The Military Wallet Podcast

The Military Wallet

The Military Wallet podcast brings financial guidance for the military community from enlistment to retirement. This is the place to come for up to date information on current benefits programs for active duty members, retirees, members of the Guard and Reserves, veterans, and their family members. We cover topics such as military pay & benefits, military retirement pensions, VA disability claims, VA Loans, GI Bill, Thrift Savings Plan, and more.

  1. 5d ago

    PCS Moves: How Military Families Can Make the Transition Easier

    In this episode of The Military Wallet Podcast, Ryan Guina talks with Sarah Roder, Director of Partnerships at Armed Forces Mutual and a certified financial education instructor, about how military families can prepare for a PCS and make the transition to a new duty station a little smoother. Sarah shares practical ways to build a financial cushion before a move, reassess your budget after arriving, support children through the transition, find employment and education resources for military spouses, and get connected with your new community. She also explains why communication — within your family, your command, and your local community — can make such a difference during a PCS. Whether you’re preparing for your first PCS or have moved several times before, this conversation offers practical ideas for making the next transition less stressful and helping your new duty station feel more like home. Subscribe to The Military Wallet Podcast for conversations about military pay, benefits, personal finance, veterans issues, and the challenges that affect military families. What’s one thing you wish you had known before your first PCS move? Let us know in the comments. For more information, check out TheMilitaryWallet.com Connect with Sarah Roder: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-bumgardner-roder/ Website: https://www.aafmaa.com/resource-center ------ 0:00 – Intro 0:55 – Sarah Roder’s Military Family Background 3:55 – Preparing Financially for a PCS 7:58 – Rebuilding Your Community After a Move 11:11 – Getting Support From Your New Command 14:42 – Finding Installation and Family Resources 18:19 – Reaching Out to Your Existing Network 19:14 – Helping Children Adjust to a PCS 22:21 – Giving Kids More Control During a Move 24:40 – Employment and Education Resources for Military Spouses 27:14 – How Service Members Adjust to a New Unit 29:33 – Why Communication Matters During a PCS 32:47 – Using Volunteering to Build Connections 33:34 – Reassessing Your Budget After the Move 36:39 – Treating a PCS as a Fresh Start 38:30 – Sarah’s Final Advice for Military Families 39:34 – Resources From Armed Forces Mutual 40:46 – Outro ------ #MilitaryPCS #MilitarySpouse #MilitaryLife

  2. Sep 22

    TSP Rollover Rules: What to Know Before Moving Your Money

    In this episode of The Military Wallet Mail Call, Ryan Guina answers three listener questions about moving money out of the Thrift Savings Plan and into other retirement accounts. He covers when you may be able to roll money out of the TSP while still in federal or military service, what to consider before making the move, and why direct rollovers can help simplify the transfer process. Ryan also explains how Traditional and Roth TSP balances are handled when moving to an IRA or another qualified retirement account. Finally, he breaks down whether a TSP rollover counts toward your annual IRA contribution limit and what happens to Roth TSP contributions and earnings after they are moved into a Roth IRA. If you're preparing to leave federal or military service—or simply trying to understand your options before making a move—this episode walks through some of the key TSP rollover rules to know. For more information, check out ⁠TheMilitaryWallet.com⁠ Have a question for a future Mail Call episode? Leave us a message at ⁠⁠TheMilitaryWallet.com/Podcast ------ 0:00 Intro 1:04 Can You Move TSP Money Before Retirement? 2:30 Should You Roll Over Your TSP? 4:25 Direct vs. Indirect TSP Rollovers 6:41 Traditional vs. Roth TSP Rollovers 9:00 Do TSP Rollovers Count Toward IRA Contribution Limits? 10:23 What Happens to Roth TSP Contributions and Earnings? 11:29 Roth IRA Five-Year Rules ------ #ThriftSavingsPlan #TSPRollover #MilitaryMoney

  3. Sep 15

    Building a Family in the Military: IVF, Adoption & Surrogacy

    Building a family can be challenging under any circumstances, but military life can add another layer of complexity. PCS moves, deployments, continuity-of-care issues, and gaps in TRICARE coverage can all affect the options available to military families — and how much those options cost. On this episode of The Military Wallet Podcast, Ryan Guina is joined by Julie Eshelman, William Fontanez, and Jenn White of Building Military Families Network to discuss fertility treatment, IVF, adoption, foster care, and surrogacy in the military community. They explain what TRICARE may cover, how military fertility clinics work, what benefits may be available for adoption, and some of the unique challenges military families face when pursuing surrogacy. Julie, William, and Jenn also share their own family-building experiences and discuss the importance of self-advocacy, financial preparation, reliable resources, and community support. They explain how Building Military Families Network is helping families find those resources while advocating for better support — and why every family-building journey can look different. Subscribe to The Military Wallet Podcast for more conversations about the benefits, finances, and issues that matter to service members, veterans, and military families. What family-building resources do you wish more military families knew about? For more information, check out TheMilitaryWallet.com Connect With Building Military Families Network:Website: https://www.buildingmilitaryfamiliesnetwork.org/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/buildingmilitaryfamiliesnetwork/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingmilitaryfamiliesnet/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/building-military-families-network/ ------ 0:00 – Intro 0:39 – Building a Family in the Military 4:26 – What TRICARE Covers for Fertility Care 7:42 – Military Fertility Clinics and IVF Costs 12:14 – How Military Life Complicates Fertility Treatment 18:43 – Navigating Adoption as a Military Family 25:10 – Military Adoption Benefits and Financial Resources 28:42 – Foster Care and Foster-to-Adopt 31:01 – What Military Families Should Know About Surrogacy 42:03 – Family-Building Resources and Support 50:40 – When Family Building Doesn’t End With a Child 52:32 – Outro ------ #MilitaryFamilies #FamilyBuilding #MilitaryLife

  4. Sep 8

    What Happens to Your TSP After Military Service? 5 Options Explained

    Leaving military or federal service doesn’t mean you have to close your Thrift Savings Plan. You can keep your money invested, roll it into another retirement account, purchase an annuity, or cash it out—but each option has different costs, tax implications, and long-term consequences. On this episode of The Military Wallet Podcast, Ryan Guina answers a listener’s question about what happens to a Roth TSP after military separation. He explains the five major options available and why doing nothing immediately may be the smartest decision during a transition. Ryan compares the TSP with IRAs and employer retirement plans, explains the tradeoffs of life annuities, warns about taxes and early-withdrawal penalties, and discusses why leaving a small balance in the TSP can preserve access to its low-cost investment options and unique G Fund. Subscribe to The Military Wallet Podcast for practical guidance on military pay, benefits, retirement, and personal finance. What do you plan to do with your TSP after leaving military or government service? Let us know in the comments. For more information, check out TheMilitaryWallet.com Have a question for a future Mail Call episode? Leave us a message at ⁠TheMilitaryWallet.com/Podcast ------ 0:00 – Intro 0:50 – A Listener’s Roth TSP Question 3:07 – Five Options After Leaving Military Service 3:56 – Option 1: Leave Your Money in the TSP 5:17 – Option 2: Roll Your TSP Into an IRA 7:48 – Option 3: Move It to a New Employer Plan 9:40 – Option 4: Purchase a Life Annuity 12:15 – Option 5: Cash Out Your TSP 13:07 – Which TSP Option Is Best? 13:48 – Why You May Want to Keep Your TSP Open 16:27 – Outro ------ #ThriftSavingsPlan #MilitaryRetirement #MilitaryFinance

  5. Sep 1

    Could Fewer PCS Moves Be Better for Military Families?

    The Department of Defense is looking to reduce spending on discretionary permanent change of station moves, raising a major question for military families: Could fewer PCS moves actually make military life better? On this episode of The Military Wallet Podcast, Ryan Guina is joined by Megan Harless, founder of PCS Like a Pro, and MJ Boice of the National Military Family Association to discuss what fewer moves could mean for military careers, spouse employment, family finances, children’s education, overseas assignments, geo-baching, and overall stability. Megan brings years of PCS reform advocacy and the experience of 12 military moves in 20 years, while MJ brings both her work with military families and more than two decades as a Marine Corps spouse. Together, they examine the potential benefits of greater stability as well as the tradeoffs involving career progression, high-cost duty stations, unaccompanied assignments, out-of-pocket moving costs, and the moving industry. Subscribe to The Military Wallet Podcast for conversations about military pay, benefits, personal finance, veterans issues, and the policies that affect military families. Would fewer PCS moves make life better for your family, or would you rather keep the flexibility to move more often? Let us know in the comments. For more information, check out TheMilitaryWallet.com Connect With Megan Harless: Website: https://www.pcslikeapro.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PCSlikeAPro/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-m-harless/ Connect with MJ Boice: Website: https://www.militaryfamily.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/militaryfamily/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/m-j-boice-6732b3105/ ------ 0:00 – Intro 1:23 – Meet MJ Boice and the National Military Family Association 3:46 – Megan Harless and the Push for PCS Reform 6:38 – Could Fewer PCS Moves Help Military Families? 10:07 – PCS Moves, Careers, and Spouse Employment 16:09 – Geo-Baching and Unaccompanied Assignments 21:50 – What Fewer Moves Could Mean for Overseas Assignments 22:55 – What Does “Discretionary PCS” Actually Mean? 25:42 – Why Military Families Need Better Communication 28:55 – Recruiting, Retention, Readiness, and Family Reality 35:32 – Could PCS Savings Shift Costs to Families? 36:19 – The Out-of-Pocket Cost of Military Moves 42:11 – What Would a Better PCS System Look Like? 44:18 – Breaking the PCS Financial Recovery Cycle 49:32 – Could Fewer Moves Hurt the Moving Industry? 55:48 – How Fewer PCS Moves Could Improve Family Stability 59:05 – Where to Find MJ and Megan 59:55 – Outro ------ #MilitaryFamilies #PCS #MilitaryLife

  6. Aug 25

    Can the VA Reduce Your Disability Rating? What Veterans Need to Know

    A VA disability rating is not always permanent, and receiving a re-examination notice can understandably make veterans nervous. In this The Military Wallet Mail Call episode, host Ryan Guina speaks with Chad Armstrong, founder of Ace Veteran Consulting and a retired senior NCO, about when the VA can re-examine or reduce a disability rating and what veterans should do if they receive a re-exam notice. Ryan and Chad discuss why veterans should not panic when a re-examination is scheduled, but also why ignoring the notice can put a rating at risk. Chad explains the importance of continuing to document service-connected conditions, how a re-exam can sometimes result in a higher rating when a condition has worsened, and how the VA’s 5-, 10-, and 20-year protections can limit when certain ratings or service connections may be reduced or severed. They also cover the VA’s general policy on routine re-examinations after age 55, the difference between a 100% disability rating and a 100% Permanent and Total (P&T) rating, and why documentation remains important even after a claim has been approved. Subscribe to The Military Wallet Podcast for more conversations about VA benefits, military retirement, personal finance, and the issues affecting service members and veterans. Have you ever received a VA re-examination notice? Share your experience or questions in the comments. For more information, check out TheMilitaryWallet.com Have a question for a future Mail Call episode? Leave us a message at TheMilitaryWallet.com/Podcast Connect with Chad Armstrong: Website: https://aceveteranconsulting.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aceveteranconsulting/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aceveteranconsulting/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chadjarmstrong/ ------ 0:00 – Intro 0:45 – What happens when the VA orders a re-examination? 1:48 – Why a VA re-exam does not automatically mean a reduction 3:19 – What can happen if you ignore a VA re-examination 4:39 – When a re-exam could lead to a higher disability rating 5:01 – The VA’s 5-, 10-, and 20-year protection rules 7:59 – How the age-55 rule affects future re-examinations 8:35 – When veterans over age 55 may still be re-examined 9:29 – 100% VA disability vs. 100% Permanent and Total 11:06 – Why continued medical documentation still matters 12:04 – What veterans should remember about protecting their rating 12:48 – How to connect with Chad Armstrong 13:01 – Outro ------ #VADisability #VeteransBenefits #VAClaims

  7. Aug 18

    TSP Basics for Service Members: Matching, Contributions, and Investing

    The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) can be one of the most valuable tools service members have for building retirement savings, but understanding matching contributions, contribution rules, and investment choices can be confusing when you're getting started. In this Military Wallet Mail Call episode, host Ryan Guina answers reader questions about the TSP basics service members should understand. Ryan explains when automatic and matching contributions begin under the Blended Retirement System, how the military match works once you're fully eligible, and why contributing enough to receive the full match can be so important. He also covers where TSP contributions can come from, why you generally can't deposit personal savings or an inheritance directly into your TSP, and how rollovers from eligible retirement accounts work differently. Finally, Ryan breaks down the five individual TSP funds, including the G, F, C, S, and I Funds, and explains how Lifecycle Funds combine those investments into a diversified portfolio that automatically adjusts over time. He also discusses why an L Fund can be a straightforward starting point for service members who aren't yet comfortable choosing their own investment allocation. Subscribe to The Military Wallet Podcast for more conversations about military pay, benefits, retirement planning, and personal finance. What questions do you have about the TSP? Leave them in the comments and we may answer them in a future Mail Call episode. For more information, check out TheMilitaryWallet.com Have a question for a future Mail Call episode? Leave us a message at ⁠TheMilitaryWallet.com/Podcast⁠ ------ 0:00 – Intro 0:17 – When TSP contributions and matching begin 3:05 – What the TSP vesting period means 4:05 – How to receive the full TSP match 5:15 – Can savings or an inheritance go into your TSP? 6:01 – How to use outside money to increase TSP contributions 7:35 – When rollovers can add money to your TSP 8:41 – Individual TSP funds vs. Lifecycle Funds 9:35 – Understanding the G and F Funds 10:36 – Understanding the C, S, and I Funds 12:54 – How TSP Lifecycle Funds work 14:04 – How to decide where to invest 16:52 – Outro ------ #TSP #MilitaryFinance #MilitaryRetirement

  8. Aug 11

    Why Military Spouse Employment Matters to Military Readiness

    Military spouses often face career disruptions that can make it difficult to build and maintain long-term professional momentum. Frequent PCS moves can mean leaving a job, starting over with a new employer, accepting work below your experience level, or stepping away from a career altogether. In this episode of The Military Wallet Podcast, host Ryan Guina speaks with National Military Spouse Network founder and president Sue Hoppin about why military spouse employment is not just a family issue, but an important part of military readiness and, ultimately, national security. Ryan and Sue discuss the challenges military spouses face when relocating, including underemployment, childcare shortages, overseas employment restrictions, and the difficulty of maintaining career continuity through repeated moves. They also look at areas where progress has been made, including licensing and credential reciprocity, while exploring how remote work, entrepreneurship, self-advocacy, professional networks, and stronger policy consistency could help more spouses remain employed throughout a military career. The conversation also looks at the long-term financial impact of interrupted careers, including lost income, reduced retirement savings, and fewer opportunities for career growth. Ryan and Sue discuss how spouse employment affects recruiting and retention, why military families need a stronger voice in policy discussions, and how changes such as expanding the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) to military spouses could create more opportunities for employers to hire from this talent pool. Subscribe to The Military Wallet Podcast for more conversations about military careers, benefits, personal finance, and the issues affecting service members, veterans, and their families. What has been the biggest employment challenge your military family has faced? Share your experience in the comments. For more information, check out TheMilitaryWallet.com Connect With Sue Hoppin: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suehoppin/ Connect With the National Military Spouse Network: Website: https://www.nationalmilitaryspousenetwork.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NMSNetwork/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nmsnetwork/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-military-spouse-network/ ------ 0:00 – Intro0:38 – Meet military spouse employment advocate Sue Hoppin1:30 – How big is the military spouse employment problem?3:03 – Why underemployment is difficult to measure4:28 – Are military employment surveys asking the right questions?7:03 – How PCS moves disrupt military spouse careers7:53 – Why policy consistency matters for spouse employment11:53 – The challenges of working overseas13:35 – Progress on licensing and credential reciprocity17:16 – How military spouses are helping each other find opportunities19:36 – Why childcare remains a major employment barrier23:41 – Can remote work make military spouse careers more portable?27:03 – The long-term financial cost of interrupted careers31:20 – Retirement savings and the power of starting early33:48 – When spouse employment becomes a readiness issue37:09 – Giving military families a stronger voice in policy41:56 – Programs and policies that could improve spouse employment44:59 – How the National Military Spouse Network is advocating for change48:46 – Resources and opportunities for military spouses51:34 – How to connect with the National Military Spouse Network52:23 – Outro ------ #MilitarySpouse #MilitaryFamilies #MilitaryReadiness

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About

The Military Wallet podcast brings financial guidance for the military community from enlistment to retirement. This is the place to come for up to date information on current benefits programs for active duty members, retirees, members of the Guard and Reserves, veterans, and their family members. We cover topics such as military pay & benefits, military retirement pensions, VA disability claims, VA Loans, GI Bill, Thrift Savings Plan, and more.

Information

  • Creator
    The Military Wallet
  • Years Active
    2014 - 2026
  • Episodes
    62
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Military Wallet
  • Show Website
    The Military Wallet Podcast

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