Blog

One day, while walking through the military exchange (I was on active duty at the time), a young private walked up to me with an immense look of tension on his face. He said, "Ma'am, can you please help me?" I responded saying, "Sure, what can I do?" He said to...

April 17, 2017

Every day I counsel households. For many, it's the first time in their life that they receive real financial counseling from someone whose only vested interest is their financial success. For many it is the first time they see an actual written budget and learn how to make a plan, and they see how simple...

April 14, 2017

My journey to financial counseling started in the crazy world of sub-prime finance. We provided personal and auto loan to individuals with rough credit history. There is a place for sub-prime finance when conducted ethically and honestly. Unfortunately, for most clients we were helping them keep their neck above water....

April 13, 2017

Making an Impacthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAOk0uQcUpE&feature=youtu.be My "why" is the people that I work with and the impact they have shown me that I have on their lives. It's not just the research (and I've gotten a lot from that), but it's the fact that I will share something with somebody in a...

April 12, 2017

I remember my “why” day vividly--even though it was over 15 years ago. Having only been a financial counselor for a year, I was apprehensive about the new role I had taken on. My biggest fear was meeting with a client and not being able to provide them with the help...

April 11, 2017

There was a time when I was overwhelmed by debt. I felt like I was drowning and didn’t have a lifeline. I was awash in a sea of swirling confusion, ready to go under and give up. But during this difficult time, one of my fellow Shipmates reached out to...

April 10, 2017

I became an Extension educator with Rutgers Cooperative Extension in New Jersey because I was in a 4-H club and understood (as a teenager) the life-changing programs that Cooperative Extension provides. I enjoyed teaching adult education personal finance classes and took courses to become a Certified Financial PlannerTM to have a...

April 07, 2017

Many Americans are not financially prepared because they have not been provided all of the tools needed for success.  My “why” is so simple and yet complex. As the granddaughter of an immigrant, I am thankful that my grandfather took interest in learning the ins and outs of the American...

April 06, 2017

I believe that anyone, regardless of where they are today, can achieve financial security and peace of mind...and even wealth. And I'm on a mission to prove it. https://youtu.be/82rba13qZgA I became an Accredited Financial Counselor® because I want to help as many people as I can create, grow and keep more...

April 05, 2017

As a single parent who left a marriage and an abusive situation, I was struggling financially all the time. I had to file bankruptcy and even count clicks on a clock to get paid. But through it all, I refused to accept public assistance. I made the necessary sacrifices and kept...

April 04, 2017

We all love stories. They inspire. They motivate. They connect. In honor of National Financial Literacy Month, we asked AFCPE professionals to share their stories. To tell us their "Why" - what inspired them to become financial educators, counselors or coaches. Each story is unique, but they all have something in common -...

April 03, 2017