Military Money® Magazine Shows Families How to Find Their Dream Car at the Right Price

Fall 2008 Issue Shares What Servicemembers Need to Know about Financing and Buying a New Car

(ORLANDO, Fla.) August 20, 2008 – Many of us don’t like the wheeling and dealing of purchasing a car, but finding your dream car at the right price doesn’t have to turn into a nightmare. Military Money® magazine’s annual car-buying issue shows military families what they can do to make the process of buying a new car less painful and more productive.

With the strategies detailed in the Fall 2008 issue of Military Money, servicemembers can learn tips for finding the best loan, getting the best price and negotiating the lowest insurance rates for that new vehicle. From handling slick dealers and shiny showrooms to finding an insurance company that specializes in the needs of servicemembers, military families can confidently take the wheel, thanks to the latest issue of Military Money:

• “Love My Car!,” the cover feature, explores ways to save money and your sanity at the dealership. Author J.J. Montanaro, a Certified Financial Planner™ practitioner with USAA Financial Planning Services, colorfully describes his personal car-buying experiences and offers a range of practical advice ranging from the familiar (“Don’t let dealers hide behind mysterious window stickers”) to the fascinating. (“If you’re in the military and receive a permanent change of station or deployment orders, you are entitled to special lease termination rights under the federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act.”)
• “Get Smart about Auto Insurance” shows military families how to shop around to find an insurer who specializes in their unique needs. Citing a recent survey of military personnel that found many misperceptions and misunderstandings about insurance, National Association of Insurance Commissioners president Sandy Praeger offers servicemembers timely tips on buying auto insurance.
• “Drive $marter” introduces readers to the Alliance to Save Energy’s series of 10 simple fuel-saving suggestions – “inflate your tires,” “combine errands,” “ditch the junk in the trunk” and more – plus calculations that show potential savings from implementing each of the steps.

Military Money is a personal finance and lifestyle magazine geared towards families of military service members.  Published by InCharge^® Education Foundation, Inc., it is distributed four times per year, free of charge, through many U.S.-based military bases, commissaries and family centers, as well as inside the European-based Stars & Stripes newspaper.   The magazine addresses such personal finance issues as money management, home and family life for military families, career advice, deployment and relocation and transitioning to the civilian world.

Three major pieces of legislation affecting military families became law in recent months, and the Fall 2008 issue of Military Money discusses each:

• The “new GI Bill,” the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008, adds a top-flight education benefit that will even transfer benefits to spouses and children;
• A provision in the new National Defense Authorization Act allows military members to keep more annual leave, earn or hold special leave categories and even sell back accrued leave;
• The HEART Act – the Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act of 2008 – offers survivors an easy way to fund retirement or education savings accounts.

The publication of Military Money is made possible through the generous financial support of a number of prominent public- and private-sector organizations including the FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) Investor Education Foundation, which leads a multi-faceted education campaign for U.S. military members and their families. The FINRA Foundation supports innovative research and educational projects that give underserved Americans the knowledge, skills and tools necessary for financial success throughout life. Key projects include www.SaveAndInvest.org, an online resource aimed at helping military members and their families manage their money with confidence.

First launched in 2003, Military Money magazine is part of the Department of Defense's "Financial Readiness Campaign," and distributed with the support of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. The Military Money web site, www.MilitaryMoney.com, complements the magazine with additional content, calculators, surveys and other interactive tools.

For more information on corporate, government and nonprofit sponsorships, please contact Ed Koziol, Manager of Publication Partnerships for InCharge Education Foundation, at 407-532-5616.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________ Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, InCharge^® Institute of America, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with affiliates specializing in personal finance education and credit counseling.  InCharge^® Education Foundation, Inc., publishes Military Money^®magazine and offers financial literacy education to clients and the general public.  InCharge^® Debt Solutions provides professional credit counseling and financial education services to consumers and is a member of the Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies (AICCCA).  Consumers can access InCharge Debt Solutions credit counseling services for free by calling 1-888-360-9694 or online at www.incharge.org.