Recent Posts
6 Tax Moves To Consider In 2025
Military Veterans often face changing financial situations, from untaxed benefits and combat zone tax exclusions to special bonuses and, finally, the transition to retirement or
Tax Tips and Understanding the New 1099-K Reporting Requirements
Note: This post provides information accurate as of the date of publication and is provided for educational purposes. For personalized advice, consult with your own
DoD Healthcare FSA – What You Need To Know
DoD announced that military members will soon have access to a healthcare Flexible Spending Account (FSA). FSAs allow members to elect to have a portion
Military Topics
State-Level Veterans Benefits
State-Level Veterans Benefits The US Department of Veterans Affairs has many benefits for military veterans. But did you know each state also has their own
Why Should you Care About the Survivor Benefit Plan Open Season in 2023?
Why Should you Care About the Survivor Benefit Plan Open Season in 2023? When a retiree dies, his/her retired pay (and VA disability compensation) also
Is My Military Retired Pay Tax Free if I have a VA Disability Rating? – NO!
Is My Military Retired Pay Tax Free if I have a VA Disability Rating? – NO! Every year I have a handful of clients
10 Financial Opportunities and Challenges Dual Military Couples Experience
When both members of a couple serve in the military, they share a greater understanding of the mission and life demands that come with putting
Should you Buy Back your Military Time?
Should you Buy Back your Military Time? What is military buyback? If you served on active duty in the military and then become a federal
Military Retirement: Should You Take SBP?
Military Retirement and the Big SBP Decision This article was jointly written by Adrienne Ross, CFP ®, AFC ®, and Pam Bergeson, CRPC As you’re
Financial Planning
Top 6 Cybersecurity Steps for Military Families
It seems like everywhere we turn, our news feed is filled with stories of credit card fraud, identity theft, and data breaches. This article outlines
Special Needs Planning Considerations
Special Needs Planning Considerations: ABLE Accounts, Special Needs Trusts and the Survivor Benefit Plan Military retiree benefits provide additional planning opportunities and considerations for families
Quantifying the Benefits of Military Credit Card Rewards Hacking
Quantifying the Benefits of Military Credit Card Rewards Hacking Military members and their spouses have amazing advantages in many aspects of personal finance. One of
What Military Members Need to Know About the Future of Social Security
What Military Members Need to Know About the Future of Social Security If you’ve read the headlines, you’ve probably heard that Social Security is in
Purchasing Life Insurance While Stationed or Living Overseas
Purchasing Life Insurance While Stationed or Living Overseas: A Guide for U.S. Military Veterans As a U.S. military veteran living overseas, you’ve already navigated uncharted
Decoding Your Civilian Employee Benefits: Understanding and Utilizing Your Perks
Decoding Your Civilian Employee Benefits: Understanding and Utilizing Your Perks Active duty and retired military families are fortunate to have access to good medical and
Taxes
How to Tame Your Tax Dragon: Review Your W-4
It’s just about tax time and almost nothing drives anxiety more than worrying if you might owe a lot at tax time. Or, maybe you’re
Expanded Tax Credits for Energy Efficient Improvements in 2023
Expanded Tax Credits for Energy Efficient Improvements in 2023 Tax credits for making energy efficient improvements to the taxpayer’s home have been around for a
SECURE Act 2.0
Congress passed the Omnibus Spending Bill on December 23, 2022. Included in the monstrous 4,000+ document were numerous changes to retirement savings accounts collectively known
New Year IRA Tips
New Year IRA Tips Still want to save for retirement in 2022? You can! Wait, what? Did you say I can still save for retirement last
End-Of-Year Planning Checklist
If you’re like me, you’re probably thinking how can it be December? Where did 2022 go? Before we turn the page to 2023, there could
Is My Military Retired Pay Tax Free if I have a VA Disability Rating? – NO!
Is My Military Retired Pay Tax Free if I have a VA Disability Rating? – NO! Every year I have a handful of clients
College & Education Planning
Getting Your Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) Squared Away
Get Your Student Financial Aid Squared Away What is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid? The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA,
Investing
A Military Family’s Guide to Buying a Home
Recently, I’ve had several discussions with clients who are in the middle of a PCS (permanent change of station) or preparing for one. No tears
New Year IRA Tips
New Year IRA Tips Still want to save for retirement in 2022? You can! Wait, what? Did you say I can still save for retirement last
Which is Better—A Roth or a TSP?
Which is Better—A Roth or a TSP? If my math is correct, half of the readers of this article’s title are about ready to blow
I Learned Everything I Needed to Know about Investing in Kindergarten
Investing Lessons from Childhood I had one of those “Aha!” moments recently. You know – the ones where you figure something out after a really
Top 7 FAQs for Military Real Estate Investing
Understanding Real Estate Investing for Military There are numerous ways to engage in real estate investing. There’s flipping, commercial offices, wholesaling, investing in notes, and
Do Military Families Really Need a Financial Planner?
Do Military Families Really Need a Financial Planner? I am frequently asked some form of this question, and my short answer is, “Yes, military families