Blog

When the coronavirus (COVID-19) crippled the U.S. in the first quarter of 2020, many Americans weren’t financially prepared for an unprecedented income-producing shift.  For many Americans, this unbalance and inability to earn an income shook their households.  And rightfully so.  According to a recent 2,000-person study conducted by Prudential, 54%...

May 12, 2020

Questions about your finances? Want to make sure you're on the right track? Talk to a qualified financial counselor or coach - for free: Get started.During this time of uncertainty, with circumstances and information constantly changing, it may be difficult to know where to turn. A good place to start?...

April 27, 2020

Almost half of Americans don’t have $500 in the bank. Without an emergency fund, disruptions like a flat tire, a leaky faucet, or a last-minute plane ticket can have a huge ripple effect. As AFC® and FFC® professionals, you may see this issue in your work with clients or even...

April 17, 2020

Jing Jian Xiao, PhD is a professor and researcher in consumer economics and personal finance at the University of Rhode Island (URI). His university was recently approved as an AFCPE® Registered Education Program, meaning that their program’s curriculum meets the educational requirements to prepare students to sit for the AFC®...

March 27, 2020

For the past few weeks, the top news stories have focused on the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Public health agencies are closely monitoring the spread of the virus and health implications for individuals and communities. Not only are there physical health implications of an epidemic like Coronavirus, an emergency such as this...

March 19, 2020

As of yesterday, more than twenty-six states had announced school closings, affecting more than 29 million children, according to Education Week Magazine. With schools shut down, millions of parents and caregivers are finding themselves in a new role – home school educator. While school systems are helpfully equipping parents with...

March 17, 2020

Trey Spencer is an AFC® candidate and 2019 FINRA Foundation Military Spouse Fellow. He is currently a full-time stay-at-home-dad and military spouse. Trey volunteers at Ft. Still doing financial counseling and helping in the Legal Assistance Office.During this FINRA Foundation Military Spouse Fellowship application period, we were excited to learn more...

March 13, 2020

Our financial stress and the issues that result from it affect more than just our personal lives and our relationships, it affects the work we do, too. It is no surprise to financial professionals that many hard-working Americans are struggling with basic money management and adequate savings. Recent studies show:...

March 10, 2020

Cliff Robb is a professor at UW-Madison, where he teaches personal finance in the School of Human Ecology. UW-Madison recently became an AFCPE® Registered Education Program, which means their coursework covers the core competencies required to sit for the AFC® certification exam. Get to know Cliff, and hear firsthand why...

March 06, 2020

Regina Wood, AFC® is Vice President of BancorpSouth Bank in Mississippi. She is a military spouse and was part of the FINRA Foundation Military Spouse Fellowship class of 2018. As an AFC®, Regina makes this commitment to her clients – “that during the counseling process, we will be present and...

February 28, 2020

Overwhelmed is a word I hear frequently as a financial counselor and with good reason. When our finances are out of control, we feel “overwhelmed.” And, oftentimes, it can feel even more overwhelming to reach out for help only to receive advice with unfamiliar terminology or a plan we don’t...

February 25, 2020

Imagine this… You’ve been burning the midnight fuel to show your boss the results of months of hard work by crafting the picture-perfect presentation.  With one hour to show-time, you’re filled with anticipation because you know it’s going to be that ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ moment sure to get your work noticed.  Then...

February 24, 2020