Military retirement comes with some big financial decisions, but few create stronger opinions than the Survivor Benefit Plan. Some people believe SBP is essential protection for military spouses. Others say you're better off declining it and buying term life insurance instead.  In this episode, retired Army officer and Certified Financial Planner™ Kyle Packard breaks down the Survivor Benefit Plan, how it compares to term life insurance, and why this decision is about more than just cost. We're talking about the true value of a military pension, the protection gaps families often overlook, how military marriage and retirement transitions can impact this decision, and practical ways couples can think through what level of protection is right for their family.   For more MILMO, follow at: https://MILMO.co ItsMILMO on YouTube @itsmilmo on X @itsmilmo Instagram @itsmilmo LinkedIn @itsmilmo Facebook For more information, visit the full show notes at https://milmo.co/podcast/sbp-vs-term-insurance-military-retirement 

Memorial Day is one of those days I never want to rush past, but I also never feel like I have the right words for it. In this special solo episode of the MILMO Show, I'm taking a moment to reflect on the meaning of Memorial Day, the men and women who died in service to our country, and the families who carry that loss every day. This isn't about having a perfect message. It's about remembering well, honoring the cost of freedom, and carrying the day with gratitude, humility, and respect.  

People often assume Guard and Reserve finances work the same way as active duty, but they don't. The income can be inconsistent, benefits can be confusing, and transitions on and off orders can create financial stress that catches families off guard.  In this episode, Accredited Financial Counselor® and military spouse Terri Bailey shares real-world insight into the financial realities Guard and Reserve families face and what service members can do to better prepare for the unexpected. We're talking about the hidden financial risks of Guard and Reserve life, the most common money mistakes service members and spouses make during transitions, and practical ways to build a stronger financial foundation in the middle of uncertainty. For more information, visit the full show notes at https://milmo.co/podcast/guard-and-reserve-finances   For more MILMO, follow at: https://MILMO.co ItsMILMO on YouTube @itsmilmo on X @itsmilmo Instagram @itsmilmo LinkedIn @itsmilmo Facebook    

Life in the military is full of change. PCS moves, deployments, and leaving the service can all come with a long list of decisions and a lot of pressure to make them quickly. In those moments, even smart, disciplined people can make financial choices that quietly set them back. In this episode, I talk with Stacy Miller about why money mistakes tend to happen during life transitions and how to navigate those moments with more clarity and confidence. We get into what's really going on behind those decisions, the most common traps to watch for, and simple ways to slow down and make better choices, even when life feels overwhelming. Visit the full show notes at https://milmo.co/podcast/life-transitions-derail-your-finances   For more MILMO, follow at: MILMO.co ItsMILMO on YouTube @itsmilmo on X @itsmilmo Instagram @itsmilmo LinkedIn @itsmilmo Facebook  

A lot of financial advice is built for people with steady careers, predictable income, and easy access to financial services. That's not the reality for many service members and veterans. And it creates gaps that can lead to costly mistakes and missed opportunities. In this episode, Dr. Chet Bennetts, Department Chair and Associate Provost at The American College of Financial Services and Marine veteran, shares where the system falls short and how it impacts the military community. We get into why access to quality advice is still a challenge, how stress and life transitions shape financial decisions, and what both professionals and service members need to understand to navigate it better. The show notes can be found here:  https://milmo.co/podcast/financial-industry-gets-wrong-about-veterans   For more MILMO, follow at: MILMO.co ItsMILMO on YouTube @itsmilmo on X @itsmilmo Instagram @itsmilmo LinkedIn @itsmilmo Facebook

Money can start to feel like an either-or decision. Either you're doing the "right" thing and saving, or you're enjoying your life and spending. And for a lot of people, that tension never really goes away, especially when everything feels more expensive right now. That's why I wanted to bring this episode back. Here is the encore airing of Finding Your Financial Yin and Yang, a solo episode that's all about finding balance with your money, without guilt, extremes, and without feeling like you're always getting it wrong. It's a basic idea, but one that can completely change how you think about saving, spending, and what "doing well" with money actually looks like.

Money decisions can feel a lot heavier in military life. Between deployments, PCS moves, and the uncertainty that often comes with service, it's easy for stress, fear, and past experiences to shape how you spend, save, or avoid money altogether. In this episode, Tyler West and I discuss why money feels so emotional and how financial therapy can help. We get into how past experiences influence money habits, how stress can show up in financial decisions, and ways military families can start having healthier conversations about money. Tyler is an Army veteran, financial planner, and financial therapist who works with military and veteran families. Tyler brings both professional expertise and lived military experience to this conversation, helping break down the emotional side of money in a practical, relatable way.  https://milmo.co/podcast/financial-therapy-military-life

There's a VA benefit available to eligible SGLI and VGLI survivors that almost no one seems to know about. It's the Beneficiary Financial Counseling Service. It gives free financial planning during one of the hardest times a military family can face, yet too many people miss it entirely. In this episode, Certified Financial Planner Brian O'Neill and I, are talking about what this benefit is, who it's for, where the process is breaking down, and why better awareness could help protect survivors from costly mistakes and predatory financial products. Brian is a retired Air Force Colonel, former F-16 and F-35 pilot, and founder of Winged Wealth Management and Financial Planning. He has worked directly with this program for years, helping survivors navigate major financial decisions. Today, he's sharing what families need to know and how we can help spread the word. For more information, visit the full show notes at https://milmo.co/podcast/beneficiary-financial-counseling-service    For more MILMO, follow at: MILMO.co ItsMILMO on YouTube @itsmilmo on X @itsmilmo Instagram @itsmilmo LinkedIn @itsmilmo Facebook

You can know exactly what you should be doing with your money and still not do it. Maybe you know you need to save more, pay down debt, or finally sit down and plan for retirement. But somehow, life, stress, and emotions get in the way. Sometimes the story you're telling yourself gets in the way. In this episode, military spouse, Ashley Quamme and I discuss the real reason there's often a gap between knowing and doing when it comes to money. We also talk about the psychology behind financial avoidance, how uncertainty can shape your money behavior, and practical ways to start changing habits that keep you stuck. Ashley is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Certified Financial Therapist™, and a Financial Behavior Specialist®. She's the Chief Behavioral Officer for advisory firms and host of the Planning & Beyond® podcast. She helps bridge the gap between financial knowledge and the human side of behavior change.   For more MILMO, follow at: MILMO.co ItsMILMO on YouTube @itsmilmo on X @itsmilmo Instagram @itsmilmo LinkedIn @itsmilmo Facebook For more information, visit the full show notes at https://milmo.co/podcast/why-you-know-what-to-do-with-money 

Money decisions are getting harder, not easier. There's more information, more tools, and now, more artificial intelligence telling you what you should do. It can feel like you finally have answers at your fingertips, but that doesn't always mean those answers are right. In this episode, I'm talking about AI and your money, where it can actually help, where it can get you into trouble, and how to use it without letting it make decisions for you. For more information, visit the full show notes at https://milmo.co/podcast/ai-financial-advice For more MILMO, follow at: MILMO.co ItsMILMO on YouTube @itsmilmo on X @itsmilmo Instagram @itsmilmo LinkedIn @itsmilmo Facebook