Financial readiness lagging in career military
Seven out of ten career military families were unable to earn a passing grade on a recently-administered financial readiness test, raising concerns about service member preparedness for increased financial decision making under the new Blended Retirement System.
Continue reading...
Sequestration Concerns
Military families* continue to be concerned about possible cuts to defense spending, with 70 percent of those surveyed in February expressing anxiety and 73 percent anticipating being financially affected by cuts.
Continue reading...
To buy or to rent?
That is the question for military families seeking their next home
It’s often said – mostly by companies that lease cars – that you should always buy appreciating assets and lease depreciating assets.
Continue reading...
The Federal Hiring Freeze, PCS Season and Family Finances
Just because the federal hiring freeze only applies to civilian employees doesn’t mean that military families are immune from its effects. Many military spouses work on-base in civilian positions.
Continue reading...
4 home-buying tips for military families
For active duty military families, the unique demands of being in the service can make buying a home challenging. While deployments and short notice or frequent PCSs make renting or military quarters attractive options for many, the advantages of home ownership – such as possible tax benefits, potential for monthly rental income, having a forever home – can outweigh its shortcomings.
Continue reading...
Career military families already budgeting for summer moves
America’s career military families who expect a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) this summer are already putting their financial houses in order. Nine out of ten middle-class military families who expect to make a PCS this summer have already budgeted for the costs of their move, according to the latest findings of the First Command Financial Behaviors Index®.
Continue reading...
How am I supposed to know how much life insurance I need?
Life insurance is one of those topics most people find uncomfortable to discuss. As a result, they don’t. The problem is that this lack of communication too often leads to families relying on a couple of flawed methods to determine how much life insurance they need.
Continue reading...
Sequestration still has military families feeling uneasy
Knowing the presidential transition would take place in January 2017, military families still expressed high levels of anxiety about sequestration in response to a December 2016 survey.
Continue reading...
Military families begin the year confident in their financial futures
The year 2017 just might be a good year for military families and their finances. Not only did they receive their largest pay raise since 2010, but they ended the year optimistic about their financial futures.
Continue reading...
Career military showing heightened interest in new retirement benefit
Support for the military’s Blended Retirement System is strengthening among America’s career service members, with two out of five families now expressing a desire to opt in to the new plan.
Continue reading...
