This is an amazing story! I promise I didn’t pay them anything for the very kind endorsements. I’m just honored to get to be a part of their amazing story. Here’s an enlisted success story of “Frugality, Flooring, and Freedom”: Newly Married Full of Love and Spending Starting out as a newly married couple on […]
Frugality, Flooring, and Freedom: Enlisted Success Story #4 Read More »
One of the things we’ve been preparing for is the loss of income when I retire from the Army. I wish I’d started this much sooner, but I feel really good about our progress and where we’re at currently. I’d like to walk you through the financial “off-ramp” we’ve created and how we’re thinking about
Building My Military Retirement Off-Ramp Read More »
I honestly never thought I’d make it to retirement from the Army. But I recently got my retirement orders and I’m so ready for it! I figured I’d share a broad overview about how I’ve been thinking about and preparing for my own retirement over the last several years. Keep in mind, this is my
Preparing for Retirement the Long Way Read More »
As I near retirement, it doesn’t feel real. Increasingly, I realize I don’t even recognize or know who I really am anymore. A weird phenomenon happens when you attach every part of your being and shape your whole life around your military service. There’s a particularly cruel type of sacrifice that happens that people don’t
The Real Sacrifice of Getting to 20 that Nobody Talks About Read More »
What if we didn’t judge every purchase by price per unit, investments by total return, or cars by miles per gallon? Many people can get trapped in over-optimizing. It’s even worse when you’re optimizing for the wrong thing. The Over-Optimizer I’ve been as guilty of this as anyone. When I buy a new car, I
What’s Your “Return on Satisfaction”? Read More »
Hear how one Sailor went from being deep in debt, struggling with money management, to a firm foundation within the span of about one enlistment. You’ll want to read the one to the end to hear their amazing story. Late to Enlist I joined the military late. I went to school, graduated, had a good
Becoming a Submarine Super Saver: Enlisted Money Success Story #3 Read More »
If you’re in the Army, you need to know what’s happening with Continuation Pay in calendar year 2025! Even if you’re not in the Blended Retirement System (BRS), I’d almost guarantee you know someone who will be affected by the upcoming changes. Be a good leader or battle buddy and share this with anyone who
Important Army Continuation Pay Changes You Need to Know for CY25 Read More »
In this Enlisted Money Confession, we get to explore some of the deeper meanings and money scripts behind our financial habits. I feel like this will resonate with many other enlisted military members. It’s a conversation that comes up quite a bit when we start talking about money – the lack of money when we
No Nuggets and No Spending Limits: Enlisted Money Confession #3 Read More »
Creating a budget for the first time can be so intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be! Whether you know a little or a lot about personal finance, having a budget is vital. No matter what, you need to make a plan that works for you and others with whom you share your financial life.
How to Create a Budget that Works for You Read More »
With market returns, your money will double every ten years on average. This means that at retirement, an investor who started 10 years ago will have twice the money of someone of the same age who starts today. How is this possible? Compound interest. The S&P 500 has an annual inflation-adjusted return of about 7%.
Understanding Compound Interest: The Key to Building Wealth Read More »
