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A Military Spouse Perspective: Pursuing a Career as a Financial Counselor

My early financial education was given to me by my parents, sort of unintentionally and mostly from observation.   As I grew up and became an adult, I learned some better financial practices from friends and associates.  I also started reading books that taught about financial topics.My husband and I started...

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Why Financial Fitness Coaching? In A Word: Empowerment.

Sometimes a legitimate quest for information can lead down unexpected paths. When AFCPE® first announced the Financial Fitness Coach certification in partnership with Sage Financial Solutions, I was curious. I didn’t know what the certification entailed, why I would need it, or even why AFCPE had decided to offer Financial Fitness Coach training....

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The Fiduciary Rule: Already the Standard

Over the past ten years, there has been increasing focus placed on financial capability to address the increasing personal debt levels and the overall financial well-being of Americans. It is more important than ever that consumers understand their options, the financial services profession, and who is best equipped to serve...

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AFCPE® Membership Spotlight: Kira Dentes, AFC®

Kira Dentes was introduced to AFCPE® just three years ago, when she applied and was awarded a 2013 FINRA Foundation Military Spouse Fellowship. Now an active member of the organization, she continues to make a lasting impact both in the organization and the field. The newly graduated AFC® shares more about her...

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Savings Success Begins with Remembering Your ‘Why’

Common wisdom is to pay down high interest debt before saving. I mean, it makes sense right? If you are saving in an account that pays less than 1% and the interest being charged on your outstanding debt is higher you are, in effect, hemorrhaging cash. I picture it like...

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Taking the First Step to Savings Success

In May 2015, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) launched its Financial Coaching Initiative, targeting recently-transitioned veterans and economically vulnerable consumers to help them with their financial goals. The program places 60 certified financial coaches at organizations around the country to provide individualized educational services.A client shares her story about working...

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Loose Change: An Unexpected Path to Savings Success

Forgotten Money Turns to SavingsWhether a jar, a tray or a drawer, we all have a place where our loose change accumulates. Just sitting in these forgotten places, our loose change grows, but it earns no compound interest and gets us no closer to reaching our goals. This forgotten money...

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Find Savings Success by Rising to the Challenge

“Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day-in and day out”Today marks the beginning of America Saves Week 2016. Since 2007, this week has provided an opportunity for organizations to promote good savings behavior and a chance for individuals to assess their own saving status. This week, we invite you to...

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What are your 2016 Holiday Plans?

Yes, I know we just celebrated 2015 Holidays, but this is a great time to think about what went well, what didn’t, and how to make changes so that our 2016 Holiday can be successful without breaking the bank. While you are sifting through those holiday receipts and credit card...

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AFCPE® Membership Spotlight: Erica Tobe

Erica Tobe, an Extension Specialist and fixed-term Assistant Professor at Michigan State University (MSU), is passionate about helping to identify the social and economic needs of families. This passion is evident throughout many of her current initiatives, but especially in her current project, Starting over after Foreclosure, an online self-paced course...

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Letter of Reflection

Dear AFCPE Members and Stakeholders, As my Board Presidency draws to a close, I cannot help but reflect on the progress we have made as an organization. When I attended my very first conference as a graduate student in 1998, I remember feeling inspired and awestruck by my esteemed colleagues...

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Timebanking: Serving More Clients Through Alternative Payment Options

The particular irony of working as a financial counselor is that we often come across people who have a critical need for our services, but cannot afford them (because they need financial counseling). While we may be able to donate our services occasionally, it is not something most of us...

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