Recent Posts

Avoiding Tax Season Panic: Practical Tips for Tax Planning and Less Stress!
Tax season has been over for a few months and the panic is over. Now’s the perfect time to gain a better handle

The Net Worth Payment
For personal finance DIY’ers, trusting the long term effects of financial decisions can be difficult. Even when everything makes sense on paper, it isn’t always

One TAP Class Is Not Enough
The Transition Assistance Program covers a tremendous amount of information. Employment. VA benefits. Healthcare. Education. Life insurance. Taxes. Retirement pay. Disability claims. Resumes. Networking. Relocation.
Military Topics

Avoiding Tax Season Panic: Practical Tips for Tax Planning and Less Stress!
Tax season has been over for a few months and the panic is over. Now’s the perfect time to gain a better handle

One TAP Class Is Not Enough
The Transition Assistance Program covers a tremendous amount of information. Employment. VA benefits. Healthcare. Education. Life insurance. Taxes. Retirement pay. Disability claims. Resumes. Networking. Relocation.

Are You Down with SBP? (Survivor Benefit Plan)
This blog present a framework for understanding SBP and its role in long-term financial planning When military members retire, one of the biggest decisions they

Financial Freedom! A 4 Step Guide for Women Servicemembers to Build Financial Resilience
Every day, women servicemembers balance mission demands, family responsibilities, and personal goals. But building financial resilience for women servicemembers is what ultimately creates the freedom

Rolling out of the military: Do I have to roll out of the TSP?
Rolling out of the military: Do I have to roll out of the TSP? Getting out of the military, whether at the end of your

Qualifying Life Events: How a PCS Affect Your FSA Benefits
For military personnel, managing Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) during transitions like a PCS can be complex, especially when it comes to adjusting healthcare and dependent
Financial Planning

Helping Your Parents Transition To Long-Term Care
In the fall of 2022, my mother had a mini-stroke. It was a wake-up call for my siblings and me when we realized she couldn’t

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

5 Estate Plan Documents Everyone Needs
Five Estate Plan Documents Everyone Needs As a financial advisor, I often talk with clients about their need for an estate plan. Far too often,

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

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

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
Taxes
Deducting Reserve Expenses
Understanding when you can deduct Reserve expenses While for many of our National Guard and Reserve servicemembers, traveling to monthly Battle Assemblies right now is
College & Education Planning

When the Clock Strikes 21: Navigating TRICARE Coverage Changes for Military Dependents
For military families, TRICARE is one of the most valued benefits of service. But when a dependent child turns 21, the coverage landscape shifts dramatically,

Saving For Your Kids – Do They Need A Trump Account?
Did someone say free money? Yes! And if your child qualifies, opening a Trump account is a no-brainer. What if they don’t qualify for the

Scrubs and Student Loans: Financial Planning for Military Medical Professionals
Scrubs and Student Loans: Financial Planning for Military Medical Professionals You’ve put in the hours, the degrees, the residencies, and the deployments. You’ve juggled patients

GI Bill for Guard and Reserve
Navigating the many GI Bill For Guard and Reserve options I have been a member of the Air National Guard for almost 25 years at

Student Loan Update- Where are we now?
For many student loan borrowers, the CARES Act, which paused student loan repayment and drove interest rates to 0.0%, was an extraordinary gift. Since that

SECURE Act 2.0: Expanded College Savings & Roth IRA Opportunities for Military Families
SECURE Act 2.0: Expanded College Savings & Roth IRA Opportunities for Military Families Leading into the New Year, Congress passed a $1.7 Billion spending package
Investing

Saving For Your Kids – Do They Need A Trump Account?
Did someone say free money? Yes! And if your child qualifies, opening a Trump account is a no-brainer. What if they don’t qualify for the

Cost Segregation Studies: A Smart Tax Move… Sometimes
Cost Segregation Studies: A Smart Tax Move… Sometimes If you are a landlord with rental properties, you’ve probably read an article or listened to a

Rolling out of the military: Do I have to roll out of the TSP?
Rolling out of the military: Do I have to roll out of the TSP? Getting out of the military, whether at the end of your

The Veteran’s Guide to TSP Rollovers
The Veteran’s Guide to TSP Rollovers Separating and retiring military servicemembers (& federal employees) are often faced with a number of financial decisions. One of

Back to Basics: Account Types
Back to Basics: Account Types Some years ago, when some of our fellow steely-eyed killers started swapping paint at 600 knots a bit too frequently,

The Balance Sheet Deception: Understanding the Liabilities of Assets
Veterans aren’t strangers to the concept of assets and liabilities. One of the first things anyone does when thinking about personal finance is to map
