Personal Financial Management Program

Overview

Money is one of the main reasons service members experience stress on the job and is also one of the top reasons why couples argue. The personal financial management staff are trained and certified Financial Management Educators who can help you and your family members (active duty, retired, DoD and NAF Civilian Personnel) through individual financial counseling sessions and through financial workshops on subjects such as basic money management, budgeting, car buying, consumer awareness, home buying, investment strategies, credit / debt management, retirement planning.

Developing strong money management skills can help you use the money you have today to live the life you want. Plus, when your ship does come in — the great job, the winning lottery ticket or the inheritance from a rich relative — you’ll know how to handle it. The Personal Financial Management Team is here to help you achieve financial success.

Individual Financial Counseling

Financial Educators can provide one-on-one individual financial counseling on a wide array of personal financial topics

Call or email the Personal Financial Management Specialists.

BRS/TSP

BRS? Are You Getting Your Full Match?
Learn more, see your Command Financial Specialists for info and Class Dates.

Free Thrift Saving Plan (TSP) classes, Open to everyone. Meets 4th Fri of every month at Frontwave, Building 1105, formerly Pacific Marine Credit Union.
From 9am to noon. For more info call (760) 725-/6098/9478 or email: gerald.williams@usmc.mil , beth.middleton@usmc.mil or sandra.little@usmc.mil

What is the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)?
The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is the federal government’s “defined contribution” plan; it works like a 401(k). Federal civilians and uniformed services members can contribute a portion of their salaries to their TSP accounts and decide how that money should be invested.

Links:

https://www.tsp.gov/index.html
https://www.tsp.gov/forms/allPublications.html#F

What is the Blended Retirement System (BRS)?
BRS is a new retirement system for some members of the uniformed services. In exchange for a 20% reduction in
their military retirement annuity, which they still get if they serve 20 years or more, members covered by BRS receive TSP contributions from their employing service in addition to other benefits.

Questions and Answers about opting into the Blended Retirement System (BRS)

Courses

Financial NCO Course

The Financial NCO (FNCO) is a trained Sergeant or Corporal who is nominated to attend a 2 day course. The FNCO is ex-pected to provide peer-to-peer influence by sharing the knowledge obtained with their peers.

The FNCO will support the unit CFS and installation PFMs by bringing awareness to said personnel of financial trends and educational needs.

Eligibility:

Command endorsed
No NJP/poor performance counseling above Lance Corporal
Have at least 1 year remaining with cur-rent command

Command Financial Specialist Course

MCO 1700.37 requires units to have qualified Command Financial Spe-cialists (CFSs) readily available to provide financial training, education and information and referrals. The MCCS Personal Financial Managers (PFMs) train selected Marines and conduct all unit inspections. Upon completion of the 40 hour course the CFS is expected to serve as the command’s principal advisor on policies and matters related to personal finance.

MCO 1700.37 mandates the following criteria:

Minimum pay grade E6, WO, O1
Highly motivated and financially stable
Be designated in writing by the Commanding Officer/OIC
Have at least 1 year remaining with current command
Participate in continuing education (forums/refresher training)

Functions of the CFS:

Provide counseling, briefs, workshops
Utilize approved internal/external financial resources
Update PFMs with financial trends or metrics
Assist in development of Extended Absence Financial Plans, Family Care Plans and Financial Screening prior to overseas/special duty assignments