Help is here: Financial guidance for those in need

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. James Wilkinson
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Tax season can be an intense time each year when people's attention has an added focus on personal finances. For some, finances can be confusing, stressful or simply frightening.

Airmen and their families have a lot to deal with between their duties at work, families at home and other daily pressures. Extra worry about financial matters such as monetary savings, budgets or investment decisions can be overwhelming and, in some cases, an avoided topic.

The 436th Airlift Wing's Family Support Center offers sound financial assistance for Airmen and their families through the Personal Financial Management Program.

"Just as early detection is the best means of preventing many cancers, early detection and management of financial problems is the best means of resolving (financial) problems," said Melody DeVoe, Family Support Center community readiness technician and subject matter expert for the PFMP. "Personal finance managers are teachers, providing clients with training and tools to reach financial success, no matter what the situation."

PFMP personnel educate and assist people with personal financial matters through a variety of methods including individual counseling, informational seminars and educational briefings.

"The (program's) original mission was to help members with budgeting and balancing checkbooks. It has grown to encompass nearly all personal financial issues, providing members assistance and guidance from the initial to the final stages of their careers and beyond," said Ms. DeVoe.

The "Budgeting 4 Beginners" briefing is provided to Airmen new to the Air Force when attending the First Term Airman's Center. The briefing consists of 2.5 hours of training that covers money management, budgeting, investing, saving, credit management and purchasing decisions.

A two-hour refresher course is also available to prior service Airmen and their families on a quarterly basis. The course involves discussions concerning checkbooks, budgeting techniques, credit issues, and identity theft and fraud.

The center's educational "Lunch n Learn" seminars are open to all on a monthly basis. The one-hour sessions look at saving for the future, investing fundamentals, understanding and managing credit, making insurance decisions, reducing debt, preparing for retirement, and other major purchasing decisions.

The FSC's Military Decision Seminars are offered quarterly to members with more than 14.5 years of service to discuss the Career Status Bonus/Redux Retirement System, Thrift Savings Plan, as well as other career and retirement options.

Seminar topics are posted and scheduled on the FSC calendar each month, which is available at the Family Support Center.

Members can request one-on-one counseling services during duty hours, which cover financial topics of the client's choosing. The center also has a video library with many financial topics available for viewing.

The FSC goes beyond just offering help at the center; they are proactive and bring their financial support to the service member.

"Many of our services are offered outside of the FSC, ranging from education of First Term Airman's Center members to financial management overviews at commander's calls," said Debbie Hall, Family Support Center director. "The FSC's Community Readiness Consultant Staff is assigned to different groups within the wing. As a result, personal financial management education is also offered on-site within the squadrons if needed."

Members can find a list of Community Readiness Consultant Staff members for their applicable groups at the FSC.

The PFMP does have some limitations including state and federal income tax assistance.

"The wing has training for personnel to teach tax returns, and has the training and expertise to help folks with state and federal taxes," said Mrs. Hall.

For more information or assistance regarding filing income tax returns, members can contact their unit tax representatives or the 436th Airlift Wing Legal Office.

Ms. DeVoe adds that the financial management program is not a financial advisory program authorized to provide investment advice; does not give out or arrange loans; cannot make payment arrangements for overdue debts; and cannot serve as an agent for payments from clients to creditors.

"Many people who have used the PFM Program have found financial success that has led to career continuation, financial stability and the opening of doors to financial dreams never before thought achievable," said Ms. DeVoe. "The program has been successful for many people when they have applied the lessons learned in either the classroom or the counseling room to their own situations; realizing that setbacks are a reality of life, and perseverance, positive reinforcement and discipline will lead to success."

The Dover AFB Family Support Center is located in Building 263 on the first floor, and is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information on the Personal Financial Management Program, call the FSC at 677-6930.

"Take the time to manage your personal finances before they manage you," concluded Mrs. Hall.