Financial seminars to be held at Yokota Feb. 2

  • Published
  • By Chanda Johnston
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  Yokota's Airman & Family Readiness Center will be sponsoring personal finance seminars featuring executives from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority at the Enlisted Club ballroom Feb. 2.

The one-hour seminars will provide tips on how to build a stronger financial future through a variety of subjects including credit and debt management, investing, preparing for retirement and saving for college.

"The purpose of the program is to educate and inform members on how to maintain good credit, save smart, invest wisely and retire comfortable, " said Francis Dong, a FINRA Investor Education Foundation associate director of military education. "It's also designed to meet another purpose, that is, to keep our military members financially healthy. If our service members are worried and stressed out because of personal debt it affects the mission, their family life and health, and may contribute to the increase in suicides."

In the opening remarks during a previous seminar at Fort Gordon, Ga., Gary Tidwell, the FINRA Military Financial Education and International Outreach vice president, emphasized the value of good credit.

"Last year 81 percent of government employees and servicemembers lost their security clearance because of too much debt," said Tidwell.

"Today 41 percent of Americans owe $5,000 or more on credit cards," he added. "Credit cards should be used for real emergencies; however, everyone should keep in mind that there is a cost to use credit."

Carrying too much debt impacts one's credit score.

"The best investment for anyone is to eliminate and control debt," said Tidwell. "It's the starting point for a building a solid financial future."

The FINRA regulates all security firms in the United States and imposes fines to commodity, stock and bond brokers who break the laws. The FINRA-sponsored website, www.saveandinvest.org, also offers a wealth of unbiased objective information that provides further details and tools.

To register for these seminars or for more information about financial management, contact Chanda Johnston, an A&FRC personal financial readiness consultant and an Accredited Financial Counselor at 225-8725.