November 2, 2011
Getting in financial formation: Intersession course covers military personal finance issues
Submitted by Communications and Marketing
Managing personal finances is challenging for many people, especially members of the armed forces who face deployments all over the world.
Military Personal Financial Readiness, FSHS 765, class number 15706, is an online intersession class offered Dec. 27 to Jan. 13, 2012 at Kansas State University.
"We came up with the concept last November and we taught a pilot session of the class during the August 2011 intersession," said Esther Maddux, professor in the university's College of Family Studies and Human Services and instructor of the course. "The first class went very well, and we received a lot of positive feedback from members of the class."
Maddux, who has been in finance since 1973, was host at financial seminars for military financial counselors in the '90s, and has taught in Kansas State University's online master's program in personal financial planning since 2003. Her experience teaching online courses has introduced her to many members of the military, even before the Military Personal Financial Readiness course began.
"I teach military students who may be assigned all over the world. I have military students in all of my classes," Maddux said. "And for about the last year, I have had the opportunity to provide pre- and post-deployment financial counseling for military service members and their families."
The purpose of the online class is to train financial planners and contributors to help military service and family members effectively deal with financial issues that are special to the military audience, but Maddux says the class would be beneficial for active duty across all branches, retired service members or civilians who would like to serve military audiences.
The course gives an overview of the financial planning process and adapts the topics to address the special needs of and resources available to military service members and their families. Topics covered in the class include financial management, record keeping, risk management, savings, education planning and investment management, credit card and debt management, tax management and retirement management.
"The class gives students resources they need to answer questions for themselves. Long after the class is over, they know where to go to get information or help with finances," Maddux said.
Enrollment is open for January 2012 intersession. Learn more or view a complete list of available classes at http://www.dce.k-state.edu/courses/intersession.