Transitioning Veterans’ Participation in Financial Program Components, Financial Satisfaction, and Ability to Meet Immediate Financial Needs

Abstract

Financial programs may help veterans who have problematic financial status (PFS). As they support veterans, they improve their ability to meet their immediate financial needs (IFN) and financial satisfaction (FS) after their military-to-civilian transition. This study examined the use of financial programs and distilled them into their content components and the processes by which content components are delivered. This study examined the degree to which the use of specific content and process components resulted in changes in IFN and FS over the first 30–33 months after the transition. Financial content components, including investment, budgeting, homeownership, accessing benefits, and credit-score information, were associated with either improved IFN or FS. Interactive tools were often a significant process component associated with the above content components. These findings can assist program developers and practitioners in promoting the use of content and process components that may aid veterans who are experiencing PFS.