Addressing the Elephant in the Room
In over ten years of providing financial literacy classes to military audiences, Drew Stamp has worked with servicemembers of practically all ranks, ages, and backgrounds. He’s seen Sergeants with six-figure IRAs and General Officers with a negative balance sheet. In his experience, Drew has met with dozens of active duty and veteran families who have fallen victim to the predatory sales tactics of a class of financial advisors who, being armed only with hammers, see nothing but nails. The firms targeting these transitioning servicemembers are equipped with robust marketing budgets, charismatic salespeople, and often a veteran bona fides. How do we equip servicemembers with the tools needed to prepare them to face the inevitable “end-of-service” pitch for products designed to benefit the salesperson but neglect to address the veteran family’s genuine needs and planning gaps? Why are we so reluctant to call a spade a spade?
