- Financial Readiness Program (FRP). FRP provides comprehensive educational and counseling programs in personal financial readiness. The program covers indebtedness, consumer advocacy and protection, money management, credit, financial planning, insurance, and consumer issues. Other services offered include mandatory financial literacy, financial planning for transitioning Soldiers, financial counseling for deployed Soldiers and their Families, and the Department of Defense Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance Program.
- Army Emergency Relief (AER). AER is the US Army's own nonprofit organization dedicated to alleviating financial distress in the force. AER provides grants and zero-interest loans to active-duty and retired Soldiers and their Families. AER has supported over 4 million Soldiers since 1942. AER offices are conveniently located at installations around the world. Visit ArmyEmergencyRelief.org to learn more.
- Online Support and Education. Go to Financial Frontline for self-service financial literacy education and help.
- Blended Retirement System. The Blended Retirement System (BRS) combines elements of the legacy retirement system with benefits similar to those offered in many civilian 401(k) plans. Get smart on retirement benefits with the Army Retirement Services Office and Joint Knowledge Online Training.
- Financial Readiness Affiliates
- Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). The TSP is a federal government-sponsored retirement savings and investment plan available to both federal civilian employees and members of the uniformed services. The TSP offers the same type of savings and tax benefits that many private corporations offer their employees under 401(k) plans. The retirement income a TSP account provides will depend on working-year contributions and the earnings on those contributions. Learn more at the official Thrift Savings Plan website.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The CFPB makes markets for consumer financial products and services work for Americans — whether they are applying for a mortgage, choosing among credit cards, or using any number of other consumer financial products. The CFPB gives consumers the information they need to understand the terms of their agreements with financial companies. Learn more about the CFPB, visit the CFPB on-demand forum and tools website, or order free CFPB publications.
- Better Business Bureau (BBB) Military Line. The BBB Military Line provides free resources to our military communities in the areas of financial literacy and consumer protection through the efforts of 112 BBBs across the US. Visit the BBB Military Line to learn more.
- Basic Financial Education Program
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Virtual classes are offered throughout the year, covering spend-planning, debt management, credit repair, car-buying, home-buying, and several other topics related to finances. P$yFi (Psychological Finance) is a unique Redstone Arsenal series that elaborates on the psychological aspects of money, examining how we think, feel, and behave with money (see information above).
If joining online, no need to register; click on Teams.
The P$yFi Podcast includes biweekly episodes focused on financially-relevant hot topics.
An annual Financial Symposium is also provided in-person at The Overlook in March, providing a full day of financial classes (look out for registration details). Certificates of completion are provided for all classes, allowing you to submit for Continuous Learning Points. All virtual classes are open to anyone. In-person classes (and Symposium) are restricted to those with access to the installation
- Unit/Organization Financial Readiness Training
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Financial wellbeing promotes readiness. Consider booking a group financial wellbeing assessment and interpretation. Have something else in mind? Financial Readiness personnel can customize a financial class or briefing to suit your unit or organization’s current needs, whether you’re looking for a light-hearted financial personality class or more preventive class on proper financial management. Call +1(256)876-6299 to schedule.
- Individual Financial Counseling
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Want to improve your relationship with money? Consider scheduling an individual, couples, or family session with your Financial Readiness Program Manager (FRPM), who is an Accredited Financial Counselor® and Licensed Professional Counselor. Taking the first step to do something different with your money can be daunting, but your FRPM is equipped to draw out and guide you toward your best hopes by creating a financial action plan. These individual sessions are available to Servicemembers, DoD Civilians, Military Retirees, and their Family Members. Call +1(256)876-6299 to schedule your appointment.
Don’t know where to start? Choose from our most popular services:
- Basic Savings and Investment Education
- Credit Report Review and Credit Repair Education
- Debt Management and PowerPay Repayment
- Financial Personality Assessment and Interpretation
- Financial Transition to Young Adulthood
- Financial Wellbeing Assessment and Interpretation
- Marital Financial Counseling
- Money Management (Cash flow analysis, net worth review, and spend plan creation.)
- Premarital Financial Counseling
- Preparing for a Major Purchase (Car, Home, Student Loan)
- Security Clearance Support and Education
- Setting Financial Boundaries
- Mandatory Financial Literacy Training
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Per DoDI 1322.31, all branches of service require financial literacy training that follows the servicemember throughout their financial developmental lifespan, referred to as milestones or touchpoints. The Army has outlined 13 milestones for Soldiers. Leadership can review required training through Vantage. Leadership tools are also available at Financial Frontline - FinancialFrontline.org. Trainings are offered online at Soldiers - FinancialFrontline.org OR in-person with your Financial Readiness Program Manager, +1(256)876-6299. The Soldier is responsible for providing the certificate of completion to their Training Manager for DTMS input.
Want to take charge of your finances? The Army's Financial Readiness Program (FRP) and Consumer Advocacy Services can help with comprehensive educational and counseling programs. Learn about debt, consumer advocacy and protection, money management, credit, financial planning, insurance, and consumer issues. Through classroom training and individual counseling, participants can learn how to save and invest money, establish savings goals, eliminate debt, and save for emergencies.
We offer:
Here are some other financial resources for Soldiers and their Families:
(Government Links)
(Non-Government Links, No Endorsement Implied)
3RD ANNUAL FINANCIAL SYMPOSIUM (HYBRID)
Building Your Financial Eco$ystem: The Science of Spending, Saving, & Giving
WHEN: 25 March 2025
WHERE: HYBRID! Bob Jones Auditorium (Sparkman Center at Redstone Arsenal) and/or Army 365 Teams
TIME: 0830-1230 CT
PRESENTERS: Several. See below.
REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Sign up today!
ATTENDANCE LINK/DIAL-IN NUMBER: Provided upon registration. Please do not share link, as registration is vital.
0800, REGISTRATION & REFRESHMENTS (Goody bags! First come, first serve.)
0830, SPENDING: WHAT’S IN YOUR PETRI DISH? (Olivia Pierce, LPC, AFC®)Learn how to become your own happiness scientist, experimenting with various spending habits that truly cultivate a sense of overall well-being, such as buying experiences, buying time, making purchases a treat, and practicing delayed consumption (aka Happy Money principles). Notably, these spending methodologies will not require an increase in income, but rather a strategic reallocation of existing assets to make your money happy again…no depreciation here.
0945, SAVING: THE PSYCHOLOGICAL ADVANTAGES OF DEFERRED CONSUMPTION (Bob Crane, CFP®, ChFC, RA / Olivia Pierce, LPC, AFC®)Many of us have fallen prey to the buy now, pay later culture, leading to overconsumption and unmanaged debt, resulting in a cycle of diminishing returns on our happiness. We get tired of the latest gadget, décor, or car long before we pay the balance, decreasing our net worth while chasing an elusive increase in net happiness. If you truly want happy money, learn how to pay now, consumer later. While traditionally this refers to delaying the time between spending on the product and enjoying the product, let's flip the script and apply it to savings, where the act of saving becomes an investment in our future well-being. A Certified Financial Planner will help you dissect and infuse the most effective savings and investment strategies into your financial ecosystem.
1045, GIVING: LEGACY BY DESIGN (Olivia Pierce, LPC, AFC®)Investing in others ignites several areas of the brain, releasing neurochemicals that boost happiness. While charitable donations are often associated with giving, it involves a lot more than cash. Gifts come in all shapes and sizes, from the gift of time and attention to the sharing of knowledge and expertise. Although we are not meant to give with the expectation to receive, studies show that we actually feel healthier and wealthier when we invest in others. So, ponder the type of legacy you wish to enjoy now and leave later. Do you want to give by default, or will you give by design, intentionally building a legacy that will inspire and impact others for generations to come?
1100, ARMY EMERGENCY RELIEF CAMPAIGN KICKOFF (CPT Salih, HHC Commander)
1115, DIGITAL ASSETS: YOUR ROLE IN A CHANGING ENVIRONMENT (Emily Baggett, Attorney-Advisor) One of the most overlooked yet profound gifts you can give your loved ones is the gift of estate planning. When you pre-plan and pre-organize your assets as part of the estate plan, your practical actions are reducing stress and turmoil for your survivors. Contemporary estate planning goes beyond traditional wills and beneficiary designations, as it must also account for the increasingly complex digital landscape we navigate every day. Who will manage your digital life such as computer files, virtual currencies, email, social media, etc. after your pass away?
1200, WILLS AND TRUSTS: SELECTING YOUR STRUCTURE (Christine West, Attorney-Advisor) “Do I need a trust or is a will enough?” The answer depends on your legacy goals. Most people want to keep their loved ones out of court after they pass away. That seems reasonable, but would bypassing probate court lead to additional personal or financial costs? This segment discusses the fundamentals of using a will or trust as the foundation for an estate plan. It will also discuss common pitfalls in what is sometimes a rush to avoid court.
1230, DISMISSAL
Certificates of Completion available upon request for CLP submission.
Want more? Check out the P$yFi podcast, where new episodes are posted regularly at The P$yFi Podcast.
Join the P$yFi Teams Channel for 2022, 2023, and 2024 P$yFi class recordings/resources
