Financial Management Program helps members plan goals, prepare for future

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Olufemi A. Owolabi
  • 47th FTW Public Affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Taking control of personal finances at an early stage in one's career is the linchpin to staying mission focused making us better war fighters.

According to a financial expert here and community readiness consultant at the Airman and Family Readiness Flight here, Christine Engel, proper financial management should begin immediately people get their paychecks.

"Although the skill needs to be learned early, it also needs to be reinforced at various stages of our career as well," Mrs. Engel said. "Financial management is something that needs to be focused on at every stage of our lives."

Whether Airmen are seeking help with financial problems, credit card debts and budget matters or just looking for ways to manage or invest their money better, Laughlin's Personal Financial Management Program offers a variety of assistance. Also, more help is available on Militaryonesource.com.

Apart from advising members to seek financial counsel from an advisor, Mrs. Engel also urged members to set goals and live beneath those goals. Goals setting can range from where and when to retire, to what kind of car to buy. Once people set their goals, it is easy to plan the road map to get them where they want to be, she said.

"I believe we can always develop a plan to clean up the past and plan for the future," said Staff Sgt. Anthony Veronique, 47th Force Support Squadron.

Sergeant Anthony, who consulted a financial advisor here last year, said she believes it is essential to involve financial experts during planning because they can help better maximize military benefits.

'The visit helped me to realize debt and credit pile on like you pack on the pounds...they all can get out of control without you ever realizing it," she said. "Gaining weight and accumulating debt happen over night....but to actually get rid of them takes more time."

Furthermore she said the visit helped her realize that fixing financial debt or credit problem requires keeping track of one's spending, figuring out what to cut out and sticking to one's plans.

"Financial management is a responsibility of everybody," Mrs. Engel said "It starts with the member, supervisors and first sergeants, and all the way to the commander."

For more information on financial advice or management, visit Airman and Family Readiness Center here. To make an appointment with a personal financial manager, call 298-5109.