2007/06/15 -- Moneywise in the Military a free event was held 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday at the Scott
Club sponsored by the DoD, Corporation for Public Broadcasting and Airman Family Readiness Center.
The event featured keynote speaker Kelvin Boston, host of the award-winning PBS financial literacy series Moneywise and financial author of "Who is Afraid to be a Millionare?"
The event tailored toward military families, presented an opportunity to build relationships between the local PBS station and Scott by helping to increase basic financial literacy and life skills. The DoD has already targeted financial readiness as a core requirement for national defense.
"The goal for today's course is to help military families develop good financial skills
and help them out in continuing to apply those skills throughout their lives," said Barbara Thompson, Director of the Office of Family Policy.
The event started off with welcoming remarks by Barbara Thompson, Kevin Shields, community affairs specialist Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Amy Shaw, vice president of education services KETC.
"We are all here today to show you how you can become a millionaire while serving in the military," said Mr. Boston at the start of his Moneywise in the Military presentation.
During Mr. Boston's presentation he had three questions to stress about achieving
financial goals. "Who is afraid to be a millionaire?," "Who is setting your economic policies?" and "Who is the millionaire next door?"
"These questions will help anyone to become more financially independent," said Mr.
Boston.
Along with the questions Mr. Boston touched on strategies including using military
benefits, wealth building plans, owning businesses and owning a home.
In addition to the presentation there were also two panel discussions that touched on
credit reporting, bankruptcy, credit counseling, fraudulent and predatory lending as well
as personal financial plans, saving and investing and home ownership that included
an audience question and answer session.
"I want to see folks have assets not debt and I hope this session will help people achieve those goals," said Mr. Shields.
Scott was only the second Air Force base on the Moneywise in the Military tour, with more in the coming months.