Personal Finance for Military, Veterans, and their Families
Looking for a way to save money on travel? Flying space-available (Space-A) on a military flight is a great way to stretch your income. You can fly to and from U.S. military bases all over the world while spending next to nothing on airfare. Of course, it’s not as simple as calling a military passenger […]
This expands on this article that Ryan wrote a few years ago regarding VA health care eligibility. Please take a few minutes to read that article as it explains eligibility items in detail. Over a recent family reunion, my cousin and I somehow got on the subject of VA benefits. Both he and I were […]
The 2019 military pay charts go into effect on January 1, 2019. You will see the corresponding income in your first paycheck, which should arrive on January 15, 2019. Military members will receive a 2.6% annual cost of living adjustment. While this doesn’t sound like a huge raise, it is actually the largest military pay raise […]
Disclosure: This article is part of a military personal finance bloggers #BRSBlitz education campaign sponsored by USAA. I am receiving a fee for posting; however, the opinions expressed in this post are my own. The Blended Retirement System (BRS) officially rolled out on January 1, 2018. Members who joined the military on or after January […]
Did you know several states offer a military veterans bonus? Most of the state veterans bonuses are offered to military veterans who joined the military from that specific state and served during a time of war or a named military campaign. Not all states offer a veterans bonus, and each state sets specific eligibility requirements. […]
TRICARE Open Season for enrollment changes is from Nov. 12, 2018 – Dec. 10, 2018. TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Standard members need to review their healthcare options to ensure they have the best plan for their needs. Starting in 2019, members will no longer be able to switch plans at will – they will only […]
The Blended Retirement System (BRS) is the new military retirement plan, which went into effect on January 1, 2018. The BRS was passed by the Senate Armed Services Committee as part of the FY 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The 2016 NDAA featured several major proposals, including military retirement reform, personnel reform, and headquarters and […]
Quicken Loans is disrupting the mortgage industry. The industry has a long history of being slow and paperwork intensive. Mortgage personnel are often difficult to get a hold of. But Quicken Loans has moved the entire process online. In doing so, they have streamlined the mortgage process, reduced the time needed to process loans, lowered […]
VA mortgages are available to eligible veterans, who can use them to finance up to 100% of the purchase price of an eligible property, up to VA approved loan limits. Eligible veterans can also finance the VA Funding Fee as part of the loan. Because of that arrangement, the veteran is able to purchase a home […]
If you’re a veteran of the US military, and looking to buy or refinance a home, you need to work with a VA loan specialist. Only such a specialist will know all of the benefits you’re entitled to, as well as special programs and pricing available. There are only a handful of VA loan specialist […]