The U.S. Army is collaborating with personal finance expert Suze Orman, who will provide free advice on financial planning and legal assistance to soldiers to help them “get their financial house in order.”
Orman, 65, retired last year from her popular television series that ran for 14 years on CNBC. She says she is enlisting as a volunteer to help troops avoid falling victim to payday loans or other predatory practices, while learning to make smart decisions about managing their money.
“There comes a time in life when everybody has to serve their country, and they have to serve those that are giving us our freedom,” Orman said at a Pentagon news conference on why she signed up. Orman is a two-time Emmy awardee and author of nine New York Times best-selling books on personal finance.
“When our soldiers don’t have their hearts and minds on their job, it is not good for their security and for the team,” said Army Undersecretary Patrick Murphy in his introduction of Orman. “That’s why we are just so excited to partner with Suze.”
Orman said she will be doing the work pro bono, and will make her online course, which usually costs $54, available for free to any member of the armed services. The course, which is available at suzeyou.com, focuses on seven areas of finance and will be free to service members who enter a special access code.
“They have to learn how to make correct financial decisions and how every decision has an impact not only on them, but on their family and their loved ones as well,” said Orman.
“I’ll be the first person in the world, you know, to tell you that money alone will never make you happy. But I’ll also be the first person to tell you lack of money sure will make you miserable,” she said.
Orman hopes to travel to U.S. military bases around the globe, and give seminars to troops in the plain speaking style she developed on TV.
“So what led me to really the fame that I’ve experienced is something called ‘Suze speak;’ tell it like it is, Suze, tell me what I need to know, but tell me in a language that I understand,” she said. “Nothing would make me happier than to personally go to every single base in this entire world, because there’s nothing like having it right live, in front of you, where you feel you’re being honored to be able to ask a question in person,” said Orman, “And so, I hope to God that that gets to come true.”
While the program is an Army initiative, it is open to all U.S. military personnel, regardless of service.
