Militarily Speaking

In this episode of “Militarily Speaking,” Tom, Jodi, and guest Sean Brown discuss Southeastern Guide Dogs and the services they provide. They also get into the process of matching with a dog, different programs they offer, and how Southeastern Guide Dogs differentiates themselves.

“Militarily Speaking” is a podcast produced by Armed Forces Bank that is dedicated to the military lifestyle and all the things that makes military community who they are. 

Tom and Jodi open up the show and introduce Sean Brown from Southeastern Guide Dogs.

• Sean served for 7 years in the Army Intelligence Core before injury cut his service time short.
• Sean then jumps in and describes more details of his background, and how he first got introduced to Southeastern Guide Dogs.
• He describes how his life has changed after receiving his first working dog in March 2018.

Tom asks Sean about his philanthropic role he now holds with Southeastern Guide Dogs.

• Sean dives into the history of how he went from a speaker at one of their Dining in the Dark events to the position he plays with the company now.
• Tom notes that the program used to be called Dining in the Dark, it’s now called Beyond the Dark.
• Sean then describes the new program, some of the things it entails, and how you can experience it for yourself.

Tom says that Armed Forces Bank, which has been committed to serving our military community since 1907, was recently matched with a working dog named Jamy. He then asks Sean to describe his history with his two working dogs.

• Sean begins by describing the matching process and how he got matched with his first working dog Pella.
• He continues by listing off the different things Pella enabled him to do, giving him a level of autonomy back to his life that he had not experienced in a while.
• Sean then shares about the transition when Pella retired to his new working dog Nick.

Jodi asks what Nick’s cues are, and what he is tuned into to help Sean with.

• Sean says one of his main tasks is retrieval, helping him pick up things from the floor or getting medication.
• He continues by describing how tuned in Nick and he became more in-tune with each other after just a few weeks of becoming a new team.

Tom asks how long a veteran has to wait before getting a guide dog.

• Sean says the wait is typically about 12 months, but may sometimes be longer.
• He adds that the way to find the best match is to tell the instructors what kind of help they need, and those instructors will help find the best match, based on your specific needs and lifestyle.
• After more questioning from Tom, Sean then talks about what types of dogs Southeastern Guide Dogs has available, and how their team helps create those breeds on campus.

Jody questions how much it costs the person receiving the guide dog?

• Sean says that every dog is given for free to every recipient, as well as food, annual vaccinations and vet visits.
• He notes that each dog costs between $50,000-$60,000 to raise them from birth to team placement.
• Sean continues by stating they are a non-profit and need to raise $16 Million to fund the programs.

Tom asks about the process to be selected and matched with a guide dog.

• Sean says that the longest part is the application process, which includes vetting the applicant’s need for a guide dog through the VA, doctors, and home visits.
• After the application process, Sean says they will call you saying that you’ve been approved and welcoming you to class.

Jodi circles back to the $16 Million Southeastern Guide Dogs needs to raise, and asks how people can help in those efforts?

• Sean says the best way is to go to their website: www.guidedogs.org
• He notes that they have 3-4 matching programs throughout the year
• Sean also adds that if people want to contribute directly to the veterans program, or one of their other programs, they can specify that in their donation

Tom notes that there are a number of organizations that also work in training guide dogs, and asks Sean what differentiates their program.

• Sean says the first is that they are the only school that provides the lifetime of care at no cost through their alumni care program, which includes food, preventative medicines, annual vaccinations
• Sean says that the other differentiating factor is that since they started their veterans program, they haven’t lost a single veteran to the battle against suicide.

Sean makes one final note saying that they are always in need of puppy raisers to help them raise the next generation of super heroes.

Jodi introduces the Military Minute segment of the show, beginning by closing out last episode’s Military Minute.

• Last episode’s Military Minute: Who is the Beyond Basic Life Insurance Plan best for?
• Answer: Ages 18-44
• This week’s Military Minute question: Veterans train on campus learning to navigate with their dogs for how many days?
• Watch for Facebook and Instagram posts about this episode.
• Answer with the correct answer and you plus a charity of your choice can each win $50.

Tom closes the episode by asking listeners to out to www.afbank.com and subscribe to the show, as well as leave a rating and comment on your favorite podcast platform such as Apple Podcasts or Spotify. 

Join us to hear how to better navigate your finances, military life, and the crossroads of the two.

Visit www.afbank.com

In this episode of “Militarily Speaking,” Tom, Jodi, and guest Col. Jerry Quinn discuss life insurance and other policies offered by AAFMAA. They also talk about the different ways AAFMAA is driven to honor the military and military spouses, and share their thoughts on the Blended Retirement System.

“Militarily Speaking” is a podcast produced by Armed Forces Bank that is dedicated to the military lifestyle and all the things that makes military community who they are. 

Tom opens the episode by discussing different stats around insurance, including $3.29T of life insurance policies are purchased in the US.

• Jodi introduces Col. Jerry Quinn, USAR, Chief Operating Officer and Secretary of AAFMAA, including fun facts
• Jerry the, at the request of Jodi, discusses his history in getting involved in AAFMAA, including his military service and financial background

Tom asks Jerry to discuss the array of services including the life insurance policies offered by AAFMAA.

• Jerry begins by noting that all of their offerings are also designed to fit the military spouse.
• He then dives into some details around AAFMAA life insurance policies, and briefly describes the difference between term and whole life insurance policies
• Continuing, he notes that AAFMAA only sells insurance policies to military members and their families
• Jerry describes that AAFMAA’s Veteran Survivor Plan which is a guaranteed issue, and any spouse is also eligible with no underwriting
• He concludes by drawing specific attention to the fact that AAFMAA policies are design specifically for the military and veterans
• Jodi adds that for more information around any of their policies, you can check out www.aafmaa.com

Tom recalls an article by Jerry about Military Appreciation Month and Military Spouse Appreciation Day, after which Jodi asks how AAFMAA reaches out to the military spouse community.

• Jerry says there is information on AAFMAA’s website
• He also encourages people to visit Spouse Link, which is an online lifestyle magazine centered around military spouses, among other tips and tricks

Tom goes off script a little bit and asks Jerry, and all of his financial wisdom, what his take is on the blended retirement system (BRS).

• Jerry begins by stating that the blended retirement system is a good retirement system
• He notes that investing in a blended retirement account, it will do more than just act as a savings account by encouraging you to engage in savings habits
• Tom comments that he wishes there was a crystal ball to show people what the future looks like when they invest in accounts like this
• Jerry notes that the Blended Retirement System’s website has a lot of really useful information about not only these accounts but also other investing and savings tools
• Jerry tells the struggles of getting his own son enrolled in BRS and on the path to savings, and the discipline of saving

Jodi introduces the Military Minute segment of the show, beginning by closing out last episode’s Military Minute.

• Last episode’s Military Minute: What is Lady Gaga’s real name?
• Answer: Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta
• This week’s Military Minute question: Who is the Beyond Basic Life Insurance Plan best for?
• Watch for Facebook and Instagram posts about this episode.
• Answer with the correct answer and you plus a charity of your choice can each win $50.

Tom closes the episode by asking listeners to out to www.afbank.com and subscribe to the show, as well as leave a rating and comment on your favorite podcast platform such as Apple Podcasts or Spotify. 

Join us to hear how to better navigate your finances, military life, and the crossroads of the two.

Visit www.afbank.com

** Products and services, including life insurance, offered by AAFMAA are: 

NOT FDIC insured

NO Bank guarantee

MAY lose value

NOT SPIC insured

In this episode of “Militarily Speaking,” Tom and Jodi discuss all things related to consumer credit. They recollect on their own credit journeys, share tips and tricks to get your credit in good standing, and provide insight on some resources to help you wherever you’re at in your financial journey.

“Militarily Speaking” is a podcast produced by Armed Forces Bank that is dedicated to the military lifestyle and all the things that makes military community who they are. 

Tom opens the episode by telling two banking jokes about credit and loans, and then dive into the rest of the show.

• Tom lists out the many topics they will cover including: consumer credit, responsible ways to obtain and use credit, maintaining good credit history, helpful tips on credit products.
• He notes that when they started the Militarily Speaking Podcast, they promised to deliver some financial education and give the listeners tools to be more successful in your personal and financial lives.
• Tom recalls previous episodes with guests in order to present those resources to listeners.

Tom and Jodi dive into their personal histories of establishing credit, and the history of consumer credit.

• Tom discusses purchasing his first car with a loan, and how the payment history was sent to the credit reporting agencies.
• Jodi regales her start with building credit by signing up for every credit card at the booths they had on her college campus.
• Jodi notes that before opening a line of credit, there are a few things to take into consideration:
• Do you really need the item/service?
• Is it something you need to borrow money for and pay interest on?
• Are there products out there that give you options?

Jodi says that for people looking to develop credit there are a couple of products Armed Forces Bank has that can help.

• The first product is the Credit Builder Credit Card, which is a fully secured credit card, and the payments of which get reported to all 3 credit reporting agencies.
• In order to save the money to deposit into a savings account for the Credit Builder Credit Card, Jodi mentions Armed Forces Bank’s Saving Cents program.
• Jodi also highlights the Access Loan (or Personal Military Loan), which an unsecured loan that allows people to set up a repayment over a period of time.

Tom says that there are other key concepts that go along with making good credit decisions for yourself.

• Credit Utilization Rates: There is a general rule of thumb that you should not use more than 30% of your line of credit.
• Don’t carry a balance from month to month to avoid paying high interest rates that come with credit cards.
• Credit Monitoring Services and FICO: These are your scores that range from 300-850, with higher scores being better that rank your financial prowess that are based off of 5 factors:
• Payment History (35%)
• Amounts Owed (30%)
• Length of Credit (15%)
• New Credit (10%)
• Types of Credit (10%)
• Tom notes that there are a number of other scores based around your credit as well, but they are all tied back to how you handle your finances.
• There are lots of options for credit monitoring including: Experian, Credit Karma, LifeLock, Identity Guard, I.D. Shield, etc.
• Tom reveals that Armed Forces Bank will be releasing a product later this year that will allow you to monitor your credit score directly

Jodi says that with inflation and the rising cost of everything, people are pinching pennies and get scared if they get in a tight spot.

• She encourages people to call their bankers and lenders, as they are understanding people, and are usually willing to help work through your situation.
• Rather than going dark and making it more difficult to get out of your situation, she says being proactive about communicating with your bank or lender is the smart choice.

Tom adds that there are lots of resources available for education as well.

• There are regulatory bodies that govern banks that put out educational material such as:
• Federal Reserve Education
• FDIC Money Smart Program
• FTC publications
• Airman Family Readiness Center
• Armed Forces Bank Blogs

Jodi introduces the Military Minute segment of the show, beginning by closing out last episode’s Military Minute.

• Last episode’s Military Minute: What is so special about Dan Bozung’s hair?
• Answer: It does not move in the wind.
• This week’s Military Minute question: What is Lady Gaga’s real name?
• Watch for Facebook and Instagram posts about this episode.
• Answer with the correct answer and you plus a charity of your choice can each win $100.

Tom closes the episode by asking listeners to out to www.afbank.com and subscribe to the show, as well as leave a rating and comment on your favorite podcast platform such as Apple Podcasts or Spotify. 

Join us to hear how to better navigate your finances, military life, and the crossroads of the two.

Visit www.afbank.com

Welcome to the "Militarily Speaking" podcast with Tom McLean and Jodi Vickery.

In this episode of “Militarily Speaking,” Tom and Jodi talk with Dan Bozung, author of This Civilian S**t is Hard. They discuss Dan’s military career and his transition to civilian life. Dan also gives advice on how to make that transition easier. Tom and Jodi also play the next round of Military Minute.

“Militarily Speaking” is a podcast produced by Armed Forces Bank that is dedicated to the military lifestyle and all the things that makes military community who they are. 

Jodi begins by listing Dan’s many accolades including enlisting in the U.S. Navy at age 17, graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1997, after which he became a naval pilot, and leaving active duty in 2005. 

• Jodi continues by listing the many different roles Dan has held since leaving the military, which includes writing his book This Civilian S**t is Hard.
• Dan then gives the background on how his book ended up with that title, even though that ultimately ended up making it unavailable in the Army and Air Force Exchange Services.
• He then continues by relaying his reasons behind writing the book.

Tom asks after being a U.S. Navy pilot, and then graduating from Harvard Business School, what happened next as he made the transition to a civilian career.

• Dan starts by saying that what happened was entirely predictable, but only in retrospect.
• He describes his story as an extreme case, but believing in his abilities, even after he was fired five months after starting his first civilian job.
• Jodi continues this line of thought by asking what advice he would give to people that are about to make the transition, or are going through that transition right now.
• Dan hesitates, realizing that every situation is different, but ultimately he gives some advice that he thinks everyone should follow.
• He also gives words of wisdom for those leaving active duty and returning to civilian life, that may help them process and deal with the transition.
• Jodi and Tom weigh in on his advice and relate it back to their own experiences.

Tom notes that both he and Jodi have read his book. He asks Dan what kept him motivated to keep moving forward when facing challenges along the way?

• Dan starts by saying he didn’t really have a choice other than to move on, noting all of his responsibilities and duties.
• Dan continues by describing his mentality of refusing to be defeated by the civilian world, believing in himself and his capabilities.

After some jokes thrown back and forth, Jodi says that people can find out more by visiting Dan’s website at www.danbozung.com. There you will find a section on “stories.” So Jodi asks Dan to elaborate on the why the storytelling side was important to him.

• Dan describes the reason behind the numerous stories posted on his website.
• He also says that even though the stories were intended to serve a specific purpose, he found value in exercising his writing muscles.
• Dan continues by saying that he’s working on a second book, which he is hoping to release within the next year.
• He then dives into why he enjoyed the publication process so much, after initially being hesitant.

Tom pulls a quote from Dan’s book, “Being in the military is easy. Being a civilian is hard.” Tom asks how those coming from the military can make civilian life less difficult.

• Dan says that it depends on what your role was in the military, noting that some will have an easier time than others.
• He continues by relaying some advice that he received from one of his professors at Harvard.

Jodi pulls out some advice Dan gave in his book, and then asks Dan if there is else he thinks people should know about.

• Dan begins by stating how the civilian world can use more ‘servant leaders’ that are found in the military.
• He continues by noting how is honor and purpose in the struggle of the transition from military to civilian life.

Tom asks Dan what other resources he has used and would point people to, such as What Color is Your Parachute.

• Dan looks over his bookshelf saying that he has read everything but couldn’t point to anything in particular.
• He continues by then giving two pieces of advice to those anyone, not just those making the transition to civilian life.

Jodi introduces the Military Minute segment of the show, beginning by closing out last episode’s Military Minute.

• Last episode’s Military Minute: How many military families PCS annually?
• Answer: Between 450,000-500,000
• This week’s Military Minute question: What is so special about Dan Bozung’s hair?
• Watch for Facebook and Instagram posts about this episode.
• Answer with the correct answer and you plus a charity of your choice can each win $50.

Tom closes out the episode by asking listeners to out to www.afbank.com and subscribe to the show, as well as leave a rating and comment on your favorite podcast platform such as Apple Podcasts or Spotify. 

He thanks Dan for joining them on the show, as well as Brent Bowen from Sparkcade Marketing for the introduction, and for all of the other work his company does for them.

Join us to hear how to better navigate your finances, military life, and the crossroads of the two.

Visit www.afbank.com

In this episode of “Militarily Speaking,” Tom and Jodi talk with Danielle Adams from Mil Housing Network. They discuss the benefits available to those using Mil Housing Network’s services, especially their real estate partners and lending partners, the latter of which includes Armed Forces Bank. Tom and Jodi also play the next round of Military Minute.

“Militarily Speaking” is a podcast produced by Armed Forces Bank that is dedicated to the military lifestyle and all the things that makes military community who they are. 

Tom leads in by listing some statistics about the current market conditions, promising not to sound too doom and gloom, while also noting that the opinions contained within this segment are his own and not that of Armed Forces Bank.

• Current inflation rate is 8.3%, unemployment rate is 3.6%, 5.9 million people unemployed but 11 million job openings, wages are increasing across the country.
• The average home value appreciation since 1987 is 4.6%, however during the pandemic in 2021 home valuations were up 19%, and in 2022 so far they are up 11%.
• Rent is up 26.5% just this year, mortgage rates since the first time in the 1980s went up two full percentage points in just a few months from around 3% to now 5%, with home owners insurance prices also increasing 6%.
• Tom continues to list other statistics about increasing prices on gas, food, other daily stapes, meanwhile the stock market is down significantly.
• Tom notes that all of those statistics are a reason that a home purchase is one of the most important decisions someone can make, and a reason that Mil Housing Network is so vitally important to help out our military.

Jodi welcomes Danielle to the show, and runs through a bit of her background, but asks Danielle more detail on her background.

• Danielle goes through her background, which includes PCS-ing during early 2021. 
• She noted that when they were moving in the middle of the pandemic, she was looking for remote work, and found Mil Housing Network.
• She describes how much she loves the work she does as a support provider for military families.

Tom notes that Mil Housing Network has a Free Ultimate PCS Guide, and then asks what Mil Housing Network is and how it helps service members before, during, and after a move.

• Danielle says that at Mil Housing Network, their team is mainly military spouse powered, meaning they are just like their clients and have experienced firsthand what PCS moving is like.
• She continues saying that they work with clients beginning to end providing helpful resources such as the Ultimate PCS Guide, connecting clients to vetted agents and lenders to assist with their home search or home sale, all the way through to closing.

Jodi says that as someone who has PCS-ed many times before, she understands how valuable it is to have that continuity. She then asks if you are a real estate agent, how do you get connected into Mil Housing Network so you can help, and why is it so important to have people that understand that PCS journey?

• Danielle notes how important how important a great fit is when finding an agent to work with.
• At Mil Housing Network, she continues, they have an agent services team that interviews potential agents and thoroughly researches their background to understand their familiarity with VA Loans, how many military families they have helped, etc.
• She said that if you are a real estate agent and are interested in getting involved, you can send them an email at [email protected]

Tom asks how a military service member begins their journey with the Mil Housing Network, and what are some tips and tricks that will help them make their move more seamless.

• Danielle says that a majority of inquiries come from their online communities, such as their Facebook group, or directly from their website milhousingnetwork.com
• She lists out a couple of other Facebook groups that might be helpful for people about to PCS, and also mentions that Mil Housing Network hosts a show every Wednesday.
• Danielle shares her favorite tip which is, “it’s never too early to start asking questions,” and recommends preparing for the aspects you have control over.
• She discusses the benefits of using the real estate agents within the Mil Housing Network, as they understand the clients they will be working with, and are flexible enough to meet the ever changing circumstances during a PCS move.

Jodi asks when you are a family that has “Orders Subject to Change” and they do in fact change, do you keep working with the same agent, or do you get a new agent depending on where you are going to be stationed at?

• Danielle says that her role is to work closely between the real estate agent and the lender, so if your orders change they will work on your behalf to find a new agent in your new location for you.
• She also notes that because they have realtor partners throughout the US, they can help their clients regardless of where they will be moving to.

Tom asks whether she stays apprised of the market conditions, especially since the dates when working with the military are in so much flux.

• Danielle says that the markets are rapidly changing, so she always defers to lender and realtor partners for the most up-to-date info on the markets.
• Mil Housing Network does provide updated market reports when requested, though she notes that it is still best to talk to a real estate agent who has their ear to the ground.

Jodi then follows this line of thinking, questioning Danielle what benefits Mil Housing Network offers to military families, or especially the spouses that are likely carrying most of the weight when it comes to the logistics of the move itself.

• Danielle notes that the biggest benefit of using them is that they are primarily military spouses, meaning they have walked a mile in their customers shoes and are able to relate to the situation they are going through.
• She notes that there will always be things to learn, but they will be there to provide information, connections, and support in any way they can.
• Danielle adds how the company is growing as well to make sure they can continue to be a one-stop shop for military families.

Jodi and Tom wrap up their interview, thanking Danielle and noting Armed Forces Bank’s partnership with Mil Housing Network.

Tom introduces the Military Minute segment of the show, beginning by closing out last episode’s Military Minute.

• Last episode’s Military Minute: How long must a Coast Guard vessel be for it to be deemed a “cutter”? 
• Answer: Over 65 feet!
• This week’s Military Minute question: How many military families PCS annually?
• Watch for Facebook and Instagram posts about this episode.
• Answer with the correct answer and you plus a charity of your choice can each win $50.

Join us to hear how to better navigate your finances, military life, and the crossroads of the two.

Visit www.afbank.com

In this episode of “Militarily Speaking,” Tom and Jodi talk with VA Loan specialist Melanie Aguto. They discuss the different aspects of obtaining a VA Loan or VA Mortgage, challenges and rewarding aspects of being a military family, and how to make PCS moves as easier. Tom and Jodi also play the next round of Military Minute and what charity they sent a donation to from the last episode.

“Militarily Speaking” is a podcast produced by Armed Forces Bank that is dedicated to the military lifestyle and all the things that makes military community who they are. 

Jodi begins by welcoming Melanie Aguto to the show, a VA Loans Specialist with over 27 years of experience, who is one of the top producing Loan Officers at Armed Forces Bank since joining the team in 2002. Tom then asks Mel to describe the VA certification process for the listeners.

• Melanie says it starts with assisting veterans and surviving spouses with applying for their VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE).
• This COE also helps determine their eligibility for a home loan with the VA Loan process, as well as if the Veteran is in receipt of any VA disability income.
• She notes that there is no cost to go through this as part of their free pre-qualification process that Armed Forces Bank offers.

Jodi asks what kind of programs Armed Forces Bank offers mortgage borrowers in particular to veterans.

• Melanie says Armed Forces Bank has VA, FHA, Conventional, and HERO programs on primary homes, adding that they also can help with vacation homes, investment properties, home purchases, and refinancing.
• In particular to Veterans, Melanie adds, they have a VA Home Loan Program, which provides 100% financing and zero down payment requirements for home purchases or refinancing options, all with zero lender fees to Veterans.
• Melanie continues listing other benefits including competitive rates and home buying education as part of the process as well. 

Tom points out that Melanie has moved 14 times over the course of her career as a military spouse, and asks her what guidance she has to those making a PCS move when assessing the home buying process.

• Melanie says the key to buying a home during a PCS move is preparation in advance of the move itself.
• From being educated on the process and being comfortable with taking those steps, to talking to your loan officer in advance and becoming pre-qualified are the first steps of being prepared for the move.
• There are multiple other factors that come into consideration when considering a move, which Melanie lists out.

Jodi asks what are some recommendations she has on selecting a good, reputable real estate agent or company.

• Melanie says that there are many key factors, including interviewing agents ahead of time, to reaching out to your trusted sources, are all great resources.
• The key factor is finding someone you connect with and that you’re comfortable with can really help ease the home buying process as well.
• Tom then jokingly asks Melanie to list out all of her 14 moves, to which she happily obliges.

Tom asks Melanie, who was a military brat and has been a military spouse of over 20 years, what challenges and rewarding aspects have there been in her lifetime in the military.

• Melanie says as far as challenging aspects go, waiting on PCS orders and all of the planning, preparation, and timeline tracking that goes into it can be a challenge for families.
• She continues by saying how rewarding it is to become such a resilient family, and be a part of such an amazing military network.
• She says being a part of Armed Forces Bank and being able to relate to the families she is helping on the other side of a PCS move has been incredibly rewarding as well.

In today’s environment, Jodi notes, that loan rates for 30-year fixed rate have even been below 3%, however now we are in a rapidly rising interest rate. She asks Melanie what advice she has about that volatility, how to select the right product to meet their needs, and provide a little perspective about where rates have been versus where they are at today.

• Melanie says that we are in an increasing rate environment, so it is important to work closely with your loan officer to ensure your payment comfort level is really where you want it to be.
• She continues by saying instead of heavily focusing on the rate, focus on the actual payment amount and what level you are personally comfortable with.
• Jodi notes that she is gladly going to be adding “payment comfort level” to her vocabulary she uses when looking at large purchases such as a house.

Tom asks Melanie if due to the increasing rate environment she finds that more people are interested in an Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM), or if those conversations are coming up more often, and if she has any guidance on adjustable versus fixed rate mortgages.

• Melanie says that as interest rates increase, they are getting more inquiries about adjustable rate mortgages.
• She continues by noting that most customers are still choosing the fixed rate option and locking in that rate for a peace of mind, as well as because the fixed rate are more attractive than the adjustable rate in the current market.
• Tom notes that historically, we are in historic lows for mortgage rates, which he notes might mean that adjustable rates might go up later.
• Melanie adds that how long a person is expecting to live in a home will play into what interest rate option someone might choose, saying that your loan officer will walk through that and all of the other variables with you.

Tom notes that getting a mortgage can be overwhelming, intimidating, and even confusing at times. He asks Melanie if she can provide some assurances to the listeners to make the home buying process as painless and easy as possible.

• Melanie says she agrees that the mortgage process can definitely be overwhelming and confusing.
• She notes that her goal at Armed Forces Bank is to ease and simplify the process as much as they can, helping people navigate their way through the process each step of the way.
• She continues saying that it is their responsibility to clearly explain all aspects of the loan process so it is not overwhelming, but rather an exciting experience of getting into your new home.
• Tom says that people will definitely want to learn more and ask questions to Mel, which they can do through www.afbank.com

Jodi introduces the Military Minute segment of the show, beginning by closing out last episode’s Military Minute.

• Last episode’s Military Minute: Who said the following, “Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.”
• Answer: William Arthur Ward
• This week’s Military Minute question: How long must a Coast Guard vessel be for it to be deemed a “cutter”?
• Watch for Facebook and Instagram posts about this episode.
• Answer with the correct answer and you plus a charity of your choice can each win $50.

Join us to hear how to better navigate your finances, military life, and the crossroads of the two.

Visit www.afbank.com

In this episode of “Militarily Speaking,” Tom and Jodi talk with the founder of A Million Thanks, Shauna Fleming. They discuss the how A Million Thanks was started, the different milestones they have reached, and discuss how A Million Thanks has expanded their mission to serve military families after they have returned from deployment. Tom and Jodi also play the next round of Military Minute and what charity they sent a donation to from the last episode.

“Militarily Speaking” is a podcast produced by Armed Forces Bank that is dedicated to the military lifestyle and all the things that makes military community who they are.

Tom begins by asking Jodi if she can believe it’s May, which she responds is also Military Appreciation Month.

• Military Spouse Appreciation Day is on May 6th
• Mother’s Day is on May 8th
• Tom points out that in addition to those holidays, May also has Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Children of Fallen Patriots Day, and Month of the Military Care Giver
• Tom notes that their banking centers are going to be very active this month

• Shauna Fleming founded A Million Thanks in 2004 when she was 15 years old.
• The project began as a community service project in Orange County, California with the goal of sending one million cards and letters of appreciation to US Military serving around the globe.
• The local project turned into a national cause just 3 weeks after it’s initial launch as other organizations caught wind and took part.
• Within 6 months of starting, Shauna and her initial team of volunteers reached their goal of sending one million cards and letters.

Jodi asks Shauna to tell the story of how A Million Thanks got started, and what continues to drive the mission forward today.

• Shauna says she was a freshman in high school as a community service project.
• While her school gave the students a bunch of options to participate in, she didn’t feel fully connected to any of those.
• She asked the school if she could come up with her own idea, to which they agreed.
• At the time, much of what was on the news revolved around troops being deployed overseas, so she thought what if there was an easy way to support them by sending them thank you letters.
• After presenting the idea to her school, they got on board to support, and shortly after word got out to more organizations, leading to it becoming a nation-wide effort after only 3 weeks.
• The organization just celebrated 18 years in March, 2022.

Tom notes that there have been a few expansions of the A Million Thanks company over the last few years to now also include “Grant A Wish” and “Fund A Scholar” programs as well. He then asks Shauna to give more details on these programs.

• Over the course of the first 10 years, a large portion of the business was focused just on sending letters to the troops that were deployed.
• Shauna says they were also noticing a large gap in the support the military and their families were receiving once they came back from being deployed, being medically discharged, or for those who gave their lives for our country.
• She recognized that writing letters is great, and will always be at the core of A Million Thanks, but wanted to expand the organization to express gratitude to the entire military community and their families.
• Around the 10th anniversary of A Million Thanks, they added the Grant-A-Wish and Fund-A-Scholar missions.
• The Fund-A-Scholar mission is about funding scholarships to children of fallen military, to ensure they are able to pursue their higher education and career goals. 
• The Grant-A-Wish mission functions similar to the Make-A-Wish organization, but is centered around quality of life wishes for injured military members.

Jodi thinks back to how A Million Thanks started 18 years ago aiming to send a million letters to service members, and then asks Shauna how many letters they have sent by this point.

• Shauna says the organization has sent about 12 million letters.
• She notes that the initial goal was 1 million, but then continued to raise that number with other symbolic numbers centering around the military.
• After a few times of raising the goal, she said they stopped setting new goals, but continue to keep track and continue to send the letters.
• Jodi notes that if there are any listeners looking to participate in this letter campaign, they can go to any Armed Forces branch and fill out a physical postcard, or go to the Armed Forces Bank website.
• Shauna adds that if you are not near one of those locations, you can go to amillionthanks.org to find the information on how to send the letters.

Tom says he knows Shauna has been around a lot of celebrities due to A Million Thanks, and then proceeds to list off many of her encounters.

• Shauna notes that the inspiration for the Fund-A-Scholar mission came from her father and Alex Wax starting an Armed Forces Children’s Education Fund.
• She adds that Alex Wax is also the one responsible for getting the bill passed through Congress to have May become Military Appreciation Month.
• After some further questioning from Tom, Shauna then details her favorite celebrity interactions that she has had over the years.

Jodi notes that while Armed Forces Bank has been the exclusive financial partner for A Million Thanks’ dropbox locations, there might be someone listening who wants to get involved and partner as a location as well.

• Shauna says that A Million Thanks partners with different organizations and community businesses, schools, and churches to become an official drop off location.
• She continues that this essentially means you are making yourself available as a drop off location, and then are responsible for sending along the letters to A Million Thanks.
• If you or an organization you are in is interested in becoming an official partner, there is an application on the website: amillionthanks.org

Tom explains all of the different ways that Armed Forces Bank locations are getting involved in their communities in celebration of Military Appreciation Month, and then asks Shauna in what ways A Million Thanks will be celebrating the month.

• Shauna says there are a number of organizations that have a number of events to bolster our military members right in their own communities.
• She then notes that there are a number of websites that pull together the list of extra discounts or freebies businesses may be offering during the month of May.
• Tom notes that links can often be found on Miltarytimes.com, airforcetimes.com, navytimes.com, etc.

Tom recalls how A Million Thanks used to host a radio show and asks Shauna to share some details of that experience.

• Shauna says that growing up during the age of the early internet, before podcasts came out, a military owned radio station called WSO asked her to host her own radio show.
• She details the exciting experience of what it was like to create that show, starting as a sophomore in high school.
• She adds that it was a great way to interview the myriad of people she became acquainted with as A Million Thanks was growing into the larger organization that it is today.

Jodi introduces the Military Minute segment of the show, beginning by closing out last episode’s Military Minute.

• Last episode’s Military Minute: How many Armed Services YMCA locations are in the state of Alaska.
• Answer: Three – Eielson Air Force Base, Fort Wainwright, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson
• Tom adds that from the prior episode, they sent a check to St. Jude’s organization, which gave them a great amount of joy to be able to do that.
• This week’s Military Minute question: Who said the following, “Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.”
• Watch for Facebook and Instagram posts about this episode.
• Answer with the correct answer and you plus a charity of your choice can each win $50.

Join us to hear how to better navigate your finances, military life, and the crossroads of the two.

Visit www.afbank.com

Welcome to the "Militarily Speaking" podcast with Tom McLean and Jodi Vickery.

In this episode of “Militarily Minded,” Tom and Jodi talk with Tim Nye from Armed Services YMCA and discuss how the organization helps the military community from serving as a food back to child care. Tim talks about other initiatives the AS YMCA has going on as well such as the Horse of the Sun Ranch. They also play the next round of Military Minute.

“Militarily Speaking” is a podcast produced by Armed Forces Bank that is dedicated to the military lifestyle and all the things that makes military community who they are. 

Episode 3: Armed Services YMCA with Tim Nye

Jodi opens the episode by introducing Tim Ney, who is the executive director for Armed Services YMCA (AS YMCA), and a veteran, having served 8 years in the United States Marine Corp. The AS YMCA provide free or low cost services for military children, spouses, and the military family unit. Today they have over 25,000 military members and volunteers have donated over 112,000 hours to support the AS YMCA.

Jodi welcomes Tim and then asks for the background of AS YMCA, as many people are familiar with the YMCA, but likely not as familiar with the Armed Services branch and how it came to be.

• Tim says there is a lot of confusion about the Armed Services branch and how they relate to the YMCA, and this includes people within the military community itself.
• He says they are in twelve branches across the nation, and have existed since 1861, and are one of five organizations that have a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Defense.
• He notes that one of the ways they are different is that 99.9% of the people they serve are active duty military and their families.
• Tim says the second way they are different is that they are grass-roots fundraising, since they don’t charge membership fees or high camp fees.

Tom brings up a statistic showing that 29% of junior enlisted families say they are food insecure. He asks Tim what types of support the AS YMCA provide through the food assistance and emergency food relief for military families program.

• Tim says that as a non-profit professional, it’s easy for them to raise money around food insecurity.
• He notes that the easiest mindset for people to get to is thinking that the military doesn’t pay them enough, which is why they are food insecure.
• He says that the reality of the situation is, through studies they have shown that military members get paid a livable wage, but it gets complex because many of the military families are younger, have a few kids, and child care is very expensive.
• Tim says that between child care, rent prices surging, inflation, and high gas prices, the problem is very complex and it is getting worse.
• He says that hunger is an economic issue and it revolves around education, workforce development, cost effective child care, financial literacy, and even learning how to cook to save money.
• Their food program is called “Distribution with Dignity” is also a gateway for the members to begin using some of their other services as well.

Jodi asks if there are specific ways that people, or companies, can contribute to that effort if they are interested?

• Tim says that it doesn’t take a lot of funds to run something like this because they partner with Feeding San Diego, as well as the San Diego Food Bank, so the food costs very little.
• He notes that it only takes one staff member to facilitate 24 distributions a year, with the help of all of the volunteers.
• He says making a small gift of even just $25-100 can make a large impact, or people can get involved and volunteer by going to www.asysd.org or go to the national website for the Armed Forces YMCA of the USA and find a local branch to get involved.

Jodi says that as a military family herself, she realizes that it is a proud community. She asks Tim how he approaches that and gets people to realize they need help, and then get them comfortable with the idea of asking for help.

• Tim reiterates “distribution with dignity” that they practice, saying that the families can register online, guaranteeing their spot, reducing anxiety around the who situation.
• At the event itself, he says, they have music playing in the background, jovial volunteers, Starbucks serves coffee or other drinks, and other non-profits that are natural partners helping out as well.
• He points out that the environment is very fun and festive, kind of similar to a farmers market.
• He notes that during the pandemic military spouse unemployment was near 30%.
• Tim also says that’s why the AS YMCA isn’t just about food security, but also cost-effective child care, getting military spouses education or course development, and giving them opportunities to find employment.
• He says the main goal is to elevate and strengthen the military family, growing the family out of the food line, rather than simply distributing food to them.

Tom says in a prior conversation he and Jodi had with Tim, they discussed the Military Spouse Symposium that was being held in San Diego. He asks Tim to share more details about the symposium.

• He says that the program is really great, and also that they are full, likely because they are focused on running really great high quality programs.
• Tim notes that their organization has received a lot of great support for the symposium.
• In the last Military Spouse Symposium there was a fashion show by Nordstroms, resume writers, creative artwork, speakers that were military spouses from base commanders, as well as strong powerful women from around the community.
• Tim says that there was also a large U-shape of companies that were hiring military spouses on the spot.
• The next one, Tim notes, is going to include segments on financial literacy and other things around how to utilize VA benefits.
• More details can be found on www.asysd.org

Tim says he is excited about not only his branch, but also the growing of other branches around the nation.

• He is leaving for a trip to Washington D.C. to meet with a strategic planning team with the National Board and their National Executive Team to plan the future of the organization.
• Tim notes that it is important not on who you were in the past, but who you’re going to be in the future. 
• He says they are going to be an organization that focuses on solving food insecurity, child care, and most likely mental health
• Tim makes a note about child care, saying that their plan isn’t to just be a place where a child will be watched, but where development will happen through character building and STEM courses. 

Jodi says she thinks it’s great how aligned each of the branches is to the national mission, but wants to highlight something that the San Diego branch is doing. That being the Horse of the Sun Ranch. She asks Tim to give more details on what that is exactly, and what they are doing there.

• Tim says there was a $1.7 Million donation of a ranch to the San Diego branch of the AS YMCA, that included land, 11 horses, and facilities.
• That outdoor space, he says, was constantly used and full during the pandemic since people were able to be outside there with their families.
• The horseback riding lessons, Tim notes, are completely full and help sustain the ranch.
• Tim also says that because of the nature of the gift, they didn’t want to limit it to just military families, and that anybody is able to come use the facilities and ride the horses.

Tom notes many branches of Armed Forces Bank, where there are also branches of Armed Services YMCA nearby. He asks how people can get involved if they wanted to do some work locally for the affiliate locations.

• Tim says to go to the National website at www.asymca.org to find a location near them, or an affiliate program
• He asks that if people want to help they can make a donation, but really urges people to roll up their sleeves and go volunteer
• Tom encourages Armed Forces Bank associates to do the same, as there are plenty of ways to serve military communities.

Tom adds that a quote he read from Tim previously is, “the service member enlists, but the whole family serves.” Which Tom says is right on point.

• Tim responds saying when he was active duty, he was sent to 23 different countries, and was a single father for much of that period.
• He adds that it takes a very special person to be a military spouse, managing the entire household.
• Tim says that the children don’t fully comprehend why their parent is gone, only that they understand they are not there for their birthday, or recital, or other events in their life.

Tom thanks Tim for being a guest, and discusses how appropriate it is for him to bring this up April is the month of the Military Child, and next month is Military Appreciation Month. 

• He brings up some statistics he found on the AS YMCA website, that kids will move between six and nine times from birth through 12th grade.
• Tom continues with more statistics around military families and the things they are struggling with, nothing that people can donate via their website.

Tom asks Tim if there is anything else about the organization or certain events that he would like to bri

Welcome to the "Militarily Speaking" podcast with Tom McLean and Jodi Vickery.

In this episode of “Militarily Speaking,” Tom, Jodi, and guest Kia McCallister Young talk about the Military Saves program, how to establish the habit of saving, and the largest barriers in improving your own financial standing.

“Militarily Speaking” is a podcast produced by Armed Forces Bank that is dedicated to the military lifestyle and all the things that makes military community who they are.

Episode 2: Military Saves with Kia McCallister Young

Tom McLean opens by introducing their guest Kia McCallister Young, Director of America Saves, an Air Force Veteran, and a mom, among other responsibilities and titles. He then asks her what Military Saves is.

• Kia says that Military Saves is America Saves’ commitment to the military community, giving them services, tools, and advice on how to establish successful savings, reducing debt, and getting on a path to building wealth.
• She says that she likes to think of themselves as a savings accountability partner, that focuses specifically on the military community. 
• Jodi says that as a military family herself, it’s no secret that military families experience financial stress.

Jodi notes that 62% of military families experience financial stress, and 56% of Americans can’t cover a $1000 unexpected event that happens in their life. She then asks Kia what kind of situations she sees that might challenge military families more than their civilian counterparts.

• Kia says the first item that comes to mind is the constant moving and transitioning, noting that while the military might help some with the costs, there are always going to be out of pocket expenses.
• This is especially true for military members who have to move every 2-3 years.
• The second thing, she says, is military spouse unemployment, meaning they have a single income household.
• She notes that while sometimes this is by choice, oftentimes it is difficult for them to obtain a meaningful employment because of how often they are moving.
• Jodi notes that there has never been a free PCS move in her household.
• Tom says that he read recently that military spouse unemployment is around 24%, which is he thinks is too high.
• Kia agrees, and is happy that there are certain movements trying to shine a spotlight on that problem now, and bringing that number down.

Tom asks what the biggest barrier or challenge to people improving their financial position.

• Kia says the biggest barrier is the personal finance industry’s message, which is in order to be successful you need to have 3-9 months of expenses saved in your accounts.
• She says while there is some truth to you being more vulnerable if you don’t have that saved up, but the idea of saving that much money for someone not even making a living wage is insurmountable.
• Kia thinks the way to make this message more relatable and achievable is the idea of starting small and thinking big.
• While the end goal might be to save up a few months of living expenses, the message should be centered on around how to get started on that path, which is an achievable goal.

Tom says he thinks about the phrase “pay yourself first” which could be setting aside a few dollars a month, or cutting out one expense per month, or set up a routine to automatically put money into your savings account. He asks Kia what ways people can establish the behaviors or get in the disciplined routine of saving.

• Kia agrees and says that is why they start of Military Saves Month with “Save Automatically” because that is the easiest and most successful way to save which splits direct deposits between checking and savings.
• She says that if you’re working gig-work where you’re not getting paid regularly, having an auto-transfer set up to automatically transfer money from your checking to your savings account is a great way to save.
• Jodi says it is similar to how they interact with their clients at Armed Forces Bank, trying to meet their clients where they are at, and building a plan.
• Tom also notes that Armed Forces bank has a ‘round up’ program, where each time you use your card it can round it up to the next whole dollar and put that into your savings account.

Jodi asks what ways people that are listening can get involved with Military Saves.

• Kia says the first way is for people looking to have a savings accountability partner, is to take the Military Saves Pledge on militarysaves.org.
• They will then send you information related to whatever your savings goal is, whether that is to save for vacation or save to buy a house.
• As an organization that supports the military, Kia says the way to get involved is to become a partner of Military Saves, and a participating organization of Military Saves Month, also by signing up through militarysaves.org.
• Tom notes that there is a new theme for each week during the month of April, and then Kia lists out each week’s theme.

Tom asks if listeners can follow them on social media.

In order to follow Military Saves on social media:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Pinterest
• Twitter
• TikTok (coming soon)

Jodi asks Kia if she could rewind time and tell her younger self something about saving and how to get off to a good start, what would she tell herself.

• Kia says the biggest message is getting in the right mindset of thinking like a saver.
• She notes that America Saves embraces that saving is a habit and not a destination, and that it is about forming the habit of saving.
• Kia points out that if you are saving for something, even if that thing is an unexpected emergency, you will spend that money eventually, so it’s better to focus on the habit of consistently saving.

Tom asks Kia if there are any calls to action for the listeners if they want to know more.

• Kia says to go take the military saves pledge.
• She said to also set up automatic savings, or sign up for the roundup program at your credit union or your bank.
• Both Kia and Tom then tell a stories of customers that use the roundup programs and have either used that money to put a down payment on a house, or keep themselves from having to take out a loan.

Jodi and Tom then move into the Military Minute.

• Last episode’s Military Minute: Who was the radio DJ that inspired Robin William’s character in the movie Good Morning Vietnam?
• Answer is Adrian Cronauer
• This week’s Military Minute question is: What is the Military Saves 30-40-30 plan?
• Watch for Facebook and Instagram posts about this episode.
• Answer with the correct answer and you plus a charity of your choice can each with $50.

Join us to hear how to better navigate your finances, military life, and the crossroads of the two.

Visit www.afbank.com

Welcome to the "Militarily Speaking" podcast with Tom McLean and Jodi Vickery.

In this episode of “Militarily Speaking,” Tom and Jodi introduce the show, and themselves, as they discuss what they hope their listeners will be able to take away from the show. They also ask the very first ‘Military Minute’ for listeners to answer on their social media.

“Militarily Speaking” is a podcast produced by Armed Forces Bank that is dedicated to the military lifestyle and all the things that makes military community who they are.

Episode 1: Introducing Militarily Speaking

Tom McLean opens the first episode of Militarily Speaking, brought to you by Armed Forces Bank, by welcoming everyone and introducing his co-host Jodi Vickery.

Tom begins by stating how there is no better time to launch this new podcast than right now, with two great months ahead.

• April begins Month of the Military Child, and Tom points out specific key dates.
• He speaks to how resilient children of military members are.
• April is also Military Saves month, with more information coming about how to establish great savings habits.
• May begins Military Appreciation Month, and Tom points out a few key dates once again.
• Tom notes how it is nice to see military bases opening up around the country again, as COVID lessens its grip on society.
• Tom brings up how Spring is in the air, and there are so many sports either wrapping up their season or just getting kicked off soon, along with graduations and family vacations happening very soon.

Jodi answers the question as to why they are starting this podcast.

• She says it’s to help you, the listener, and them as the hosts, navigate both finances and military life.
• It’s also to discuss and navigate the road where the two worlds intersect.

Jodi then leads into introductions of the hosts, beginning with herself.

• Proud spouse of career retired soldier, whose service lasted over 20 years.
• During his service, she was able to engage with various unit FRGs and serve in various capacities at several duty stations.
• Her family then made the difficult decision to plant roots while her husband was still serving in other locations.
• She has two amazing teenagers, who are involved in sports, among other hobbies.
• Jodi says she is excited to get to know you, the audience, over the course of the next episodes.

Tom begins his introductions with a lighthearted joke, quoting “to know you is to love you” but that he isn’t sure how true that will be after he introduces himself.

• Tom states he has been in the banking business for over 34 years, with 6 of those working for Walmart Financial Services.
• He states that most of his banking experience was in Florida.
• Tom then acknowledges that the last fifteen years of his career working for Armed Forces Bank has been the most rewarding for him.
• Tom says that while he has not served in the military himself, he serves those who are in the military everyday he puts on his Armed Forces Bank badge.
• He gives a shoutout to his two daughters, and then talks about how grateful he is for his wife.
• Tom then describes his hobbies that includes all of the Wordle and all of the other variations, and then discusses favorite movies with Jodi.

Jodi breaks into discussing what topics the show will cover.

• She gives an example of navigating a VA Loan and a home purchase, which usually come at the heels of a PCS move.
• She notes they will also discuss strategies on how to get ahead when it comes to military benefits, organizations that are great to know, and military lifestyle milestones and how to make the best of them.

Tom says that they want to interact with their audience in some way and then introduces the ‘Military Minute’.

• The ‘Military Minute’ he says, is where they will throw out a military item of interest, such as pop culture, trivia, military jargon, bank jargon, or current events.
• The answers to the trivia questions will not be revealed until the next episode of the show.
• He says if you know the answer to the question, and comment the answer on the social media post accompanying this episode, you plus a charity of your choice, can each win $50.

Jodi asks the very first Military Minute question: Who was the radio DJ that inspired Robin Williams character in the movie “Good Morning Vietnam”?

• Watch for Facebook and Instagram posts about this episode
• Answer with the correct answer and you plus a charity of your choice can each with $50.

Join us to hear how to better navigate your finances, military life, and the crossroads of the two.

Visit www.afbank.com