Maine Government News
Governor and State Financial Agencies Promote "America Saves Week" and "Military Saves Week"
February 26, 2013
Professional & Financial Regulation - Securities
Department of Professional and Financial Regulation Offers Resources to Help Families, Small Business Owners, Veterans and those in the Military to Save and Invest Safely
Governor Paul R. LePage joined Commissioner Anne L. Head and Maine’s Department of Professional and Financial Regulation in promoting February 25-March 2 as “America Saves Week” and “Military Saves Week.” The Department is leading the State’s effort to highlight these national campaigns sponsored by the American Savings Education Council.
Recognizing that many Americans are not saving enough for retirement and other goals, “America Saves Week” began in 2007 to bring organizations from all sectors together to encourage good savings practices and to provide tools for individuals to assess their own saving status. “Military Saves Week” is a parallel campaign that focuses on Service Members, Veterans and their families.
“Our economic strength as a State is tied to the financial well-being of individual families,” Governor LePage said. “Resources offered by the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation on saving and investing can help families, including those in the National Guard, plan for a more prosperous future by achieving their saving and investing goals.”
Commissioner Anne Head and Securities Administrator Judith Shaw announced that the Office of Securities offers a personal finance guide for military families, called the Financial Field Manual.
“The Financial Field Manual is a comprehensive 20-page booklet to assist Service Members and Veterans,” Administrator Shaw commented. “It covers a wide range of important topics, including special home-buying resources for military families. The manual also provides advice to help Service Members protect investments when retiring.”
Shaw noted that “safe investing” resources for all Maine families are available on the Office of Securities’ website (www.investors.maine.gov) or by calling 1-877-624-8551 (TTY: Please call Maine Relay 711). “To avoid investment fraud and invest as safely as possible, investors should make a rule to always check the credentials of any investment adviser or broker before entrusting money to them.”
Additionally, the Department’s Bureau of Financial Institutions offers a number of brochures and resources to assist individuals, families and businesses with saving, banking and managing money. Online materials are available under “Consumer Library” at www.maine.gov/pfr/financialinstitutions.
Nationally, hundreds of governmental, corporate and non-profit organizations are promoting the goals of the campaign. To learn more, visit www.americasaves.org or www.militarysaves.org.
