The Military Wallet Podcast with Ryan Guina

My wife and I recently took our daughters on a Disney vacation. What does this have to do with military benefits? Well, we saved a ton of money on our tickets with the Disney Armed Forces Salute discounted Park Hopper passes, and we also stayed at the Shades of Green Resort at Walt Disney World, one of four Armed Forces Recreation Centers around the world. Shades of Green is actually a military resort, run by the Army. IN today's podcast, we cover how to take advantage of these discounts, what it's like to stay at Shades of Green, and how to maximize your Disney vacation. You can also read more on our website - http://themilitarywallet.com/shades-of-green/

Life Insurance is one of the most important parts of your financial toolbox. It provides money to your family members when they need it the most. In today's podcast, we discuss life insurance as it pertains to military members, veterans, and their families. We discuss why you and your family members need life insurance, the types of life insurance, where to buy it, how to find the best, deal, what to look out for to make sure you're covered, and much more. This is one episode you don't want to miss - it could have a huge impact on your or your family.

Did you know it may be possible to upgrade your military discharge characterization? Today, our expert, a retired US Air Force Judge Advocate, walks us through the military Discharge Review Board Process and how to apply to have your discharge upgraded. Special attention is given to recent DoD guidance directing leniency for discharge upgrades for veterans who have symptoms from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI). Learn who is eligible for a discharge upgrade, how to apply, tip for improving your odds of having your upgrade request approved, and more. Find our show notes for a Military Discharge Upgrade Podcast.

Military members are frequently on the move. That's part of the gig, and part of the fun! In this podcast, we discuss how you can automate your finances so you don't have to worry about your money during a PCS, TDY, or deployment. Tips include automating your income, investments, expenses, paying bills, and tracking everything with free software. We also cover how to avoid mistakes with automation and how to protect yourself while you are away from home. These tips will help you save time, money, and energy. The sooner you get started, the sooner you can enjoy the benefits of automating your finances!

TRICARE is the military medical program, and is available to active duty, retirees, Guard / Reserve, and their family members. In today's podcast, we're doing a roundtable interview to discuss TRICARE - the good, the bad, and the ugly. In this episode we primarily focus on TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Reserve Select. We cover a lot of ground, including some areas where TRICARE shines, some of the issues we've experienced, and some of the areas where we would like to see improvements. Overall, TRICARE is substantially more affordable and offers greater coverage than many other health care programs that can be purchased in the civilian market place. TRICARE is a great benefit, but it does have some downfalls. Join us, as we explore this topic.

The Thrift Savings Plan is the government version of a 401k. It is used by military members, civil service workers, and other employees of government agencies. In today's podcast, we discuss Thrift Savings Plan contributions. Topics covered include the Traditional TSP, Roth TSP, annual contribution limits, catch-up contributions, making TSP contributions while deployed (including tax-exempt contributions), TSP contributions when you have more than one retirement account, contributing to both the military and the civil service TSP (yes, you can have both!), and other topics. Wow! That's a lot of ground to cover! Anyone who says the TSP is boring is flat out wrong! Stick around for this, the 27th episode of The Military Wallet Podcast!

Most military members know how active duty retirement works. But do you know how retirement works through the National Guard and Reserves? The Reserve retirement system is based on earning Retirement Points for your service. In this  Guard & Reserve Retirement Point Guide, we discuss what Points are, how to earn them, the minimum and maximum Points you can earn in a year, how to translate your active duty service time to Points for the Guard or Reserves, how many points the different types of service are worth, how to earn more Retirement Points, and finally, how to put this all together to estimate your Point total to calculate your Reserve retirement pay. Whew ~ that sounds like a lot! And it is! But I've broken it down in a way that makes it easy to understand. After this podcast, you'll be able to talk about Retirement Points like a seasoned NCO!

Did you know that many military veterans don't want to file a service-connected disability claim with the VA when they separate from active duty? There are many reasons for this, but some of them aren't based on facts. Today we're going to cover 12 VA Disability Claim Myths and the facts you need to know when filing a VA service-connected disability claim. Some of these myths surround who is eligible to apply for veterans disability benefits, how a disability rating may impact your future career, whether or not you can serve in the Guard or Reserves if you have a service-connected disability rating, how disability compensation affects military retirement pay, the amount of time you can wait before filing a disability claim (hint: there is no time limit!), where to find help when filing a claim, and much more!

The Survivor Benefit Plan provides a continued source of income for survivors of military retirees. If a military retiree elects to buy into the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), his spouse or other eligible survivor will be eligible to receive 55% of the retiree's retirement pay after the retiree passes away. This can provide ongoing income and stability for survivors, but it does come at a cost, as retirees must buy into the plan. In this podcast, we dive into the Survivor Benefit Plan details and discuss when it makes sense to buy into the SBP, and when veterans may be better off choosing to self-insure through an insurance policy or completely forgo either form of insurance. We cover a lot in today's podcast, so be sure to take notes or visit the show notes at http://themilitarywallet.com/survivor-benefits-plan/ You and your spouse will be glad you did!

My family and I just returned from an amazing family vacation on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, where we stayed at the Hale Koa, an Armed Forces Recreation Center located in the Waikiki Beach area of Honolulu. The Hale Koa is one of four Armed Forces Recreation Centers around the world run by the Army. AFRCs are resorts that were built for the military and are exclusively for use by military members, retirees, DoD civilians, and other authorized guests.   The Hale Koa offers very affordable room rates, a variety of resort features, and the location can't be beat! My family and I had the opportunity to see a variety of sights around Oahu. It was a family adventure that won't be topped any time soon. If you are in the military, are a military retiree, or are otherwise eligible, then I recommend looking into the Hale Koa as a vacation opportunity if time and money allow. In the mean time, check out this detailed review of the Hale Koa, including features, amenities, pricing, and tips to make your trip the best it can be.

How Long Should You Keep Military Records? Forever. Your military records are important for a variety of reasons. In this episode, we discuss why you need to keep excellent copies of your military records to ensure you have access to your military and veterans benefits. Simply put, no system is perfect, whether it be at the organizational level or national level. It is strongly recommended that every veteran maintain copies of their own records and frequently verify the correct information is reflected in official military or veterans records keeping systems. We discuss which records you need to keep and for how long. Also discussed are strategies for physical storage and digital filing systems.

Did you know that military veterans who join the Civil Service or other Federal agencies are eligible to buy back their military time and apply it to their federal time? Doing so helps them earn leave at a faster rate, vest their TSP contributions more quickly, and even retire earlier. Want to learn more? Then stick around for our interview with Eddie Wills, as he explains how to buy back your military time with a Military Service Credit Deposit.

Did you know the Post-9/11 GI Bill can be transferred to your spouse or children? This podcast discusses how to use the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to pay for your spouse or children's education.  We tell you how to transfer your GI Bill benefits, and why you should do this as soon as possible. And don't worry - you can change your mind at any time without penalty or loss of benefits. We also discuss other ways to pay for your child's education if the Post-9/11 GI Bill isn't enough to cover all college education costs.

Have you ever thought about starting a business? If you are like many military veterans, the answer is yes! Military veterans make good entrepreneurs for a variety of reasons. But they may have a disadvantage - they often don't know where to start. Let me introduce you to Todd Conner, a military veteran and the founder of Bunker Labs, an incubator for military members and veterans. Bunker Labs is non-profit startup incubator helping veterans launch startups by providing resources, connecting them with other entrepreneurs, and other forms of assistance. There are currently 7 Bunker Labs locations throughout the US (and expanding)! Todd offers veterans advice on starting your own business and tells us how you can get help with your business idea through Bunker Labs or other resources.

Health care is a topic most military members don't have to think much about while they are serving. Their health care needs are taken care of them and their families so they can concentrate on their duties. But things change quickly once you remove your uniform for the last time. In this podcast, we cover the various health care options for military veterans and their family members, including special programs for military members who receive an involuntary separation, active duty retirees, members of the Guard or Reserves, veterans who deployed in support of a contingency operation, health care through the Department of Veterans Affairs, employer sponsored health care, health care options through the Affordable Care Act, and more.

In this podcast, I discuss the military to civilian transition, and some of the areas I struggled with during my transition. I dive right into my story, where I discuss some of the struggles I went through during the transition into the civilian sector, and how I would handle things differently if I were to make the transition again. Hopefully you can learn from some of my mistakes and avoid them! Read the show notes here - http://themilitarywallet.com/military-to-civilian-transition-tips/

Can you get out of the military early? More importantly, should you get out of the military early? This question is addressed on many levels. Topics covered include how to get out of the military early, the impact an early separation could have on your future, and why staying in the military for ht duration of your contract is almost always he right decision for your first enlistment term. The experiences, skills, benefits, and friendships you will earn along the way make the military a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most people.

Is the military still a good career option? The military is currently in the middle of the largest drawdown since the end of the Cold War. And unfortunately, some servicemembers are being laid off. One listener wants to know if now is a good time to join the military, or should he do something else for a career? In this episode, we're going to discuss the amazing opportunities and benefits available to military servicemembers. These benefits will last a lifetime, and will be valuable whether you serve 4 years in the military, or make it a full career. Stick around and learn why the military is still a good career option, even with the current changes.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill is one of the most valuable veterans benefits available, and it's also very easy to use! In this podcast, we walk you through the process of qualifying for the Post-9/11 GI Bill and what the benefit covers, including how to determine the maximum tuition rates, and your BAH or housing allowance. We also discuss how to actually use the Post-9/11 GI Bill (hint: all you need to do is qualify for the benefit, be accepted to your school, and your school should do virtually everything else!). Our guest is Anthony Tran, a USAF veteran who successfully used the Post-9/11 GI Bill to complete 3 Master's Degree programs. Talk about getting maximum value from a benefit!

The 2015 Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission Recommendations were just released at the end of January, 2015. The MCRMC is a 9-person Panel that was charged with examining military and veterans benefits with the goal of making recommendations to Congress. They came back with a 300 page report and 15 core recommendations, including overhauling the Military Retirement system, dismantling TRICARE and replacing it with a commercial health insurance program, limiting Tuition Assistance benefits to only cover Professional Development courses, and much more. But it's not all doom and gloom. Half of the 15 proposed changes are quality of life improvements. Take a listen to hear our rundown of all the proposed military benefits changes, and check out the show notes at http://themilitarywallet.com/podcast13

Are you interested in joining the military? Perhaps you want to join the Guard or Reserves or even go back on active duty after a break in service. Before you can join the military, you will need to take a physical at MEPS, the Military Entrance Processing Station. But before you can even take the physical, you need to send in a medical pre-screen form with your medical history. Today we are going to walk you through the process of filling out that form, getting a physical through MEPS, and if required, filing for a medical waiver. We walk through the entire medical waiver process from MEPS to the Surgeon General's Office and all the steps in between.

How much do you know about Guard and Reserve retirement benefits? Today we're going to dive into Guard and Reserve retirement benefits and discuss what it takes to earn a retirement (how many years served), how retirement pay is calculated (based on the points system), and when you can begin receiving your retirement pay. We also discuss other valuable benefits including retiree health care options for retired Guard and Reserve members, when you can begin receiving benefits through TRICARE, base access, and other retiree benefits.

How much do you know about active duty military retirement benefits? Today we're going to dive into active duty retirement benefits and discuss what it takes to earn an active duty retirement, how retirement pay is calculated, how much you can expect to bring home during your retirement, and why Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) are much more valuable than you think. We will also discuss other valuable benefits including retiree health care through TRICARE for the retiree and his or her dependents, base access, and other retiree benefits.

Should you join the Guard or Reserves after leaving active duty? When I was on active duty, I didn't give it much thought. My perception at the time was that the Guard and Reserves were basically the same as active duty, just on a part-time basis.  In some ways, that is true. But there is so much more to the Guard and Reserves than that. Today, I invite a special guest on our show to discuss how the Guard & Reserves are different from active duty, some of the benefits you can receive while serving in the Guard and Reserves, including health care and a pension, and how you can balance serving in the Guard and Reserves with your civilian career. If you aren't familiar with the Guard and Reserves, the content of this podcast may surprise you!

The military Tuition Assistance Program is one of the most valuable benefits available to active duty servicemembers. In this podcast, we discuss the general details of the Tuition Assistance program, including eligibility, how much the benefit is worth each year, which programs you can take, and more. We also discuss strategies to complete your degree while on active duty, with tips for testing out of college classes and how to arrange your schedule so you can more easily take classes. Using the Tuition Assistance program can help you get your degree on active duty, which gives you long-term career options allows you to transfer your Post-9/11 GI Bill to your family members. Take advatnage of this valuable benefit!

Have you thought about what you are going to do after you leave the military? Whether you're one and done, or you stay in until retirement, you will one day leave the military. And the steps you take today, can go a long way toward determining your post-military future.Today, I'm excited to bring a guest on our show, Mark Deal, a former Nuclear technician in the Navy. He shares his story of self-development and planning for the future, even when he didn't know what that future would be. In many ways, my story is similar to his, and I'm sure it will be similar for many of you. The big takeaway is this: “Develop a long-term path, and take short-term actions to get you there.”Or, in military terms, "Determine your strategic goals, and take tactical measures to achieve them."Whether you are a Private in the Army, a mid-level or senior-level NCO, or a company grade or field grade officer, there is a lot of wisdom here. I hope you'll stick around!

Should you join the military? Which benefits are available to you if you join the military? Which branch of service should you join - Air Force, Army, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard? Are you even qualified to join the military? Officer or enlisted? How long should you join? Which jobs are available? We cover all of these questions, and much more in this episode of The Military Wallet Podcast.

Are you interested in joining the military? We cover most of the benefits you can expect to receive if you serve on active duty. We cover topics such as base pay, special duty pay, housing and food allowances, uniform allowances, free health care benefits, tuition assistance benefits, the GI Bill, the Thrift Savings Plan (like a government 401k plan), the VA Home Loan, on-base benefits, and much, much more. You don't want to miss this episode if you are considering joining the military!

The VA Disability compensation system is complex - so is the math used to determine combined service-connected disability ratings. We'll walk you through how the math works so you can understand how your overall VA disability rating is calculated. The combined VA disability rating is used to determine your disability compensation payments and which other benefits you may be eligible to receive.

Force Shaping and Involuntary Separations - How to Handle Being Laid Off from the Military. The military is cutting their end strength across all branches of the military, including active duty, Guard, and Reserves. Find out how you can decrease the odds of being involuntarily let go, and what you can do if you are informed that you will lose your military job, including financial implications, benefits, civilian career options, transitioning to the Guard or Reserves, and how to handle it emotionally.

Join us as we discuss the basics of the Thrift Savings Plan, why you should invest for retirement, the difference between the Thrift Savings Plan and an IRA, the difference between Traditional and Roth investments, how controlling investment management fees can literally put hundreds of thousands of dollars back in your pocket, and much more!

Is early retirement your goal? This podcast shows how military members can become financially independent and retire early on a military salary. Join us as we interview Doug Nordman, author of The Military Guide to Financial Independence & Retirement, as we discuss how you can retire for good, whether or not you stay on active duty for 20 years and to earn a military pension.    

The Military Wallet Podcast is dedicated to military members, retirees, veterans, and their families. We give you a wide range of military and veterans benefits topics, in-depth interviews, financial tips, and much more. Topics covered include military and veterans benefits for active duty, Guard, Reserves, retirees, dependents, and more. Also included: VA disability benefits, VA Loans, GI Bill, military retirement, saving money, and investing.