THE JOURNAL · WEEKLY DISPATCH
Field notes on military money.
Real plays from twenty-five years in the game, three master's degrees, and more hard knocks than I can count. New posts delivered weekly.
51
posts · updated weekly
Archive · 48
The Archive
SHOWING ALL 48- № 052Oct 05, 2026BasicsThe Alternatives: Term Life, Investing, and What We Actually Decided11 min→
- № 051Oct 05, 2026BasicsDo the Math: What SBP Is Actually Worth to Your Household11 min→
- № 050Oct 05, 2026BasicsWhat the Survivor Benefit Plan Actually Is9 min→
- № 049Oct 06, 2026BasicsIf the Gap Is Real: Sizing, K-12, Multiple Children, and Rescue12 min→
- № 047Sep 22, 2026BasicsBefore You Open One: Stack the Benefits You Already Earned12 min→
- № 046Sep 15, 2026BasicsThe State Layer: Who Actually Gets a Benefit10 min→
- № 045Sep 08, 2026BasicsGetting Out: The Exits, the Traps, and a Head-to-Head You Won't Like11 min→
- № 044Sep 01, 2026BasicsThe 529 Is Not a Savings Plan. It's a Tax Bet.11 min→
- № 043Aug 18, 2026InvestingYou're the Portfolio Manager Now9 min→
- № 042Aug 11, 2026InvestingKnow Just Enough to Be Dangerous8 min→
- № 041Aug 4, 2026InvestingCash Is a Position: Liquidity for Military Financial Independence11 min→
- № 040Jul 28, 2026InvestingThree Accounts, One Bet: Why More Accounts Isn't More Diversified10 min→
- № 038Jul 14, 2026MindsetYour TSP is Not Your Portfolio6 min→
- № 037Feb 26, 2025MindsetBudgets Are Built to Fail -- But You Can Fix That11 min→
- № 036Feb 19, 2025MindsetTake Control of Your Retirement: How to Roll Over Your TSP into a Self-Directed IRA or Solo 401(k)9 min→
- № 035Feb 12, 2025Real EstateThe Military's Unfair Advantage Making Money in Real Estate13 min→
- № 034Feb 09, 2025MindsetThe Sky is Falling: How to Protect Your Stock Investments13 min→
- № 033Dec 18, 2024MindsetYear-End Financial Checklist: Must-do Tasks for Every December9 min→
- № 032Dec 11, 2024Real EstateFrom Contract to Close: Checklists for Building Your Team and Buying Your Home12 min→
- № 031Dec 08, 2024Real EstateThe Home Buying Mission – A Phased Approach to Your First Home16 min→
- № 030Nov 24, 2024Real EstateSetting the Record Straight: 5 Myths about Real Estate and Home Buying13 min→
- № 029Nov 20, 2024NewsSocial Security’s Day of Reckoning: Why You Must Prepare to Fully Fund Your Retirement10 min→
- № 028Nov 13, 2024VA LoanWhy Aren’t Mortgage Rates Falling?! Here’s What You Need to Know8 min→
- № 027Nov 06, 2024MindsetThe American Dream Costs How Much?!?!9 min→
- № 026Oct 30, 2024MindsetInvesting, Risk, and the Money Trap of Status and Military Finances12 min→
- № 024Oct 17, 2024Basics75 Days Until 2025: There's Still Time to Achieve Your 2024 Money Goals!10 min→
- № 023Oct 09, 2024BasicsGirl Math Versus Budgeting: How to Shop Smart & Save Big with iCASH7 min→
- № 022Oct 02, 2024BasicsBRS Breakdown, Part 4: Solving the Lump Sum Option Riddle11 min→
- № 021Sep 25, 2024BasicsBRS Breakdown, Part 3: What About the Rest of Us? A Guide for Non-retirees and Reservists10 min→
- № 020Sep 18, 2024BasicsBRS Breakdown, Part 2: Mega Backdoor Roth Conversion for the Military10 min→
- № 019Sep 12, 2024BasicsBRS Breakdown, Part 112 min→
- № 018Sep 06, 2024BasicsThe Blended Retirement System (BRS) and You11 min→
- № 016Aug 27, 2024NewsEverybody Panic for Recession -- No, Wait: Keep Calm and Invest On11 min→
- № 015Aug 27, 2024NewsInvesting and Interest Rates: What You Might Expect When the Fed "Pivots"12 min→
- № 014Aug 21, 2024BasicsStronger Together: How to Make Personal Finance a Pillar of Strength in Your Relationships14 min→
- № 013Aug 16, 2024BasicsZero to Hero: Mastering Financial and Retirement Planning Basics11 min→
- № 012Aug 07, 2024BasicsAutomating and Managing Investments for Stress-Free Wealth12 min→
- № 011Aug 01, 2024BasicsTop 3 Moves for Your Career Starter Loan, Enlistment/Reenlistment Bonus, or Continuation Pay11 min→
- № 010Jul 29, 2024BasicsHow to Build Your Investment Portfolio12 min→
- № 009Jul 17, 2024BasicsDebt 101: What It Is, and Why You Must Care13 min→
- № 008Jul 15, 2024NewsFinancial Disinformation: Set Up Your BS Detector for Success8 min→
- № 007Jul 10, 2024BasicsGet Real: How to Build a Budget that Works13 min→
- № 006Jul 03, 2024BasicsHow to Build Wealth in the Military -- Without Sacrificing Your Lifestyle13 min→
- № 005Jun 26, 2024BasicsThe Military Savings Order of Operations9 min→
- № 004Jun 20, 2024NewsWealth Under 40: How Are You Doing?7 min→
- № 003Jun 13, 2024NewsUnderstanding the Federal Reserve’s June Meeting and Its Impact on You10 min→
- № 002Jun 08, 2024BasicsEmergency Funds: Why They Matter More Than You Think6 min→
- № 001Jun 07, 2024BasicsFrom Barracks to Bank: Starting Your Financial Journey in the Military11 min→
End of archive · 48 posts