Tennessee Army National Guard's Personal Financial Counselor program provides complimentary financial planning and counseling exclusively to active members of the Tennessee Army and Air National Guard, as well as their families. The program is administered through the state military department's employment assistance initiatives and leverages certified financial professionals across multiple regional offices throughout Tennessee.
The service offers comprehensive financial counseling covering budgeting, debt and credit card management, credit score improvement, emergency fund establishment, estate planning documents, homebuying guidance, vehicle purchases, investment strategies including Thrift Savings Plan optimization, and retirement planning. Counselors work with clients to create personal net worth statements and develop both short and long-term financial strategies. All services are provided with no listed cost to eligible military members.
What distinguishes this program is its exclusive access limited to Tennessee National Guard members and families, its regional coverage with dedicated counselors in Knoxville, Nashville, Memphis, Jackson, and Chattanooga, and the use of credentialed financial professionals (Certified Financial Planners, ChFC, and AFC designations). The program emphasizes anonymous, confidential counseling and positions itself as a military-specific benefit rather than a general nonprofit credit counseling service.
As a free service, this program has genuine value for eligible military members seeking professional guidance. However, availability is strictly limited to National Guard members, and the program appears to operate through contracted third-party providers (BCB Holdings LLC and Zeiders Associates) rather than as an in-house government operation, which may affect consistency and accessibility across all regions.