Money Management & Personal Finance

The Best Books I’ve Read This Year (So Far)

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: May 16, 2019 5 Comments

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I’ve read several outstanding educational books this year about financial independence, and if I saved this post for December then it’d be four times as long. I’ll write this one now and follow up with another post later this year. As many of you know, I read a lot. No, seriously, A. Lot. I go through over a hundred books a year (print and … [Read more...] about The Best Books I’ve Read This Year (So Far)

3 Easy Steps To Financial Freedom From A Dual Military Family Of Five

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: March 31, 2019 Leave a Comment

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[This post is brought to you by Annabel Monroe. If you're interested in contributing at The-Military-Guide.com, please see our posting guidelines.] Alright, alright - I said easy steps and it’s true. The steps are simple enough, but it takes discipline and determination to get there. We are a dual active duty Air Force couple, real estate … [Read more...] about 3 Easy Steps To Financial Freedom From A Dual Military Family Of Five

“How the FINRA Foundation Military Spouse AFC® Fellowship (and Fate) Found Me”

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: March 14, 2019 Leave a Comment

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[This post is brought to you by Alecia D. Blair, M.S., AFC®. If you're interested in contributing at The-Military-Guide.com, please see our posting guidelines.] About six months after having my second child I found myself eager to return to work. It was summer in beautiful Upstate New York. Fort Drum, … [Read more...] about “How the FINRA Foundation Military Spouse AFC® Fellowship (and Fate) Found Me”

Our Retirement – The Spending Smile Of Financial Independence

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: July 22, 2019 5 Comments

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Disclosure: This article is part of the Life Uninterrupted campaign sponsored by USAA. The #LifeUninterrupted campaign is designed to help future retirees learn how they can transition into retirement without worrying about financial interruptions. You can receive a free, no-obligation retirement review today by calling USAA. Note: We are … [Read more...] about Our Retirement – The Spending Smile Of Financial Independence

Good News! How Our Nords Family Financial Independence Life Will Change In 2019

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: January 27, 2019 8 Comments

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2018 was quite the turbulent year for the financial independence crowd, and it’s just going to get busier in 2019. Let me cover a few highlights from last year and then give a personal update. I’m here to reassure you that financial independence is sustainable and life is good. At the end of the post, I’ll share a few more personal details from … [Read more...] about Good News! How Our Nords Family Financial Independence Life Will Change In 2019

USAA And The Final Month To Opt In To The Military Blended Retirement System

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: December 7, 2018 2 Comments

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Here’s the latest information and tools to make your military Blended Retirement System decision-- and a new way to think about your career and your choices. [Note: I'm participating in Kate Horrell’s #BRSBlitz initiative. I’m not compensated by USAA for this campaign and you won’t see any FTC disclosures like “#USAAPartner”, "#ad”, or … [Read more...] about USAA And The Final Month To Opt In To The Military Blended Retirement System

Dept Of Defense Update On The Military Blended Retirement System

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: December 3, 2018 4 Comments

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On Wednesday 28 November, the DoD BRS office held a teleconference. The numbers As of Monday 26 November, the unofficial opt-in numbers are: 307,213 307,207 active-duty total opted in [Updated Monday 3 December] 243,709 active duty 63,498 Reserve/Guard. This is out of roughly 1.6 million opt-in eligible … [Read more...] about Dept Of Defense Update On The Military Blended Retirement System

Your Military Blended Retirement System: It’s Not About The Money.

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: June 11, 2019 21 Comments

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[Full disclosure: On this post, I’m not about the money either. I’m not paid to write this, it's not sponsored by anyone, and I’m not earning revenue from the links.] Our group of military personal-finance bloggers is sending out a #BRSBlitz about the opt-in decision. You may have seen some of these links on my social media before, and … [Read more...] about Your Military Blended Retirement System: It’s Not About The Money.

USAA’s Digital MilEx: Hurricane Readiness and Augmented Reality Vehicle Shopping

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: October 17, 2018 Leave a Comment

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[We’re trying something new with this post. Please scroll down to the bottom for my short podcast interview with two USAA managers about these topics!] Oooh, I almost forgot my traditional FTC disclosure: The Federal Trade Commission fears that I've lost my objectivity and become a USAA fanboi. My family and I have been USAA … [Read more...] about USAA’s Digital MilEx: Hurricane Readiness and Augmented Reality Vehicle Shopping

Separating Or Retiring While Overseas (But Not With The Navy!)

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: October 10, 2018 2 Comments

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A reader writes: I’ve been commissioned from the Navy’s enlisted ranks and have not yet reached eight years of commissioned service. I’m eligible for retirement and I’ve enjoyed active duty-- until now. I’d like to retire as an officer but I’m not sure if I’ll be able to get to 10 years. I’m considering retiring a few years ahead of my plans … [Read more...] about Separating Or Retiring While Overseas (But Not With The Navy!)