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Event Series: EmpowerEd

Build Your Financial Future

Build Your Financial Future

Virtual

November 18 @ 12:00 pm 1:00 pm CST

Strengthen Your Financial Skills And Secure Your Future

Money impacts every aspect of our lives, yet discussing it can often feel overwhelming—especially when it comes to planning for the future. This virtual event is tailored for the military-affiliated community, focusing on empowering you with the tools to manage your finances confidently. Dive into key topics such as feeling empowered to manage your financial life, fostering open financial communication with your spouse, and understanding veteran benefits. 

About the Speaker

Katie Casey-Macias, CFP, MQFP, is a Certified Professional Planner dedicated to empowering the military community with financial readiness education. Before joining The USAA Educational Foundation, Katie worked as an associate financial advisor and paraplanner professional in the financial services industry. As a military spouse, Katie continues to support her husband’s military career through multiple permanent change of station (PCS) moves, several deployments, and temporary duty assignments (TDY). She holds a BA in Political Science from the University of Notre Dame, a Master of Social Work from Catholic University, and a Certificate in Financial Planning from Georgetown University.  

The USAA Educational Foundation is committed to empowering the military community with the knowledge and tools needed to make informed financial decisions. Through free educational resources, they aim to improve financial readiness and help individuals achieve their financial goals.  

What You'll Gain

  • Effective communication strategies for discussing financial matters with your spouse to foster collaboration in financial decision-making. 
  • Practical skills to confidently manage your financial life and make informed decisions about setting goals, budgeting, and saving for the future. 
  • Insights on veteran benefits and estate planning to maximize resources for long-term financial security.  

This Event is Open To

This event is open to all members of the military and veteran-connected community. Eligibility varies by session. View our event calendar for details on other offerings.

About EmpowerEd

EmpowerEd offers expert-led, topic-driven seminars designed to equip military and veteran families and community members with valuable information, practical tools, and trusted resources.

Most sessions are followed by an optional peer support event, Let’s Talk About It—a space to reflect, connect, and share takeaways in a supportive community. While attending the seminar is encouraged, it’s not required to join the discussion. Please note that registration for Let’s Talk About It is separate from the EmpowerEd seminar.

Dr. Elisa Borah speaking at Military Social Work & Behavioral Health Conference hosted by the Institute for Military and Veteran Family Wellness conference at UT Austin

Take the First Step Toward Improving Your Wellness–Sign up Today!

Looking for one-on-one support? Peer 2 Peer Connect pairs you with a trained VSN Peer Leader for individualized support. For more resources and updates, follow @veteranspousenetwork and subscribe to the VSN Newsletter. Questions or concerns? We’re here to help at vsn@austin.utexas.edu

Frequently Asked Questions

EmpowerEd offers seminar-style sessions led by rotating guest experts. Unlike our peer-based programs, these are more informational than discussion-based and open to the broader community, delivering expert insights, practical tools, and evidence-based wellness strategies.

Let’s Talk About It is an optional peer support event hosted after many of our EmpowerEd seminars, offering space to reflect, connect, and share. While EmpowerEd is expert-led, this event centers on open conversation. Seminar attendance is encouraged but not required; register separately.

For the best experience, we recommend joining from a quiet, distraction-free space and arriving on time, as participants who join more than 15 minutes late may not be admitted. Be sure to have your Zoom link ready from your confirmation email.

You must register at least 72 hours before an event. Most programs are ongoing series with multiple dates. Please check our calendar for upcoming sessions.

No, all events are completely free to attend. We are a grant-based program and believe in removing barriers to connection and support and are proud to offer these sessions at no cost to our community.

No—VSN is based at the University of Texas at Austin’s Institute for Military & Veteran Family Wellness, but we are a nationwide network open to any military-connected individuals in the US and beyond.

Modalities

Virtual

Session Types

Seminar

Eligibility

Spouse/Partner of a Service Member, Spouse/Partner of a Veteran, Family Member/Caregiver of a Service Member/Veteran, Divorcee of a Service Member/Veteran, Widow/Widower of a Service Member/Veteran, Service Member/Veteran and Provider/Supporter