Financial Counselor

The Financial Planning Counselor is the Army Transition Assistance Program (TAP) Center's principal provider of financial planning to transitioning service members and their family members.

The specific duties of the TAP Financial Planning Counselor include but are not limited to:

• Provide financial planning workshops and individual financial counseling to meet the needs of transitioning soldiers and family members prior to their transition from the Active Army or Reserve Components.
• Provide information on banking, debt management, health care, college saving plans, home ownership, budgeting, use of credit, insurance, investing, tax and estate planning, and other matters that impact the financial readiness of transitioning soldiers and their families.
• Conduct 4-6 hour financial planning workshops using the existing curriculum to groups of approximately 50 soldiers and family members in connection with mandatory Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act/Career Readiness Standards (CRS) activities which include a budget.
• Coordinate use of classroom, set-up of classroom, and provision of training material.
• Regularly provide follow-up one-on-one financial counseling to clients who request assistance. During financial counseling, address the specific needs and interests of soldiers and family members, including the evaluation of individual or family income and expenditures and recommendations for short and long-term actions to achieve financial goals.
• Assist clients in managing complex financial issues, e.g., relocation, asset allocation, transition/retirement, eviction, garnishment, repossession, and coordinate solutions with applicable military and civilian agencies.
• Prepare monthly reports describing all financial planning activities and record the number of transitioning soldiers and family members attending workshops and individual sessions.
• Participate in workgroups with other financial planners.
• Assist Command Installation Manager (CIM) with delivering Commanders reports and notifying clients of eligibility to begin services while also notifying clients of missed requirements for VOW/CRS.
• Complete all mandatory Government training.
• Safeguard PII.
• File records according to the Army Records Information Management System.
• Upload information into the Interactive Personnel Electronic Records Management System (after training received from the Government).
• Participate in sustainment training events as offered.
• Participate in marketing activities and employment events as directed by the CIM.

Education and Experience:

• Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college/university or a combination of education and experiences amounting to 1,000 hours of experience in financial counseling which qualifies the applicant for employment as a personal financial counselor. Applicants are REQUIRED to possess and maintain a nationally recognized and accredited Financial Counselor certification in accordance with DoDI 1342.22. Acceptable certifications: AFCPE – Accredited Financial Counselor, CFP Board - Certified Financial Planner, Fincert.org - Certified Personal Finance Counselor.
• Applicants must successfully undergo a background investigation (National Agency Check) and are subject to drug screening. The TAP contract is a federal government contract that abides by the federal drug laws that supersede any state laws. (Medical Marijuana cards are not accepted).
• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Ability to manage client caseload, conduct group financial planning workshops and one-on-one financial counseling either face-to-face or virtually, generate training materials, maintain intensive problem-solving skills, conduct individual budget preparation work, as well as the ability to schedule, coordinate, and set up classroom including audio-visual requirements.

Hourly pay: $27.81 per hour plus benefits