Every Year / Always

Taxes, scams, and the basics worth a check no matter the year.

Articles

How to Vet a Financial Advisor (Before They Farm Your Base)
Anyone can print "advisor" on a business card. Here's how to check the ones who did.
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When DFAS Says You Owe Money Back
Overpayments happen. Here's how to fight the ones that aren't fair.
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Credit-Builder Loans, Cosigning, and Other Ways People Build (or Wreck) Credit
Some shortcuts build your file. One of them can hand you somebody else's debt.
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Your First Taxable Brokerage Account
No contribution limits, no withdrawal rules, and a tax bill that works differently.
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Your Clearance Runs on Your Credit
Money problems sink more clearances than anything else, and the fix costs less.
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Retired Pay Math: High-3, CRDP, and CRSC
The multiplier, the 20-year cliff, and two programs that protect your pension.
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The Government Travel Card and Getting Your Money Back
The GTC is the government's travel card. Here's how to use it without it using you.
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Capital Gains Taxes: The Basics
Hold longer, pay less, and on military pay, sometimes pay nothing at all.
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Crypto, Day Trading, and Barracks Investment Advice
The guy in your platoon who "tripled his money" isn't showing you his losses.
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Social Security on Top of Your Military Pension
Your pension doesn't shrink your Social Security by a dime. Here's how the two stack.
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Upside Down: Negative Equity and GAP Insurance
Owe more than the car is worth? Here's how it happens and how to stop it.
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Free Money Help the Military Already Pays For
Certified counselors and zero-interest emergency loans, and none of them sell you anything.
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Government Shutdowns and Your Paycheck
When Congress misses the deadline, your pay can too. Build a plan first.
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Buy Now, Pay Later: The Fine Print
Four easy payments is still debt: it just arrives in camouflage.
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HELOCs and Home Equity: Borrowing Against Your House
Your equity is real money, and every way of tapping it puts your house on the line.
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How a Secured Credit Card Works
Your deposit is your limit. Here's how that builds credit without the debt trap.
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Securities-Backed Lines of Credit: Borrow Without Selling
Your portfolio can back a loan. Here's when that's smart, and when it can wipe you out.
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The 2027 Pay Raise Fight: Tiered vs. Flat, and What Junior Enlisted Should Watch
A tiered House plan and a flat Senate plan are still being reconciled for 2027.
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VA Claims Backlog Falls Below 70,000: What It Means If You're Filing
The bigger story is not the backlog, it is the opportunity a faster decision gives you.
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2027 COLA Watch: What the Projected Increase Means for Your VA and Retirement Pay
The 2027 COLA is projected near 3.9%, but it is not official until October.
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TSP Roth In-Plan Conversions: The New 2026 Option, Explained
A new 2026 feature moves traditional TSP money to Roth, but you pay tax now.
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No Tax on Tips and Overtime: What It Means for Military Families
A 2025 to 2028 tax break can lower tax on a spouse's tipped or hourly job.
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Year-Round Military and Veteran Discounts: How to Find Them and Verify You Qualify
Military discounts run all year, not just holidays. Here's how to verify and find them.
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The SCRA, Explained: The 6 Percent Interest Cap and Your Protections
The SCRA can cap pre-service debt at 6 percent while you serve, plus other protections.
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SGLI to VGLI: Keeping Life Insurance After You Separate
Keep your group life insurance after you separate through the VGLI conversion window.
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Roth vs. Traditional TSP: Which Should You Choose?
Roth or traditional TSP comes down to when you pay tax, and combat zones can tilt it.
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BRS Continuation Pay: Should You Take the Mid-Career Bonus?
Continuation pay is a one-time BRS bonus for more service. Here's how to weigh it.
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Credit Freezes & ID Theft
Freeze your credit for free, set an active-duty alert, and lock down your identity.
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Tax Credits for Military Families: EITC, Child Tax Credit, and AOTC
Three credits worth thousands to military families, plus the combat-pay choice.
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Free Tax Filing for the Military: MilTax and VITA
You already rate free tax filing. Here's how to use it.
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Scams That Target Service Members: How to Spot Them and Shut Them Down
Why scammers hunt in formation, the plays they run, and how to lock your credit first.
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Military Aid Societies and Emergency Relief
Short before payday? Your branch's no-interest emergency aid beats any payday lender.
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