KateHorrell

Helping Military Families Make The Most of Their Money

Commissioning? Understand Your Blended Retirement System Options


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May and June are the biggest commissioning time of year. Not only do all the service academies graduate then, but thousands of ROTC students also graduate and enter their active military service. This years’ group of newly commissioned officers face a unique question: should they opt into the military’s new Blended Retirement System (BRS), or… | Read More…

What Is A Transition Fund, And Why Do You Want One?


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If you’ve hung out around The Paycheck Chronicles long enough, you may have heard me talk about having a transition fund. I think I may have made up that term…maybe not. But I sure am fond of it. So what exactly is a transition fund, and why would you want one? What Is A Transition… | Read More…

How To (Maybe) Fix A Blended Retirement System Opt-In Mistake


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You may remember that last January, there was a flurry of concern about folks who had accidentally opted-in to the military’s new Blended Retirement System (BRS) when they were just trying to check their Leave and Earnings Statement (LES). While that particular problem seemed to have decreased as the year went on, there were other… | Read More…

BRS Interview with Doug Nordman


This post may contain affiliate links, from which I may earn revenue to support this free site. All opinions are my own, and I only promote products that I use and love!

Welp, I’ve (finally) learned how to edit video enough to make a video that starts and ends at the right place. In this video, I talk to Doug Nordman about the military’s new Blended Retirement System (BRS). Doug is the author of The Military Guide to Financial Independence and Early Retirement, the founder of The… | Read More…

The Blended Retirement System Decision: Part Math, and Part Life


This post may contain affiliate links, from which I may earn revenue to support this free site. All opinions are my own, and I only promote products that I use and love!

Well, it’s 11 December – military service members eligible to choose between the old, legacy retirement system and the new, Blended Retirement System (BRS) have just under three more weeks to make their decision. With so much information out there, and with so many opinions, how do you make a smart choice? It is important… | Read More…

Blended Retirement System: How To Choose Between The Military’s Retirement Systems


This post may contain affiliate links, from which I may earn revenue to support this free site. All opinions are my own, and I only promote products that I use and love!

This post was sponsored by USAA as part of the military personal finance bloggers #BRSBlitz education campaign. As 2018 comes to a close, there is a lot of stuff going on. We’re preparing for various holidays, some people are moving, and there is a general last minute rush to get things done before the end… | Read More…

50+ Places To Learn About The Military’s New Blended Retirement System (BRS)


This post may contain affiliate links, from which I may earn revenue to support this free site. All opinions are my own, and I only promote products that I use and love!

Every single day, I meet a service member or spouse who either doesn’t know about the military’s new Blended Retirement System (BRS), knows wrong information about BRS, or doesn’t know enough about BRS. It’s worrying and frustrating and concerning all at the same time. For anyone who is eligible to opt-in to the BRS, this… | Read More…

Vision Insurance for Military Families (Currently Serving and Retired)


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Starting in 2019, military and retiree families will be able to purchase vision insurance through the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP). Depending on your family’s situation, vision insurance can be a great way to lower your out-of-pocket spending on vision care, glasses and contacts. If you’re interested in taking advantage of a… | Read More…

2019 TSP and IRA Contribution Limits


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The IRS has announced the 2019 contribution limits for tax-advantaged retirement plans. Don’t forget that you can contribute to both a 401(k)/TSP type employer-sponsored plan and an Individual Retirement Arrangement (IRA), and that non-working spouses can have IRAs, too. 2019 Limits for Employer-Sponsored Plans like 401(k)s and TSP The elective deferral limit, which is the… | Read More…

The Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) “Payback” Period


This post may contain affiliate links, from which I may earn revenue to support this free site. All opinions are my own, and I only promote products that I use and love!

This post is part of a larger series about the Survivor Benefit Plan. Here’s the complete list of posts. Everything About The Survivor Benefit Plan Understanding the SBP-DIC Offset Life Insurance or SBP? Asking The Right Questions Retiring Military: Should You Choose SBP? 10+ Places To Learn About The Survivor Benefit Plan The Survivor Benefit… | Read More…

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Disclaimer

Kate does not represent the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, or any government agency. This blog is strictly for informational and entertainment purposes only. The content on this site should not be considered professional financial or legal advice. I may receive compensation through affiliate or advertising relationships from products mentioned on this site. All reviews on this site represent the personal opinions of the author. All references to third party products, rates, and offers may change without notice.