Financial Counseling for Vet Homeowners

VeteransPlus is a non-profit organization that provides financial counseling for veterans, and has recently teamed up with VA Loan Captain, Inc. to provide counseling services for veteran homeowners. Below, John Pickens, Executive Director of Veterans Plus, and Grant Moon, President of VA Loan Captain discuss the new program.

Can you talk about the services VeteransPlus provides, and about the new partnership with VA Loan Captain?

As a 501 (C) (3) organization VeteransPlus has been providing financial education and counseling for military members, veterans, survivors and their families since 2008. The organization was founded on a simple premise: veterans serving veterans. Our licensed financial educators have engaged more than 160,000 men and women through a variety of activities including: DoD initiatives, Transition Assistance Programs; Welcome Home and Reintegration events; and in partnership with State and Federal Departments of Veterans Affairs. These outreach events are focused on: pre-deployment financial preparation; creating a family budget; credit and debt management; creating a savings plan; how to read a credit report; avoiding predatory lenders; preventing identity theft; and housing issues. Following the outreach events, VeteransPlus counselors who are veterans or family members of veterans are available by phone to conduct free one-on-one extensive financial counseling sessions. Through our partnership with VA Loan Captain our team of Certified Military Housing Counselors are positioned to provide direct support and assistance to veterans seeking home ownership as well as those who want to make the most of their VA benefits.

What is the advantage of having counselors who are military veterans when it comes to providing counseling services to the military community?

It's no secret that the military experience creates a bond between those who have worn the uniform. Very often veterans find it very difficult to ask for assistance, but when assistance is offered by someone who understands their circumstances, on a personal level the conversation becomes more comfortable. In today's financial climate trust is more important than ever, and if you are able to relate to your client, you have a much better chance of earning their trust.