Fort Belvoir, Va. (April 10, 2014) - Soldiers in Fort Belvoir's Warrior Transition Unit learned money management tips from Hollister "Holly" Petraeus Friday during her visit to the Soldier and Family Assistance Center.

As assistant director of Servicemember Affairs for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, as well as a military spouse (to retired Gen. David Petraeus) for 37 years, Holly Petraeus knows all about the financial struggles military Families face.

Her goal is to help servicemembers avoid the scammers that target the military, and learn to be more responsible with their incomes.

"I think it's just so important," she said. "It's one of the biggest stressors that military Families will tell you that they have. So anything that I can do to help them make their finances better is something I think is well worth doing."

While the session was open to the community, Petraeus' visit was especially geared toward Soldiers in the Warrior Transition Unit who may transition into the civilian workforce soon.

"I appreciate this group in particular who have really sacrificed a great deal in the course of serving our country and it's my honor to serve them in return," she said.

During her visit, Petraeus talked about the importance of making a financial plan, and scams that target military members. She also highlighted the CFPB's ability to take complaints, and hold businesses accountable for dishonest practices.

"We are part of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and we do enforce 18 or 19 -- depending on how you count them -- federal consumer financial laws. We are there to protect consumers if someone is breaking those laws, and we have the power to enforce those laws," she said. "I also want to know what their issues are."

Sgt. Maj. Herman Whitley, a member of the WTU about to be medically retired, said he found the session "very useful."

"Most of the Soldiers who are in the WTU are probably very close to being medically discharged or medically separated. They're transitioning into civilian life, which is much different than the military, where you're guaranteed a salary and so forth," he said. "Many of these folks will be managing their own retirements. They're going to need the tools so they're able to go out and get jobs and then they're able to go out and start managing their money."

Since April is Financial Literacy Month, SFAC Financial Counselor Rita Franklin wanted to host a financial education session to kick off the month. Getting Petraeus as a guest speaker was an added bonus.

"This started out as one of my very normal classes and Mrs. Petraeus just has a heart for the Soldiers, so when it came across her desk in her office, she immediately said, 'I want to do that.' We thank her for being here; she's great," Franklin said.

Franklin plans to host classes like this one at least once a month for WTU Soldiers in the future, but said she will open them to the community as space allows.

"We want them to have the benefit of education that's going to help empower them financially, so if we've got room, we throw the doors open," she said.

For more information on SFAC events and future money management classes, email Franklin at rita.r.franklin@us.army.mil.

For more information on the CFPB, visit www.consumerfinance.gov/servicemembers.