ALCOAST 232/18 - JUN 2018 FINANCIAL READINESS

R 210713 JUN 18
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-11//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS//N01754//
ALCOAST 232/18
COMDTNOTE 1754
SUBJ: FINANCIAL READINESS
A. Coast Guard Personal Financial Management Program, COMDTINST 1740.8 (series)
B. Use of Non-Governmental Educational Material and Presenters, COMDTINST 1740.3 (series)
1. Coast Guard (CG) leaders must ensure that their personnel are financially ready.
The key to financial readiness is financial literacy. There are a number of tools
available to ensure that you and your team can be financially ready.
2. CG SUPRT is one of the most important resources to enhance financial readiness.
I strongly encourage you to contact CG SUPRT at www.CGSUPRT.com or at 1-855-CGSUPRT
(247-8778) to schedule an onsite Financial Wellness Class or an onsite Financial
Life-Cycle series training. RADM Brown and his crew recently took the Financial
Life-Cycle series training and he wants you to know that “[this] training … is
available to all CG members and families; [it] can help all, regardless of paygrade
or length of service, achieve greater financial security, resiliency, and peace of
mind. For members and families, increased financial security leads directly to
decreased personal and family stress, especially during deployments, PCS moves, and
other significant life events. CG members in D7 have already taken advantage of
this program, and I hope it will quickly expand CG-wide.” CG SUPRT also offers:
a. Onsite Financial Wellness Classes. Over 40 topics can be selected by commands.
Topics include Getting and Keeping Good Credit, Your Debt Free Game Plan, Beginner
and Advanced Investing and Dealing with Credit Cards. A full list of topics can be
found at: www.dcms.uscg.mil/financial. Contact your Personal Financial Management
Coordinator (PFMC) for assistance with setting up these classes for your personnel.
b. Financial Life-Cycle Series. This series is designed to address each phase of
the careers of CG personnel and their families. The three phases provide both
short-term and long-term financial guidance, resulting in healthy, sustainable
financial wellness. A full description of each phase is available at:
www.dcms.uscg.mil/financial. Contact your PFMC for assistance with setting up the
training for your personnel.
c. Money Coaches. Money Coaches provide CG personnel with the structure,
accountability, and confidence to set goals and achieve what they might not be able
to accomplish on their own. Money Coaches are Accredited Financial Counselors who
provide unlimited telephonic financial coaching sessions. Contact CG SUPRT and
request a Money Coach for further services.
d. Webinars. Financial webinars are offered twice a month and can be accessed
from Coast Guard computers, personal computers or other devices. Contact CG SUPRT
for further information.
3. PFMCs are part of the Work-Life Staff at each Heath, Safety, and Work-Life
Regional Practice (HSWL-RP), and can assist commands with obtaining financial
resources. They can also help set up onsite financial literacy classes for commands.
PFMCs can be contacted through the Work-Life Office at 1-800-872-4957.
4. Command Financial Specialists (CFSs) are appointed by the Commanding Officer to
provide financial education and training and information and referral. The CFSs
should be the first stop for CG personnel who have questions or concerns regarding
financial readiness. CFSs are located at many centralized units throughout the CG.
Guidance for appointing a CFS can be found in REF (A).
5. Qualified non-government educators must submit a written request to
COMDT (CG-111) to obtain designation as a qualified non-government topical education
presenter per REF (B). Approved organizations can provide Personal Financial
Management classes and materials to CG personnel within the guidelines of REF (B).
Failure to follow CG policy can result in an educator losing its designation.
6. RADM Erica G. Schwartz, Director of Health, Safety, and Work-Life, sends.
7. Internet release authorized.