Personal Financial Counselor

Personal Financial Counselors (PFC) can aid with a wide range of budgeting and money management skills. They can help service members and their spouses understand the fundamentals of personal financial management, the management of debt and credit, comprehend the components of the military retirement system, recognize the importance of developing savings and an emergency fund, recognize misleading consumer practices, and navigate resources to increase financial literacy and understanding of personal financial management.

Contact

 

Personal Finance Counselor 
Ms. Lesley Schmidt, Bluff Road Readiness Ctr
1225 Bluff Rd.
Columbia 29201
Office: 803-299-5392
Cell: 803-602-8526
Email: pfc.columbia@magellanfederal.com
 
"Lesley Schmidt, AFC®, was born in Maryland, and has lived 18 other places before settling in South Carolina. Mrs. Schmidt has been serving the military community since 1995, when she began volunteering at Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society during her husband’s first deployment.  Mrs. Schmidt loves teaching service members about personal finances and looks forward to answering their money questions."
 

Personal Finance Counselor 
Ms. Cecilia Brien, Bluff Road Readiness Ctr
1225 Bluff Rd.
Columbia 29201
Office: 803-299-5392
Cell: 803-602-8526
Email: pfc.columbia@magellanfederal.com
 
"Cecilia Brien is an Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC) and has worked in the investment, retirement, and insurance industry for over 25 years. She is an avid volunteer and resides in Charlotte, NC, and the mom to 3 children and 3 dogs."
 

Scheduling Personal Finance Counselor Services

Service members and their qualifying dependents can schedule a no-cost appointment for financial counseling with the SCNG Personal Financial Counselor. PFCs are also available to provide support to service members and their families virtually, regardless of location. Non-remarried surviving spouses and children of deceased service members are eligible to receive support as well.
 

Consumer and Financial Protections

Service members have several protections available to them to help limit the effects of predatory lending practices, unfair debt collection practices and other consumer risks including the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, the Military Lending Act, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Office of Financial Readiness (FINRED) Resources

The FINRED https://finred.usalearning.gov/ website has official information, articles, tips, and tools for helping service members and their families develop and maintain financial readiness. For regular tips and information on military money topics, follow FINRED on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X and YouTube. For financial information specific to the military spouse, visit the MilSpouse Money Mission website. For financial tips on the go, download Sen$e — a no-cost mobile app.