We are very excited to launch a new topic on our website – spouse employment! As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, I’ve always found the new year to be a great time to commit to taking a step to build my — and my family’s — financial security. One way I boost my bottom line and fund my goals is through employment. Whether it’s getting a job, advancing your career, or starting your own business, employment can be an important way to help achieve your financial goals.

Working not only helps to put money in your pocket and boost household income, it also can provide you with:

• Personal satisfaction
• Increased independence
• More money for unexpected costs or enjoyable activities
• Social and intellectual engagement, and a
• Foundation for future opportunities

And who doesn’t want a little more of all the above?

But seeking and maintaining employment as a MilSpouse can be challenging. I had a great job all lined up in Washington, and was very excited to start. Then, my husband got orders to move to Colorado, so I had to turn down the offer. I know I’m not the only MilSpouse who has experienced something similar.

In my previous blog, I highlighted several new changes the Department of Defense has rolled out to further support MilSpouses in their employment quests, from providing paid private-sector fellowships to easing the department’s telework policy, to making it easier to hire MilSpouses.

Our new section of the MilSpouse Money Mission website helps you boost your financial health via employment by offering tips, considerations and resources whether you work for yourself or someone else. It’s a great MilSpouse employment-related resource!

You’ll find:

• Videos of fellow MilSpouses offering employment tips and more
• Handy listings of military-provided spouse employment resources, including Spouse Education and Career Opportunities, service branch-specific employment programs and more in one place
• Helpful financial planning tips to consider whether you have a boss or you are the boss
• A primer on employment benefits — such as health and life insurance and retirement savings —and how to approach such benefits as a MilSpouse
• Tips for balancing work and family as a military spouse, from child care to work-life flexibility
• Entrepreneur-focused tools, support and resources

If you are seeking employment or are currently employed, we provide helpful information to leverage resources and benefits to help you lead your family to a stronger financial future.

What would you like to read more about? We would love to hear from you, and have opened the comment feature on our blog. Please share your thoughts and experiences with us!

Mandi Moynihan is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional who has been with MilSpouse Money Mission since its inception. She also served in the Army and is the spouse of a retired service member.

MilSpouse Money Mission® is a Defense Department resource that offers FREE personal financial education specifically geared toward military spouses. There is a Money Ready guide for various stages of financial life, a MilLife Milestones section to help you through the big moments in your military journey, a blog, spouse videos, quizzes, calculators and more!