Empowering Military Spouses to Enhance Careers and Support Financial Wellness in the Armed Forces WESTERVILLE, Ohio, February 29, 2024 (Newswire.com) – The Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education® (AFCPE®) and the FINRA Investor Education Foundation (FINRA Foundation) are proud to announce the opening of applications for the 2024 Military Spouse Fellowship Program. From March 1 to April 15, 2024, military spouses are invited to seize this unique opportunity to enhance their careers and give back to the military community through financial counseling and education.Established in 2006, the FINRA Foundation Military Spouse Fellowship Program allows military spouses to earn the Accredited Financial Counselor® (AFC®) certificate. This esteemed credential equips individuals with the skills and knowledge necessary to deliver comprehensive financial counseling and education to the military community. This innovative program emerged as a result of a partnership between the FINRA Foundation, AFCPE, and the National Military Family Association, offering military spouses an accessible opportunity to make a meaningful impact by covering all costs associated with AFC training and testing. Military families experience unique circumstances, and FINRA Foundation Fellows are uniquely positioned to address these situations within the military community. Through their unwavering dedication and expertise, they continue to make a significant impact, providing invaluable financial guidance and support to hundreds of thousands of service members and military families. “The impact of the Fellowship program is truly remarkable. It has positively impacted the lives of more than 165,000 service members and their families who have received high-quality financial counseling and education because of this program. But it’s also changed the lives of our Fellows,” said Rachael DeLeon, Executive Director at AFCPE. “FINRA Foundation Fellows obtain the knowledge and experience to become an AFC, and they gain an incredible community of professionals to support them along their personal and professional journey.” “The FINRA Foundation Military Spouse Fellowship changed my life. It has given me an amazing career that I never would have imagined. If you are a military spouse and interested in personal finance, I encourage you to apply. You won’t regret it,” Katharina Ingle, AFC. The FINRA Foundation, known for its dedication to empowering underserved Americans with the knowledge and tools needed to make sound financial decisions, has been a driving force behind this program’s success. In addition to supporting this fellowship program, the FINRA Foundation provides free, unbiased financial education resources to service members, their spouses, and military financial educators. “Military personnel and their families face financial challenges complicated by frequent moves, deployments, and underemployment among military spouses,” said Gerri Walsh, President of the FINRA Foundation. “This fellowship program enhances the job-related marketability of military spouses while developing a pipeline to support financial readiness in military communities worldwide.” Applications for the 2024 Military Spouse Fellowship Program will open on March 1, 2024, through April 15. Current, surviving spouses and spouses of retirees of a Uniformed Service member; Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, Space Force, National Guard, Reserves, Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are eligible. Spouses must be enrolled in DEERS. Candidates are encouraged to visit www.afcpe.org/certification/finra-foundation-fellowship to learn more and apply. About AFCPE®: The Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education® (AFCPE®) is dedicated to certifying, training, and supporting financial professionals to serve as qualified motivators of change for individuals pursuing their life goals, regardless of their financial history. The Accredited Financial Counselor® (AFC®) credential is accredited by NCCA, and nationally recognized by the Department of Defense and the CFPB. Please visit www.afcpe.org. About the FINRA Investor Education Foundation: The FINRA Investor Education Foundation supports innovative research and educational projects that empower underserved Americans with the knowledge, skills, and tools to make sound financial decisions throughout life. Since 2006, the Foundation has delivered free, unbiased financial education tools and training to service members, their spouses and military and financial educators through on-base educational forums, professional development training programs and online and printed educational resources. The Foundation holds both a Statement of Support with the Department of Defense in support of DoD’s Financial Readiness Network and a USCG Qualified Organization Designation. Learn more about the FINRA Foundation at www.finrafoundation.org. Comments are closed.