FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
Date Signed: 6/15/2007 | ALMARS Number: 011/07
ALMARS : 011/07
UNCLAS
201942Z FEB 07
CMC WASHINGTON DC(UC)
TO AL ALMAR(UC)
ALMAR 011/07
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MPO-40//
SUBJ/FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT//
POC/S.T. FOSTER/CAPT/MPO/-/TEL:DSN 278-9387//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  I AM CONCERNED THAT MANY MARINES ARE NOT TAKING
FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE FINANCIAL PLANNING OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO
THEM.  FOR ACTIVE COMPONENT MARINES, ONLY 33 PERCENT OF ENLISTED AND
44 PERCENT OF OFFICERS ARE CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN THE THRIFT SAVINGS
PLAN (TSP).  FOR RESERVE MARINES EVEN FEWER ARE ENROLLED, WITH ONLY
19 PERCENT OF ENLISTED AND 27 PERCENT OF OFFICERS PARTICIPATING IN THE
THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN (TSP).
2.  THE BENEFITS OF EARLY AND LONG-TERM FINANCIAL PLANNING AND
INVESTING CAN BE SUBSTANTIAL TO A MARINE OVER THE COURSE OF THEIR
CAREER AND LIFE. DEVELOPING HEALTHY SPENDING AND INVESTING HABITS
EARLY IN A CAREER CAN HELP MARINES REACH THEIR PERSONAL AND
PROFESSIONAL GOALS.  THERE ARE NUMEROUS INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES
AVAILABLE TO MARINES; THE TSP IS ONE INVESTMENT PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES
A SIMPLE SOLUTION TO SAVING FOR THE FUTURE.  I ENCOURAGE ALL MARINES
TO TAKE THE TIME TO EXPLORE TSP OPTIONS.  DETAILS AND ENROLLMENT
INFORMATION ARE AVAILABLE ON THE TSP WEBSITE,WWW.TSP.GOV, AND THERE
ARE LINKS ON MARINE ONLINE AND THE DFAS MYPAY SERVICE.
3.  LEADERS ARE DIRECTED TO STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF FINANCIAL
MANAGEMENT TO THEIR MARINES.  ENCOURAGE THEM TO RESEARCH TSP AND OTHER
INVESTMENT OPTIONS AND TO PLAN FOR THEIR FUTURE.  THE GOAL IS EDUCATED
MARINES WHO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF PRUDENT FINANCIAL PLANNING AND
RECOGNIZE THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF SAVING A PORTION OF THEIR EARNINGS.
4.  SEMPER FIDELIS, JAMES T. CONWAY, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS,
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//