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

3 December 2018

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 may be the biggest financial decision of your military life. (If you make it to retirement, the Survivor Benefit Plan choice is also a contender for most important decision.) It’s scary that people don’t even know what they’re deciding.

In an attempt to make sure everyone is getting as much information as possible, here’s a list of every online resource I know to learn about BRS. It is vitally important that every service member who is eligible to opt-in to BRS understands what they’re choosing.

Keep in mind, though, that this information isn’t just available online. Every service member is receiving in-person training, and my sources tell me that most commands are inviting spouses to this training. Also, installation family support centers have personal financial counselors/specialists who can meet with individuals to make sure they understand what they’re reading and hearing. Lastly, you can get individual education, online or via the telephone through Military OneSource.

Joint Knowledge Online (JKO)

The official place to learn this information is through Joint Knowledge Online (JKO). Spouses who do not have a Common Access Card (CAC) may apply for a JKO account at this webpage: https://secure.jten.mil/jkohd/sponsored.jsp. Depending on your computer’s settings, you may have to click through some security warnings to get to the page. This account request will require validation from a .gov, .mil, ndu.edu, nps.edu or dodea.edu email address.

There are five BRS trainings available at JKO:

  • Blended Retirement System (BRS) Opt-In Course (this is the course that is mandatory for BRS-eligible service members)
  • Blended Retirement System (BRS) Financial Counselor-Educator Course
  • Leader Training to Introduce the Blended Retirement System (BRS) for the Uniformed Services
  • Blended Retirement Calculator Course (Active) (this course online shows up after enrolling in above classes)
  • Blended Retirement Calculator Courses (Reserve) (this course online shows up after enrolling in above classes)

The Department of Defense

Main BRS webpage with lots of links – there is an amazing amount of information linked form this page!

The BRS Implementation Memo

Frequently Asked Questions About The New Blended Retirement System

Active Duty Military Spouses:  What You Should Know About The New Blended Retirement System

YouTube

The Department of Defense has put together a playlist of videos about BRS.  These include:

DoD Guru Explains New Blended Retirement System

Blended Military Retirement System Begins Jan. 1

Blended Retirement System:  The First Four Years

Blended Retirement System: Mid-Career

Blended Retirement System:  Retirement

Military OneSource

Military OneSource offers a variety of resources, including:

Blended Retirement System – The Essentials

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding The New Blended Retirement System

Non-DoD Sources

When you’re looking for different perspectives or non-official information, there are many websites and blogs that are talking about BRS.

KateHorrell.com:

Everything About The Blended Retirement System

 

 

Lacey Langford:

The Military’s New Blended Retirement System

 

 

Military Life Planning with Daniel Kopp:

Blended Retirement System Overview

Blended Retirement System Considerations

Blended Retirement System Implementation

Blended Retirement System Lump Sum Calculator

 

The Military Guide:

USAA And The Final Month To Opt Into The Military Blended Retirement System

Your Military Blended Retirement System: It’s Not About The Money

Should You Choose The Military’s Blended Retirement System?

Tricky Details of the Military Blended Retirement System

The Military Blended Retirement System: “Dude, Where’s My Calculator?”

USAA’s Retirement Comparison Tool and The Blended Retirement System

Beware Of Huge Flaws In The Military Blended Retirement System

9 Things To Consider Before You Choose The Military’s New Blended Retirement System

Military Blended Retirement System Spreadsheet (it’s a guest post from MilitaryFIRE.com)

 

Christine Maxwell of Her Money Moves:

Hey Military Spouse: This is Why You Need to Understand the Blended Retirement System

I Took The Blended Retirement System Opt-In Training, and This Is What I Learned

A Blended Retirement System Roundup – My Favorite Posts

 


Airmen Mildollar from Military Dollar:

The Blended Retirement System – Part 1: The Basics

The Blended Retirement System – Part 2: Eligibility and Versions

The Blended Retirement System – Part 3: Comparing Systems

The Blended Retirement System – Part 4: FAQs, Myths, and My Opinions

Blended Retirement System: One Month Til Opt-In Starts

Q&A With A Blended Retirement System Expert

Opting In To The Blended Retirement System – Step By Step Instructions

8 Weeks In: A Blended Retirement System Update

Career Expectation vs Reality: 9 Friends Explain Why They Left The Military

I Wrote A Mega Thread On Twitter About The Blended Retirement System

Would I Have Switched To BRS If Given The Option? Part 1

Would I Have Switched To BRS If Given The Option? Part 2

I May Need To Leave The Military Early

 

How To Opt-In To The Blended Retirement System

Blended Retirement System:  The New Military BRS

I Will Opt-In To The Blended Retirement System (You Should Too)

 

Blended Retirement System (BRS) – Everything You Need to Know About the New Military Retirement Plan

Should You Choose the Blended Retirement System (BRS)? 10 Factors

Military Retirement Plan – Military Bloggers Discuss The Pros and Cons

 

The Blended Retirement System Explained

Study: Blended Retirement System Won’t Hurt Retirees Or Force

Blended Retirement: Government Contributions to TSP

Blended Retirement: Continuation Pay

Ten Things About The Military’s Blended Retirement System

BRS Consideration: Thrift Savings Plan Balances Are Inheritable

 

Sean Gillespie from Redeployment Wealth Strategies

Blended Retirement System: Time’s Up, Get Off the Fence!

 

 

USAA’s Blended Retirement Resources and Comparison Tool

 

 

Military Families Magazine: 3 Things to Consider with the Blended Retirement System

the Atlantic’s City Lab: How a Change to Military Benefits Will Affect Millions of Workers

Forbes: This Generation of Military Servicemembers Has The Opportunity Of A Lifetime

 

The window to opt-in to the Blended Retirement System ends 31 December 2018. If you’re eligible, and you haven’t made a thoughtful and educated choices, read this stuff today. Don’t wait until the last week of December – one forget, or a down server, and you’re locked into the legacy system forever, even if that isn’t what you want.

Do you want to know more about your military pay and benefits?

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