Ep. 46 The ABCs of AFCPE: Financial Counseling for Military Members with Rachael Deleon

Welcome to the "Militarily Speaking" podcast with Tom McLean and Jodi Vickery. In this episode of “Militarily Speaking,” Tom, Jodi, and guest Rachael Deleon, Executive Director of Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education (AFCPE), discuss how AFCPE is a beacon of reliable and accessible financial counseling, coaching, and education. Their support is there for individuals seeking trustworthy help and those aspiring to assist others in their financial journeys. “Militarily Speaking” is a podcast produced by Armed Forces Bank that is dedicated to the military lifestyle and all the things that makes military community who they are. Ep. 46 – The ABCs of AFCPE: Financial Counseling for Military Members with Rachael Deleon Rachael Deleon, Executive Director of AFCPE, explains that they are a not-for-profit organization founded about 40 years ago. They are dedicated to equipping individuals interested in becoming financial counselors, coaches, or educators. With the belief that everyone deserves equitable access to such services, their mission is to impact people's financial wellbeing positively by ensuring the highest standards in financial counseling, coaching, and education. A unique attribute of AFCPE is their diversity in service delivery, cut across several fields. Members of this organization work within academia, non-profit organizations, private practices, banks, government institutions, and even the military. Irrespective of the arena, AFCPE’s standards are upheld, ensuring that clients receive service from professionals who believe in equity, inclusion and high standards. Empowering the Military Community through Financial Education Interestingly, one of AFCPE’s earliest constituents was the military community due to their recognition of the importance of financial readiness. Programs initiated for the military community, such as the FINRA Foundation Military Spouse Fellowship and the partnership with the CFPB, have had profound impacts on military financial counseling, coaching, and education. With the partnership between AFCPE and the Veteran Saves, and the Veterans Benefits Banking Program, AFCPE continues to hew a clear path for veterans, particularly in providing access to Financial Counseling. Through this initiative, AFCPE Accredited Financial Counselors work as pioneers with the bigger picture of integrating the field and ensuring that financial advice is delivered holistically to veterans. Varied Career Paths with AFCPE For those looking to move into the sphere of financial counseling and coaching, AFCPE offers numerous opportunities through its various programs. These professionals can work in academia, non-profit organizations, banks, government institutions, and even within the military. A growing trend among AFCPE certified professionals is private practice. This allows them to hone in on their specific areas of passion and offer specialized services within those niches. Regardless of the arena – be it the military, academia, or private practices – AFCPE’s ethos of delivering equitable access to financial counseling, coaching and education stands tall. The future presents exciting prospects for AFCPE as they continue their important work in providing financial stability and empowerment for many. Military MinuteJodi introduces the Military Minute segment of the show, beginning by closing out last episode’s Military Minute.●     Last episode’s Military Minute: Name one famous recipient who received the title of Honorary Marine.●     Answer: Many answers including Chuck Norris, Brigadier General Bob Hope, Corporal Jim Neighbors, or Gary Sinise●     This week’s Military Minute question: What is the name of the program offered by the Uniformed Services that combines elements of the legacy retirement system with benefits similar to those offered in many civilian 401k plans?●     Watch for Facebook and Instagram posts about this episode.●     Answer with the correct answer and you plus a charity of your choice can each win $50.●     After a winning selection, Military Minute participants are eligible for another selection after 12 months. Tom closes the episode by asking listeners to go to www.afbank.com and subscribe to the show, as well as leave a rating and comment on your favorite podcast platform such as Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Join us to hear how to better navigate your finances, military life, and the crossroads of the two. Visit www.afbank.com