KateHorrell

Helping Military Families Make The Most of Their Money

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…

2019 USAA Military Pay Deposit Dates – With Printables


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USAA is the most popular bank for military service members. As a benefit to their military customers, USAA credits anticipated military pay one business day prior to the actual payday, provided they receive the pay deposit information from the appropriate finance agency.  The 2019 USAA Pay Calendars For your planning pleasure, I present the 2019 USAA… | Read More…

Trees for Troops Locations 2018


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Trees for Troops has announced their locations for the 2018 free tree giveaways. The Trees for Troops program is generously funded by christmas tree growers and folks who purchase trees to be donated, with significant logistical support from Fedex. The Christmas Spirit Foundation has given away over 200,000 trees through the Trees for Troops program, and… | Read More…

The Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) “Payback” Period


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Learning about SBP? You definitely want to read Everything About The Survivor Benefit Plan and 10+ Places To Learn About The Survivor Benefit Plan. One of the common complaints about SBP is that the survivor will never live long enough to get back “all that money” that they’ve paid into the program. The math just doesn’t support that… | Read More…

New Tricare Rule: No Mid-Year Plan Switching


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Because Tricare, the “open season” doesn’t “actually” apply this year. Under the federal law that created the changes, the entire year of 2018 is a “grace period.” So you can actually switch back and forth through 31 December 2018, no matter what you’ve been told. Isn’t that special? Starting in 2019, you won’t be able… | Read More…

Kate Rants: Why Is It OK To “Not Be Good With Money”?


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You know how things seem to come in batches? Or swarms? These last few weeks, I have had the same conversation with a bunch of different people, and it baffles me. “I have three kids, and one is good with money, one is OK with money, and one is terrible with money.” “My wife just… | Read More…

Unemployment Benefits For Military Veterans


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Leaving the military is a time of big transition: you’re looking for a new job, probably moving to a new location, and everything is unsettled. One benefit that can help is filing for unemployment insurance through the UCX (Unemployment Compensation for Ex-Military) program. Eligibility for UCX You are eligible for UCX if you: Have recently left… | Read More…

How To Pick A New Retiree Dental Plan


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*This post is part of a membership campaign for MetLife FEDVIP Dental Plan. I am receiving a fee for this post; however, the opinions expressed in this post are my own. I am in no way affiliated with MetLife and do not earn a commission or percent of sales.* With the changes in the retiree… | Read More…

10 Things To Know About Money and Deployment


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When people talk about deployment, one thing that often comes up is money. How do taxes work? How much do people spend on deployment? What do you do about the bills? What’s the best way to save? The answers to these questions are different for everyone, and many of them depend on the specifics of… | Read More…

When Should A Military Member Hire A Financial Planner?


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I’ve been bugging my friend Forrest Baumhover to write this article for a long time. I’m glad he waited until he had the right thoughts in his head, because this is really good stuff. When Kate first asked me to write this article, I have to admit that I took longer than I usually do…. | 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.