November 30, 2018
Cherie Stueve named Military Spouse Fellow of the Year by the FINRA Foundation
Submitted by College of Human Ecology
Cherie Stueve, doctoral candidate and instructor in personal financial planning, was honored with the 2018 Military Spouse Fellow of the Year award from the FINRA Investor Education Foundation at the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education Symposium. Stueve was recognized for her continued commitment and service to the fellowship program and for counseling countless military families in need.
Stueve is a 2012 graduate of the fellowship program and spouse of a retired U.S. Coast Guard officer. She has utilized her experience as an accountant, auditor and financial counselor in both the private sector and in the military. She has a wealth of experience in helping military and civilian families, drawing upon her own experience regularly as a military spouse and mother of two who experienced frequent family moves and interrupted employment. Stueve continues to counsel military families on a pro bono basis. She has mentored and supervised incoming Military Spouse Fellows for years, at each and every level, including serving as a reviewer and as a vital referral source.
The FINRA Foundation Military Spouse Fellowship offers military spouses the opportunity to earn a career-enhancing credential — the Accredited Financial Counselor certificate — while providing financial counseling and education to the military community. The program is administered in partnership with the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education and the National Military Family Association.
Fellows often serve in critical positions throughout the military community. Many work as installation Personal Financial Managers, Personal Financial Counselors or as relief society financial counselors, paid and volunteer. Since 2006, spouse fellow candidates in pursuit of their Accredited Financial Counselor designation have provided assistance to more than 185,000 military clients and dedicated more than 465,000 hours of service helping military families reach their financial goals.
FINRA Foundation Fellows also play a role in providing services to veterans. There are approximately 22 million military veterans in America, many of whom face significant financial challenges. According to a 2017 FINRA Foundation study, veterans are 40 percent more likely to be underwater on their home and 28 percent more likely to have made a late home payment. In addition, veterans are more likely to engage in problematic credit card behavior — like carrying a balance and being charged a late payment fee.
For more information on the fellow's award or about the FINRA, visit its website.