FINRA Foundation Military Spouse Fellowship Application Period Open From March 1-31

Program Helps Military Spouses Foster Their Own Careers and Maintain Financial Readiness in Military Communities

WASHINGTON — Now in its seventh year, the FINRA Investor Education Foundation's Military Spouse Fellowship Program has opened the application process for its class of 2012 military spouses. The FINRA Foundation Spouse Fellowship Program provides military spouse recipients with the education and training needed to earn the Accredited Financial Counselor^® (AFC^®) designation. Military spouses can apply to become a member of the 2012 class of fellows until March 31, 2012.

The Military Spouse Fellowship is administered in partnership with the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education^® (AFCPE^®) and the National Military Family Association. The program covers the costs associated with completing the AFC^® training and testing for military spouses. More information is available at www.SaveAndInvest.org/MilitaryCenter. Applications are accepted online at ‌www.‌MilitaryFamily.‌org/FINRAFellowship and are due by midnight EST March 31, 2012.

"Challenging economic times make it vital that military families receive the support and information they need to manage their money with confidence," said Gerri Walsh, President of the FINRA Investor Education Foundation. "Across the United States and throughout the world, FINRA Foundation spouse fellows are working every day to help their local military communities, while at the same time developing valuable career skills and expanding their employment opportunities."

Spouse fellows have logged more than 306,000 hours helping military families reach their financial goals, and 314 spouse fellows have graduated from the program. Accredited spouses serve the military community as financial counselors at family readiness and support centers, credit counseling and tax centers, financial aid offices and credit unions throughout the U.S. and abroad. These organizations are in need of well-trained specialists who understand the unique financial needs of military families.

"The FINRA Foundation's Military Spouse Fellowship Program has given me the information I need to provide great service to my clients in the area of financial readiness," said 2008 graduate Shay Tull-Cook. Tull-Cook is currently a Family Support Services Specialist, where she manages the Financial Management, School Liaison, Deployment Readiness, Scholarship and Adoption Reimbursement Programs for the entire Coast Guard.

Full biographies of selected accredited spouse fellows are available at www.SaveandInvest.org/MilitaryCenter.

The Military Spouse Fellowship Program is open to current or surviving spouses of active duty or retired Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, National Guard or Reserve servicemembers, as well as spouses of members of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps.

About the FINRA Investor Education Foundation
The FINRA Investor Education Foundation is the largest foundation in the United States dedicated to investor education. Its mission is to provide investors with high-quality, easily accessible information and tools to better understand the markets and the basic principles of saving and investing. In 2006, the Foundation launched a multifaceted program to expand the saving and investing knowledge of military servicemembers and their spouses, including a free, unbiased resource, www.SaveAndInvest.org/MilitaryCenter. A proud partner in the Department of Defense Financial Readiness Campaign, the Foundation also presents financial education forums at military installations worldwide.

About AFCPE^®
The Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education^® (AFCPE^®) provides professional development experiences for financial educators, practitioners and researchers to improve the economic well-being of individuals and families worldwide. The Association's vision is to be internationally recognized as the leading provider of professional development opportunities for financial educators, counselors, and researchers. Visit www.afcpe.org for more information.

About the National Military Family Association
Military families serve our country with pride, honor and quiet dedication. The National Military Family Association is the leading nonprofit organization committed to strengthen and protect the families of the men and women currently serving, retired, wounded or fallen. We provide families of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard and Commissioned Corps of the USPHS and NOAA with information, work to get them the benefits they deserve and offer programs that improve their lives. Our 40 years of service and accomplishments have made us a trusted resource for military families and the Nation's leaders. Visit www.MilitaryFamily.org for more information.