Military Life

Alzheimer’s Care Financial Update

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: June 11, 2019 8 Comments

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[Note: My father passed away on 18 November 2017 from end-stage Alzheimer's.] It's been a busy few months for us Nordman family men, but the fallout is settling. Dad's still healthy and mobile, he just turned 82 years old, and he's still deep into mid-stage Alzheimer's. He's doing "as well as can be expected" (I've learned to despise that … [Read more...] about Alzheimer’s Care Financial Update

How To Find Portable Careers For Military Spouses

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: February 20, 2021 6 Comments

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My spouse and I joined the military in the late 1970s. We've been military spouses since 1986, and I was a member of several fine Wives Clubs in the 1980s-90s. Thankfully, the military's gender policies have improved quite a bit over the last 40 years. The male military spouse situation has also improved a bit during this millennium, thanks to the … [Read more...] about How To Find Portable Careers For Military Spouses

Fisher House Foundation – Helping Our Military Families

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: February 10, 2019 Leave a Comment

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[Nords note: I donate all of my writing revenue to military-friendly charities, including Fisher House Foundation. Please consider them for your giving plans.] So, this is my first ever blog post of any kind so take it easy on the new kid. I currently work for a web-based company that was looking for a great charity to partner with and give … [Read more...] about Fisher House Foundation – Helping Our Military Families

Top 10 Reasons Military Spouses Benefit From Facebook Groups

Author: The Military Guide Last Updated: December 16, 2018 Leave a Comment

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Facebook groups are wonderful things that most people probably don’t use to their full advantage. With a group, you can control who is in the group and even if the group can be found via search. This makes it perfect for chatting or sharing things that you don’t want everyone to see. 1. To Keep In Touch With Friends and Family Use groups to … [Read more...] about Top 10 Reasons Military Spouses Benefit From Facebook Groups

Why I Won’t Buy Long-Term Care Insurance

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: December 5, 2018 21 Comments

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Note: My Dad passed away on 18 November 2017 from end-stage Alzheimer's. This post is about my experiences with his insurance during the years 2011-2014. There are hundreds of posts on the pros and cons of long-term care insurance, but most of them approach the question from a financial perspective. Today we're going to look at other aspects of … [Read more...] about Why I Won’t Buy Long-Term Care Insurance

Hiring Our Heroes: Teaching Employers To Hire Military Veterans And Spouses

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: February 11, 2019 2 Comments

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I write about military financial independence, but I'm getting a lot of e-mail about navigating the drawdown and starting a bridge career. I'm also hearing from Reserve and National Guard servicemembers about balancing their military careers with their civilian employers. Veterans (and military spouses) know that their transition to a civilian … [Read more...] about Hiring Our Heroes: Teaching Employers To Hire Military Veterans And Spouses

The Pitfalls of Your Parents’ Finances

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: June 27, 2018 10 Comments

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Have you had the financial independence talk with your parents? (No, I don't mean the one about college costs and student loans, or the one about helping out with your down payment on your first house.) I'm talking about the one where you hope they'll talk about their health and tell you how to manage their finances. The advice is in … [Read more...] about The Pitfalls of Your Parents’ Finances

Start a Roth IRA For Your Kid

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: June 11, 2019 4 Comments

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Now that the 2013 tax planning is over, let's talk about 2014. A reader asks: I think you mentioned before that you set up an IRA for your daughter. How did you account for wages and a W-2? Did she work for you or earn income from someone else? I've set up a Roth IRA for our teen for work done around the house, but my accountant is telling me that … [Read more...] about Start a Roth IRA For Your Kid

How I Cost My Dad Over $2000 in Medicare Benefits

[Update: my father passed away due to Alzheimer's in November 2017.] It's been a few months since I posted about Dad. He's still happy and healthy in the care facility, and he's a little deeper into mid-stage Alzheimer's. (In his mind, he's consulting on-site about their electrical engineering needs-- just as he did in his career for nearly 30 … [Read more...] about How I Cost My Dad Over $2000 in Medicare Benefits

Protecting Your Military Benefits In A Divorce

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: February 16, 2019 16 Comments

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[Note: some of the details have been edited to hide the reader's identity.] A reader writes: "In my divorce decree I was awarded part of my husband's Reserve "disposable military retirement pay". My portion is 50% of the time for which we were married, and only for the Reserve points that he earned during our marriage. But the problem is not … [Read more...] about Protecting Your Military Benefits In A Divorce