FINRA Foundation Seeks Applicants for Military Spouse Fellowship

Fellows Provide Military Service Members and Their Families with Financial Counseling and Education Services While Earning Professional AFC^® Credential

WASHINGTON — Starting today, the FINRA Investor Education Foundation Military Spouse Fellowship is accepting applications for its 2019 class of financial FINRA Fellows — a unique program designed to increase the financial capability of U.S. service members and their families.

The national program offers military spouses the opportunity to earn a career-enhancing credential — the AFC^® (Accredited Financial Counselor^®) — while providing financial counseling and education to the military community.

Applications must be received no later than midnight, EDT, April 19, 2019. Prospective candidates can apply online at http://www.militaryspouseafcpe.org/application.

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 Fellowship is provided by the FINRA Investor Education Foundation in partnership with the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education^® (AFCPE^®), which administers the certification, along with Blue Star Families and the National Military Family Association (NMFA). The FINRA Foundation covers the costs associated with the program’s self-study course and exam.

“Since its inception, the FINRA Foundation Military Spouse Fellowship program has championed a unique, hands-on approach to supporting military service members and their families by providing unbiased financial information and personalized counseling services,” said Gerri Walsh, President of the FINRA Foundation. “Equipped with the AFC^® certification, FINRA Fellows empower military families to more confidently manage their financial lives and plan for their financial futures.”

The FINRA Foundation has provided more than 1,530 military spouses the opportunity to earn the AFC^® certification. In turn, FINRA Fellows serve the military community of which they are a part. FINRA Fellows pursuing their certification provided financial counseling and education to more than 24,100 service members or their spouses in 2018 alone, and have dedicated more than 475,000 hours helping military families reach their financial goals since the program’s launch in 2006.

Upon completion of the AFC^® certification, FINRA 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 AFC^® certification sets the standard for the field of financial counseling and education. Military spouses who go through the certification program gain both the education and experience needed to help military families successfully navigate financial challenges and opportunities,” said Rebecca Wiggins, AFCPE Executive Director. “Upon completion of the program, FINRA Fellows have a portable, career-enhancing credential and an expanded professional network to support them throughout their career.”

“Military families face unique financial burdens, and no one knows those challenges like military spouses,” said National Military Family Association Executive Director Joyce Raezer. “Thanks to the FINRA Foundation Military Spouse Fellowship program, military spouses are able to serve as financial educators in their community and help other military families meet their financial goals. At the same time, these military spouses are able to build a flexible career that adds to their own family’s financial security.”

Full biographies of selected accredited spouse fellows are available at www.SaveAndInvest.org/Military.

About the FINRA Investor Education Foundation
The FINRA Investor Education Foundation supports innovative research and educational projects that empower underserved Americans with the knowledge, skills and tools to make sound financial decisions throughout life. Since 2006, the Foundation has delivered free, unbiased financial education tools and training to service members, their spouses and military financial educators through on-base educational forums, professional development training programs and online and printed educational resources. A collaborator in the U.S. Department of Defense Financial Readiness Network, the primary goal of the Foundation’s Military Financial Readiness Project is to help military families manage their money with confidence. Learn more at www.SaveAndInvest.org/Military.

About AFCPE
Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education^® (AFCPE^®) certifies, trains, and supports financial professionals to be qualified motivators of change for people with life goals, regardless of where they are or where they’ve been on their financial journey. Our comprehensive certification programs represent the highest standard for financial counseling, coaching and education, including the AFC^® (Accredited Financial Counselor^®) and FFC^® (Financial Fitness Coach) certifications. The AFC^® certification is accredited by NCCA and nationally recognized by the CFPB and DoD. AFCPE membership is made up of a diverse and inclusive community representing professionals from across the financial continuum. AFCPE offers a strong professional network, as well as access to tools and resources that advance your work and enhance your career. To learn more visit, www.afcpe.org.

About Blue Star Families
Blue Star Families builds communities that support military families by connecting research and data to programs and solutions, including career development tools, local community events for families, and caregiver support. Since its inception in 2009, Blue Star Families has engaged tens of thousands of volunteers and serves more than 1.5 million military family members. With Blue Star Families, military families can find answers to their challenges anywhere they are. For more information, visit bluestarfam.org.

About the National Military Family Association
The National Military Family Association is the leading non-profit dedicated to serving the families who stand behind the uniform. Since 1969, NMFA has worked to strengthen and protect millions of families through its advocacy and programs. NMFA provides spouse scholarships, camps for military kids, and retreats for families reconnecting after deployment and for the families of the wounded, ill, or injured. NMFA serves the families of the currently serving, retired, wounded or fallen members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Commissioned Corps of the USPHS and NOAA. To get involved or to learn more, visit www.MilitaryFamily.org.