Resiliency Page 1 of 8 (301)

Transcription

1 FORT MEADE FINANCIAL READINESS The Key to Family Resiliency By Deborah Emerson, AFC Women have impacted American history for centuries. They have led labor movements and run successful businesses. They have spoken out against oppression, fought for rights, and caused change. Despite breaking many barriers and promoting equality, when it comes to retirement planning, women have greater challenges to overcome. Planning for those challenges early can make a huge difference. Here are the facts: Women typically earn less than men. Women often have employment gaps, due to raising children or caring for aging parents. Women generally end up living longer, which means they actually need more financial resources to fund their retirement. Women generally have less retirement savings than men. Women usually invest more conservatively than men. Women, get started today by meeting with one of our personal financial counselors visit to schedule your free appointment. Page 1 of 8 (301)

2 2017 Army Emergency Relief Annual Campaign By Elias Mendez-Sierra, Army Emergency Relief Officer Army Emergency Relief (AER) is a private nonprofit organization incorporated in 1942 to relieve the financial distress of Soldiers and their dependents. AER provides financial assistance to Soldiers, retirees and their Families in the form of no-interest loans and grants in support of a variety of needs. Visit or contact your local AER office for authorized categories of assistance. In 2016, AER disbursed more than $54 million in total assistance to nearly 36,000 active and retired Soldiers and Families to meet emergency financial needs, which includes $7.9 million in scholarships. The Fort Meade AER Section assisted 315 military Families with over $486,000 in interest-free loans and grants. Since 1942, AER has provided more than $1.8 billion in assistance to more than 3.7 million Soldiers and Families. To continue this Legacy of Caring, AER conducts an annual fundraising campaign, which began on 1 March and runs through 15 May Fort Meade s campaign goal is to raise $55,000. The campaign helps ensure that Soldiers, retirees and their Families know that AER assistance is available in times of financial need. By donating to AER, they can continue the legacy of Soldiers Helping Soldiers. AER is dedicated to helping the Army take care of its own, and provides Army leaders a valuable asset in ensuring a ready source of financial assistance to Soldiers and their Families. To continue the AER legacy, we encourage you to support the 2017 Army Emergency Relief Campaign. For more information, please visit the Army Emergency Relief website at For emergency financial assistance, please contact the Fort Meade AER Section at or visit to schedule an appointment. Page 2 of 8 (301)

3 Renters Insurance If you rent, your personal belongings will not be protected against loss or damage unless you have a renters insurance policy. Your landlord has insurance for structural damage to the building, and might even be protected against damage caused by tenants. However, this coverage does not extend to your personal property, nor does it protect you from being liable for damage you might cause to the building inadvertently or to others who are injured at your property. Renters insurance policies can cover everything from electronics to clothing to household appliances. Even a minimal number of items could add up to thousands of dollars worth of merchandise, which can all be covered in a basic policy. It can also provide you with liability insurance, defense and indemnity payments if necessary, in the event someone sues you for injury to others or property damage to property of others. What does a renters insurance policy typically cover? covers loss or damage to household contents or personal possessions; provides for additional living expenses in the event of a covered loss that makes your home, apartment or condominium uninhabitable; provides you with liability coverage for injuries to others and/or their property while they are on your property; and includes medical payments to others. Many policies do not limit protection to your belongings located in your home or apartment. For example, items you have insured often are covered if they are stolen by someone who breaks into your car or if they are damaged while not on your property. How much coverage do I need? This depends on the value of your personal property. You should start by making an inventory of your personal property and determine the value of that property. You also need to consider how much liability coverage you want to cover injuries or damage to other people or their property. Your insurance company or agent can assist you with making this decision. How much does renters insurance cost? The actual cost depends upon the amount of coverage you want, the type of coverage (replacement value or actual cash value), and the deductible you select. The average renters insurance policy costs between $15 and $30 per month. Replacing all of your possessions or being liable for an accident on your premises will cost much more. Some companies might also offer discounts if you have more than one policy with them. What if I am living in Government provided quarters? The Personnel Claims Act (31 USC 2731) authorizes the payment of Soldiers and DA Civilian employees claims for the fair market value of personal property lost, damaged, or destroyed incident to service. This includes damage or loss to personal property due to fire, flood, theft, vandalism, and/or unusual occurrence that occurred incident to service. However, the claims are considered gratuitous and are not intended to replace personal insurance coverage. Therefore, you should have renters insurance coverage, even if you live in the barracks or the dorms. Maryland Insurance Administration. (2017). Why renters insurance is a good idea. Retrieved from U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corp. (2017). Claims. Retrieved from Page 3 of 8 (301)

4 Applications for the FINRA Foundation Military Spouse Accredited Financial Counselor Fellowship are Now Open Since 2006, the FINRA Foundation has accepted more than 1,400 military spouses as Fellows. Earning the AFC designation, Fellows have provided financial counseling and education to more than 170,000 service members and spent more than 440,000 hours helping military families reach their financial goals. Upon completion of the AFC certification program, Fellows continue to support the military community as financial counselors at family readiness and support centers, credit counseling and tax centers, financial aid offices, and credit unions throughout the U.S. and abroad. The program is provided by the FINRA Foundation, in partnership with the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education (AFCPE ), which administers the certification, and the National Military Family Association (NMFA), which assists with the selection process. The FINRA Foundation covers the costs associated with the program s self-study course and exam. What are the program s benefits? The Fellowship provides military spouses with: a credential that can help jumpstart a career in financial counseling; portable job skills that can be transferred no matter where the next PCS takes you; the ability to give back to the military community by promoting financial readiness at installations around the world; and access to a vast network of Military Spouse Fellows. Who is Eligible? The program is open to current or surviving spouses of active duty or retired Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, National Guard or Reserve service members, as well as spouses of members of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps. The application period for the 2016 FINRA Foundation Military Spouse Fellowship opens March 1, Application closes April 21, Prospective candidates can apply online at Page 47 of of 88 (301)

5 Problem Gambling Awareness Month March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month (PGAM) and The Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling (The Center) invites you to Have The Conversation with your family, your friends, and your community. March is a great time to start a conversation about the risks of gambling and gambling addiction in a caring, non-judgmental matter-of-fact manner, to encourage honesty and disclosure. This year s PGAM focus is Families and Gambling. Gambling that has gotten out of control isn t always easy to recognize but the disruption, anxiety and stress excessive gambling can cause with the family unit is. Talking with someone you know about a potential gambling problem can be difficult, especially if it s a family member. The Center has resources to help you start that conversation and provide help, hope, and healing for the person who gambles and the whole family. PGAM is a grassroots public awareness and outreach campaign created to educate the general public and healthcare professionals about the warning signs of problem gambling and to raise awareness about the help that is available both locally and nationally. The Center has numerous resources available for gambling awareness and prevention, as well as counselor tools for screening, assessment and treatment of gambling disorders. Gambling can be fun. But for some, gambling can get out of control. If you or someone you know is struggling with problems due to gambling, call or text the free, confidential, toll-free helpline at GAMBLER ( ) or visit Additionally, you may attend Gambling Awareness on 21 March at 0900 at the Fleet and Family Support Center, 2212 Chisholm Ave. Please call /9017 or visit to register. Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling. (2017, February 24). March Problem Gambling Awareness Month. Retrieved from August 2013 Financial Page 5 of 8 Readiness (301) (301)

6 August 2013 Financial Readiness (301)

7

8 FREE Credit Scores! FICO credit scores are now available FREE to active duty service members and their spouses. See below on how to schedule! Schedule Appointments Online Program (FRP) offers a wide range of services to assist service members and their families with their financial affairs. Schedule your appointment online today: Or scan this special code using a QR reader on your smartphone to schedule an appointment This newsletter gathers the most interesting, timely, and informative articles on money to assure our Fort Meade community is updated on the most relevant financial news. Although this newsletter intends to offer factual and up-to-date information on the subjects discussed, it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of these subjects. Professional advisers should be consulted before implementing any options presented. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, we d love to hear from you. The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the United States Department of Defense of the linked web sites, 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 Department of Defense does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. All links are provided for informational and educational purposes. No party assumes liability for any loss or damage resulting from errors or omissions or reliance on or use of this material. Joint Classes MARCH 1st TSP / BRS nd Getting Out of Debt rd Car Buying th Dollars and Sense th Women Building Wealth th Banking Basics st Gambling Awareness th First Term (online class) APRIL 4 th Dollars and Sense th Thrift Savings Plan/ Blended Retirement System th Home Buying th Basics of Investing th First Term (online class) MAY 2 nd Dollars and Sense th Marriage and Money th Banking Basics th Car Buying rd Credit Management rd First Term (online class) *The eligible participants for these FREE classes are: Active Duty and Retired Military and their ID card Family Members, Reservists and National Guard (while on active duty) and their ID card Family Members, Survivors, and DoD Civilians.* To register for classes, visit: ARMY COMMUNITY SERVICE 830 Chisholm Ave Fort George G. Meade, MD Army: Navy: CLASS SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE Strong Minds, Strong Bodies, Live Well Page 8 of 8 (301)