. My all-time favorite reader asked these questions: So USAA dropped off a bunch of ROTC-specific ad campaigns, including one on renter's insurance. It reminded me that, especially with a new college ring, it was definitely time for renter's insurance. I did the quote setup with USAA and figured out the value ...
Let's talk about contingency financial planning. I don't mean life insurance or a medical crisis-- I mean how you'll maintain your financial independence when a leg of your retirement stool is kicked out from under you. Notice that sentence is "when", not "if". I generally ignore the news on military legislation ...
A reader writes: "I've read your book and have been following your website for a couple of years. I really enjoy your advice and perspectives and want your advice on an issue I'm having: I've focused so much energy on setting up my finances for our impending military retirement lifestyle (in five years) that I ...
A Guide to Better Understanding the Claim Process As a member of the US military you are entitled to competent medical care, but if you or a family member has suffered due to the medical negligence of a military doctor then you might be able to sue for military medical malpractice. If you feel you have a case make ...
This is a guest post by Henry Buell. (If you’re interested in writing a guest post, please see our guest posting guidelines.) Finishing a deployment can be rough - even if it wasn't combat oriented. This is especially true if it's your last deployment and you're looking down the long road of retirement. The ...
The Department of Veterans Affairs has failed to provide adequate warning to Veterans that their Veterans Identification Cards (VIC) can be scanned to reveal their Social Security Numbers. Anyone with an IPhone or Android smart phone can download a QR code app and scan any VIC issued since 2004. Once scanned, the ...
Let's start this post with a word-association test. Get ready to record your immediate, instinctive, reflex reaction to the following phrase: "Fixed indexed annuity". I'm going to guess that your response was not the warm & fuzzy security-blanket comfort of having guaranteed monthly income for the rest of your ...
This guest post is brought to you by Romeo Jeremiah. (If you’re interested in writing a guest post, please see our guest posting guidelines.) Anyone who has every served in the military has been asked the dreaded and oftentimes uncomfortable question, “are you gonna stick it out?” Stick it out --Military ...
As the National Defense Authorization Act works its way through legislative and executive approval, it looks like 2014 military base pay will go up by 1%. Housing allowances may go up depending on duty location. Estimates for the military's annual survey of food prices project that the food allowance may go up by as ...
This guest post is from Randy Prothero, a Hawaii real estate agent and team leader of “The Prothero Group” at Island Style Realty, an Oahu Real Estate Team. The VA loan is a government-backed, but privately lended, home loan available to veterans or those currently serving in the military (including active-duty ...
A Helpful Guide to Better Understanding the Benefits Application Procedure The United States Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that one in five former soldiers suffer from combat-related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. A wide variety of benefits are available for those diagnosed with the condition, however ...
Last week we received notification about changes to the Army Tuition Assistance Program. Earlier today, I received notification that Special Duty Assignment Pay (SDAP) will similarly be affected: "Leaders, As the Army moves into a more resource constrained environment, we must fully evaluate each of our ...
We're military veterans, not financial advisors. We're trying to share what we've learned and to pay it forward – but you have to make your own decisions.
What worked for us will probably work for you, but unfortunately, we can’t guarantee it. Let us know if something’s not working for you, and we’ll try to figure out a better way... Continue Reading...
Doug Nordman 
The Military Guide 
Curtez