SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo.-- --
The Airman and Family Readiness Center is teaming up with financial advisers to provide Schriever Airmen invaluable advice for Military Saves Week now until March 3.
“Military Saves Week is an annual opportunity for installations and organizations to promote good savings behavior and a chance for service members and their families to assess their own saving status,” said Liz Archuleta, community readiness consultant with the 50th Force Support Squadron. “Military Saves is part of a larger annual event called ‘America Saves’ with the same goals to encourage saving but with the emphasis on the military.”
Events included an informational booth located outside the Satellite DISH dining facility where A&FRC personnel and experts shared their advice.
“You (service members) protect us day in and day out from threats,” said Rebecca Franciscus, senior counsel with the Denver Regional Office, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and one of the financial advisers engaging Airmen for the week. “When investing, you need to keep your eye out for a different kind of threat. Be aware there are scams that target service members and their families and be wary of investments that sound too good to be true, like claims that an investment ‘can’t miss’ or offer ‘guaranteed’ returns. Take your time and don’t rush into any investment decision.”
Additionally, this week features numerous classes centered on smart money saving and spending in light of tax refund season.
Classes include “How to Make the Most of Your Tax Refund” class 9 – 11 a.m., March 1 at the A&FRC building.
The week will culminate with the School Age Program money activity scheduled for March 2. The activity will teach children basic financial tips and engage them in hands-on activities.
“This year we will really focus on and define what saving, spending and giving means,” Archuleta said. “The class will also decorate their own banks for spending, saving and giving.”
She said investing and spending money appropriately is important every week of the year, and not doing so can lead to serious consequences both in and outside the workplace.
“Having a budget, emergency fund and a plan are the steps to financial stability,” she said. “Financial issues could lead to loss of a security clearance and for some the loss of their military career, not to mention stress, depression and marital problems.”
Fortunately, Archuleta, Franciscus and other financial experts are here to help the Schriever community avoid those issues altogether.
“Start training today to be a wise investor,” Franciscus said. “Your best defense is self-defense - through education, research and common sense. You train every day to serve our country, and you owe it to yourself to train for your financial future.”
For more information about Military Saves Week and their events on base, call the A&FRC at 567-3920.