As American service members return from overseas, one financial educator helps service members for “Military Saves Week 2012”
Bedford, NH: As American service men and women are heading home from Iraq and Afghanistan, many are facing debt, a tough job market and financial dangers. Peter Bielagus, a financial educator, is on a mission to help build awareness about the importance of financially educating our service members during “Military Saves Week 2012.” The “Military Saves Week” (February 19-26, 2012) is a social marketing campaign designed to educate service members on how to save and invest in their future. “Military families can sign up for the Military Saves Pledge at www.militarysaves.org,” says Bielagus.
Bielagus frames the issue this way, “Service members are twice as likely to be approached by a predatory lender than a civilian. What’s more, collection agents are actually exploiting the Military’s Honor Code in order to collect payments. This is illegal, but they do it. Campaigns like Military Saves Week bring these issues into the light to avoid future scandals.
A former financial advisor turned full-time author and lecturer; Bielagus has traveled the world speaking to military audiences. From Japan and Korea, to Europe, the Middle East and throughout the United States, he has gained popularity by helping service members jumpstart their finances and small businesses.
“Because of their steady incomes, their Honor Code and the high stress of war time, service members are an easy target for predatory lenders,” says Bielagus. Bielagus cites one example of a loan company that agreed to work out a payment plan with one service member only if that service member agreed to bring in two referrals.
Bielagus is looking for new ways to help educate service members about personal finance. His latest product, the Military Millionaires Playing Cards are a normal set of playing cards with a unique financial tip on the face side of each card. “They’ve been a big hit on bases worldwide, and we donate a percentage of the profits of every deck sold to organizations that support service members and their families.” The goal is to have a Military Millionaires deck in the hands of every enlisted personnel by encouraging individuals, corporations, and nonprofits to donate them to military groups. Peter Bielagus can be reached at 603-661-3003.
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