At Camp Zama, Soldiers seeking to enhance their financial well-being have access to expert guidance, thanks to Han Xue, a certified financial planner who is passionate about helping military personnel gain financial literacy and security.
Xue’s journey into finance began during his service in the Army, where he worked in the public health field. Concerned about his financial future, he decided to explore the subject further. Using the Army’s tuition assistance program, Xue pursued a bachelor’s degree in finance, followed by a master’s degree after completing his military career.
“I didn’t have peace of mind regarding my finances, and I wanted to learn more about managing money,” Xue shared. “I fell in love with it and began helping others.”
As a Soldier, Xue’s growing expertise in finance didn’t go unnoticed. His battle buddies and leaders soon sought his advice, making him the unit’s unofficial finance expert. Today, Xue helps guide the financial futures of Soldiers and their families at Camp Zama, empowering them with the knowledge and tools they need to improve their financial situations.
“I’ve been where they are, and I want to empower them,” Xue said. “Understanding money, how to save, and how to avoid living paycheck to paycheck is crucial for their success.”
In addition to his one-on-one counseling sessions, Xue leads monthly financial education classes for the Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS) program. The classes cover topics such as budgeting, investing, the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), cryptocurrency, tax planning, credit management, and more.
With years of experience as a financial advisor in wealth management, Xue recognizes that personal finance is often not taught in schools. Many Soldiers must either pursue financial education through college or seek online resources.
“I feel it’s a big missing piece in a puzzle,” he said. “You can’t be mission-ready without your finances being ready. That’s why I’m doing this.”
On Tuesday, Xue led a one-hour class at the Community Recreation Center, focusing on the TSP. During the session, Sgt. Minh Le of the 88th Military Police Detachment attended to gain a better understanding of his retirement options.
“I’ve been contributing to the TSP, but I wasn’t sure what else I could do with it,” Le said.
Xue explained the various TSP investment options, including the C fund, which tracks the S&P 500, and the G fund, which invests in U.S. Treasury securities. He also highlighted lifecycle funds tailored to individual retirement timelines. Using projections, Xue demonstrated that a Soldier who contributes a small percentage of their pay to the TSP over 30 years could accumulate over $1.5 million by age 60.
“I didn’t realize how much it could grow,” Le said. “It’s something to look forward to when I retire.”
As tax season approaches, Xue plans to offer additional classes in March and April to teach Soldiers how to file their tax returns.
“Financial readiness is just as important as physical readiness,” Xue noted. “It’s a skill set. If you don’t learn it, you won’t know how to save money or where that money is going in the future.”
Xue emphasized the importance of setting financial goals, which allows Soldiers to see their savings grow through investments like the stock market or high-yield savings accounts. This preparation, he said, ensures that Soldiers are financially stable whether they remain in the Army or transition to civilian life.
“Having that skill set is essential for a comfortable life and peace of mind,” Xue added.
For more information about the financial education classes, Soldiers can contact Xue at DSN 263-5316, 046-407-5316, or 080-4456-8899 to schedule one-on-one counseling sessions or unit-level training.
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