Military Money Manual Podcast

Spencer and Jamie break down the 10 core principles of Bogleheads investing and show how military service members can apply this simple, low-cost approach to build wealth through the TSP and other accounts. If you're overwhelmed by investing advice or tempted by day trading and crypto, this episode cuts through the noise with a proven strategy that's worked for decades.

Hosts: Spencer Reese (former Air Force pilot, 12 years active duty) and Jamie (active duty officer)

1. Develop a workable plan - Create an investment policy statement (even informal) to guide decisions during market volatility
2. Invest early and often - Automate contributions to remove decision fatigue; increase TSP allocation today
3. Never bear too much or too little risk - Age-appropriate asset allocation; avoid the old G Fund default trap
4. Diversify - Don't put all eggs in one basket; TSP funds cover entire US market plus international exposure
5. Never try to time the market - Time IN the market beats timing the market; market dropped 19% in April 2025, now up 38% from that low
6. Use index funds when possible - TSP offers five low-cost index funds; 90% of active managers can't beat index funds over 20 years
7. Keep costs low - TSP expense ratios under 0.1%; avoid predatory companies charging 1-2%+ fees
8. Minimize taxes - Leverage Roth TSP and Roth IRA; military tax advantages (BAH, BAS, combat zone exclusion)
9. Invest with simplicity - LADS approach (Low-cost, Automated, Diversified, Simple); Warren Buffett's S&P 500 bet crushed hedge funds
10. Stay the course - Measure performance in decades, not days/weeks; don't panic sell during downturns

Why Bogleheads Philosophy Works for Military:

• Takes power back from financial advisors and complex products
• Simple enough anyone can succeed with minimal effort
• Perfect match for TSP's low-cost index fund structure
• Removes emotion from investing decisions

TSP Advantages:

• Five index funds (C, S, I, G, F) cover nearly entire investable market
• Lifecycle funds automatically balance risk by retirement year
• Expense ratios under 0.1% (incredibly low)
• Now defaults to lifecycle funds instead of G Fund (huge improvement with Blended Retirement System)

Common Military Investing Mistakes:

• Old G Fund default trap - cost retirees millions in missed gains
• Trying to time the market or day trade
• Paying high fees to predatory companies
• Not automating contributions
• Measuring performance over days/weeks instead of decades

The Math That Matters:

• First $100K took Spencer 4+ years; second $100K took 2 years (compound growth accelerates)
• Market will drop 30% in next 10 years (guaranteed) - but timing it is impossible
• S&P 500 gained 125% over 10 years vs. best hedge fund's 87% in Warren Buffett's famous bet
• April 2025 market drop: 19% down, then 38% up from that low within months

Diversification Made Easy:

• C Fund: 500 largest US companies (S&P 500)
• S Fund: ~2,000 smaller US companies
• I Fund: 5,000+ international companies (20+ developed + emerging markets, excludes China/Hong Kong)
• Combined: Total US and international market exposure
• Add VXUS in Roth IRA for China/Hong Kong exposure if desired

Automation is Your Friend:

• Log into MyPay once, increase TSP allocation, never think about it again
• Every promotion or time-in-grade raise = bump allocation by 1%
• One decision removes 100 future decisions
• Eliminate decision fatigue and emotional reactions

Fee Impact Example:

• Predatory companies charge 1-2%+ fees
• TSP: Under 0.1%
• Fidelity FZROX: 0% expense ratio
• Vanguard funds: 0.03%
• Rule of thumb: Stay under 0.25%, ideally under 0.10%

Books:

• "The Little Book of Common Sense Investing" by Jack Bogle
• "The Military Money Manual" by Spencer Reese (available at MWR Library, Libby app, Amazon)

Investment Accounts:

• TSP (Thrift Savings Plan) - Military 401k
• Roth TSP and Roth IRA (tax-advantaged accounts)
• Recommended brokerages: Fidelity, Vanguard, Schwab

Key Terms:

• LADS: Low-cost, Automated, Diversified, Simple
• Index fund vs. active management
• Expense ratio and basis points
• Asset location strategy
• Investment Policy Statement

Previous Episodes Referenced:

• TSP deep dives (search podcast)
• Roth TSP vs. Roth IRA explanations
• "Do Better" episode on predatory companies

• Lieutenant with $50K in checking account - proves military pay allows saving, just need to invest it
• Service member paid off all auto and student loans in 3 months of deployment
• Retirees with $250-500K in G Fund who missed out on millions
• Enron, WorldCom, Lehman Brothers - why diversification matters
• MicroStrategy (MSTR) - current example of concentrated risk

• Military service members at any rank
• TSP participants unsure how to invest
• Anyone tempted by day trading, crypto, or "get rich quick" schemes
• New investors overwhelmed by options
• Service members paying high fees to financial advisors
• Anyone who wants a simple, proven wealth-building strategy

1. Log into MyPay and increase TSP allocation (even 1% helps)
2. Verify you're in appropriate Lifecycle Fund (birth year + 60-65 years)
3. NOT in G Fund unless near retirement
4. Set automatic annual increases (1% per year)
5. Open Roth IRA at Fidelity, Vanguard, or Schwab
6. Read "The Military Money Manual" (free at base library)
7. Stop checking account daily - check quarterly at most

• Website: MilitaryMoneyManual.com
• Instagram: @MilitaryMoneyManual
• Book: "The Military Money Manual" (Amazon, $3 Kindle, free at MWR libraries)

The Bogleheads philosophy has helped millions become millionaires through simple, low-cost index fund investing. As a military service member, you have access to one of the best low-cost investment vehicles in the world - the TSP. Stop overthinking it, automate your investments, and stay the course.

Starting January 28, 2026, military members can finally convert their traditional TSP to Roth while still serving...and if you're deployed to a combat zone, you could convert tens of thousands at near-zero tax rates.

Brian "ALF" O'Neill from Wingman Wealth breaks down the game-changing TSP in-plan conversion feature and reveals why this could be a 6- or 7-figure lifetime tax savings for service members who get the strategy right.

Roth vs Traditional Basics- Roth is "tax insuranc" against future taxation

Why Military Tax Rates Are So Low

What Are TSP In-Plan Conversions?

• New feature launched January 28, 2026
• Convert traditional TSP to Roth TSP while still serving (previously had to wait until separation or age 59½)
• Can do up to 26 conversions per year
• Entire converted amount added to taxable income for that year
• Critical: TSP does NOT allow tax withholding; must have cash set aside externally
• Conversions are irreversible (no recharacterization allowed)

The Combat Zone Golden Opportunity

• CZTE (Combat Zone Tax Exclusion) drops taxable income to near-zero
• Can convert large traditional TSP balances at 0-12% tax rates during deployment year
• Don't have to convert while physically in combat zone—any time during that tax year
• Example: E-5 deployed full year could convert $50,000+ at minimal tax cost
• Combat zone contributions also pro-rata (10% CZTE balance = only 90% of conversion taxable)
• This opportunity disappears after separation—can't replicate as civilian

Tax Planning Essentials

Paying the Tax Bill

Strategic Timing for Conversions

• Best time #1: End of year (November-December) when you know actual income
• Best time #2: During market downturns—pay tax on lower value, convert more shares
• Example: $10,000 balance drops to $5,000, convert at 12% = $600 tax vs. $1,200
• Don't tie conversions to deployment timing—tie to when you can see full-year income picture
• Can dollar-cost-average with multiple conversions throughout year (but probably unnecessary)

The "2-1-0" Framework (Advanced)

• Two: Optimize for two spouses, married filing jointly, similar lifespans
• One: Optimize for surviving spouse facing higher single tax rates (widow/widower penalty)
• Zero: Optimize for heirs—prepay tax bill, leave Roth money to children
• Advanced strategy: High-earning children gift parents money for Roth conversions at parent's lower rate

Who Should Convert and How Much

Five-Year Rules and Withdrawal Restrictions

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Implementation Details

Related Strategies

When Professional Help Makes Sense

• First-time converters with 5-figure amounts
• Complex family situations (multiple income sources, kids in college)
• High-income earners considering large conversions
• Anyone uncertain about tax projections
• Use MFAA advisors, Military Tax Experts Alliance, or fee-only CFPs

• Wingman Wealth: wingmanwealth.com
• Military Financial Advisors Association (MFAA): militaryfinancialadvisors.org
• Fighter Pilot Finance Facebook Group (managed by Alf)
• Nectarine: hellonectarine.com (fee-only advisor consultations)
• Military Tax Experts Alliance: militarytaxexperts.org
• IRS Estimated Tax Payments: irs.gov
• Dinky Town Calculators (free tax projection tools): dinkytown.net/taxes.html

Related Podcast Episodes:

• Episode 2: TSP Deep Dive (most popular episode)
• Various TSP fund analysis episodes

• TSP in-plan conversions launched January 28, 2026—military members can now convert traditional TSP to Roth while still serving without waiting for separation

• Combat zone deployments create once-in-a-lifetime opportunities—CZTE income drops taxable income to near-zero, enabling $50,000+ conversions at 0-12% tax rates

• You must have external cash for taxes—TSP does NOT allow withholding from conversions; need savings, refund, or estimated payments ready

• Most military members face higher retirement tax rates—pension + civilian job + Social Security likely pushes you into 22-24% brackets, making Roth conversions at current 10-12% rates a no-brainer

• Conversions are irreversible—no recharacterization allowed, so measure twice and do tax projections before converting

• Market downturns are conversion opportunities—when account value drops 50%, you pay tax on half the value but convert the same number of shares

• BRS members have automatic conversion candidates—5% government match always goes traditional, creating ongoing conversion opportunities if you're in low brackets

• State residency matters enormously—converting while legal resident of Texas saves 5-13% vs. high-tax states like California or New York

• This could be six-figure lifetime tax savings—depending on account size, career length, and strategy execution, potential $10,000-$100,000+ in tax savings

• November is optimal conversion month—you know actual income for the year, can calculate exact bracket room, and avoid year-end surprises

Spencer and Jamie offer one-on-one Military Money Mentor sessions. Get your personal military money and personal finance questions answered in a confidential coaching call. militarymoneymanual.com/mentor

Over 20,000 military servicemembers and military spouses have graduated from the 100% free course available at militarymoneymanual.com/umc3

In the Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course, you can learn how to apply for the most premium credit cards and get special military protections, such as waived annual fees, on elite cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card.

• https://militarymoneymanual.com/amex-platinum-military/

• https://militarymoneymanual.com/chase-sapphire-reserve-military/

Learn how active duty military, military spouses, and Guard and Reserves on 30+ day active orders can get your annual fees waived on premium credit cards in the Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course at militarymoneymanual.com/umc3

If you want to maximize your military paycheck, check out Spencer's 5 star rated book The Military Money Manual: A Practical Guide to Financial Freedom on Amazon or at shop.militarymoneymanual.com.

Want to be confident with your TSP investing? Check out the Confident TSP Investing course at militarymoneymanual.com/tsp to learn all about the Thrift Savings Plan and strategies for growing your wealth while in the military. Use promo code "podcast24" for $50 off. Plus, for every course sold, we'll donate one course to an E-4 or below- for FREE!

If you have a question you would like us to answer on the podcast, please reach out on instagram.com/militarymoneymanual.

Leaving thousands of dollars in credit card offers on the table because you forgot to activate them?

Brooke Merkle from CardPointers reveals how the Chrome extension and app automatically track 40+ credit cards, find the best card for every purchase, and helped one user rack up $40,000 in statement credits, all without spreadsheets or mental math.

CardPointers is a tool that automatically adds credit card offers, tracks points across multiple cards, and recommends which card to use for every purchase. This is particularly valuable for military families with fee-waived premium cards.

CardPointers even offers a military discount exlusive to our fans at militarymoneymanual.com/cardpointers.

What Card Pointers Does

• Chrome extension automatically adds offers to all your credit cards (Amex, Chase, Citi, Capital One, Bank of America)
• Mobile app shows which card earns most points/cash back for each purchase
• Tracks all points balances across programs in one place
• Particularly powerful for military families with 5-10+ fee-waived cards

The Offer Problem Card Pointers Solves

• Average credit card user has offers worth $2,000-3,000 annually
• Most people only activate/use 10-20% of available offers
• Offers expire if not added to cards within limited time
• Manually checking 40+ cards for offers is impossible
• Card Pointers adds ALL offers automatically to ALL cards

How It Works

• Download Chrome extension (free)
• Connect credit card accounts (read-only access)
• Extension automatically checks for new offers daily
• Adds all offers with one click
• App shows real-time recommendations

Pricing

• Chrome extension: Free basic version
• Premium features: ~$100-120/year
• Worth it if you have 5+ credit cards with offers

Privacy & Security

• Read-only access to credit card accounts
• Same security as Mint, Personal Capital, Monarch Money
• Doesn't store credit card numbers
• Can't make purchases or move money

Comparison to Manual Tracking

• Manual: Check 10 cards daily = 30+ minutes
• Card Pointers: Automatic, 0 minutes
• Manual: Miss 80% of offers
• Card Pointers: Capture 95%+ of offers
• Manual: Forget which card to use
• Card Pointers: Tells you instantly

Best Practices

• Check extension weekly for new high-value offers
• Review app before major shopping trips
• Set up for both spouses if both have cards
• Particularly valuable during holiday shopping
• Monitor for targeted high-value offers (10X points, large statement credits)

Integration with Military Benefits

• Works with all fee-waived military cards
• Tracks Amex Platinum benefits (Lululemon, Resy, streaming credits)
• Chase Sapphire Reserve credits (DoorDash, travel)
• Helps maximize value from cards you're not paying annual fees for

• Military discount on CardPointers available: militarymoneymanual.com/cardpointers
• Chrome Extension: Search "Card Pointers" in Chrome Web Store
• Mobile App: Available on iOS and Android app stores
• Military Money Manual: militarymoneymanual.com
• Military Money Manual Instagram: @militarymoneymanual

Spencer and Jamie offer one-on-one Military Money Mentor sessions. Get your personal military money and personal finance questions answered in a confidential coaching call. militarymoneymanual.com/mentor

Over 20,000 military servicemembers and military spouses have graduated from the 100% free course available at militarymoneymanual.com/umc3

In the Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course, you can learn how to apply for the most premium credit cards and get special military protections, such as waived annual fees, on elite cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card.

• https://militarymoneymanual.com/amex-platinum-military/

• https://militarymoneymanual.com/chase-sapphire-reserve-military/

Learn how active duty military, military spouses, and Guard and Reserves on 30+ day active orders can get your annual fees waived on premium credit cards in the Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course at militarymoneymanual.com/umc3

If you want to maximize your military paycheck, check out Spencer's 5 star rated book The Military Money Manual: A Practical Guide to Financial Freedom on Amazon or at shop.militarymoneymanual.com.

Want to be confident with your TSP investing? Check out the Confident TSP Investing course at militarymoneymanual.com/tsp to learn all about the Thrift Savings Plan and strategies for growing your wealth while in the military. Use promo code "podcast24" for $50 off. Plus, for every course sold, we'll donate one course to an E-4 or below- for FREE!

If you have a question you would like us to answer on the podcast, please reach out on instagram.com/militarymoneymanual.

Is 2026 the year you finally take control of your military finances? With a 3.8% pay raise, new TSP contribution limits of $24,500, and proven strategies that helped one E-7 reach $600,000 in net worth by year 14, Spencer and Jamie break down exactly how to build wealth while serving, even if you're starting from scratch or recovering from financial setbacks.

In this episode, we provide a comprehensive 2026 financial reset for military families, covering everything from emergency funds and debt payoff to maxing tax-advantaged accounts and avoiding lifestyle creep. Perfect for anyone wanting to turn the new year into a fresh financial start.

Know Where You Are Before You Start

• Track your spending using apps like Monarch Money, YNAB, Rocket Money, or simple spreadsheet
• Face your financial reality- write down all debt and net worth even if it's negative
• Government shutdown proved why emergency funds matter: 3-6 months of expenses minimum
• Example: $500 car repair covered by emergency fund eliminated stress entirely

Unique Military Financial Advantages

• Tax-free income: BAH, BAS, COLA not subject to federal income tax or payroll taxes (7%+ savings)
• State tax residency: Change to tax-free state (Texas, Florida, etc.) when stationed there! Spouse can too under Military Spouse Residency Relief Act
• TSP match: 5% automatic match after 2 years for BRS members. Don't leave free money on table
• Healthcare and housing covered through Tricare and BAH/base housing
• Example: Saving $300/month by changing state residency adds up to thousands annually

2026 Numbers to Know

• TSP contribution limit: $24,500 (up from previous year)
• TSP annual additions limit: $72,000 (includes match and combat zone contributions)
• Roth IRA limit: $7,500 per person ($15,000 for married couples, even if spouse doesn't work)
• Military pay raise: 3.8% coming. Automate at least 1% of increase into TSP
• E6 with 8+ years gets roughly $150-180/month extra income from pay raise

Priority Order for Tax-Advantaged Accounts

1. Contribute 5% to TSP (get full government match for BRS members)
2. Max Roth IRA: $7,500 for you, $7,500 for spouse
3. Go back and max TSP at $24,500
4. Only then consider taxable brokerage accounts

Total to max everything: $49,500 for married couples

Don't stress if you can't max—contributing 10-20% is still excellent and beats average American 5% savings rate

Invest Simply Using LADS Method

• Low-cost, Automated, Diversified, Simple
• TSP Lifecycle 2075 fund: 60% US stocks, 40% international, minimal bonds—perfect set-it-and-forget-it option
• Alternative: 80% C Fund, 10% S Fund, 10% I Fund
• Don't performance chase because last year's winner often becomes next year's loser
• Boring is beautiful in investing. Let it compound for 20 years

Path to Military Millionaire Status

• E7 example: $500/month starting as E3, by age 45 = $1 million at 7% return
• Real example from Reddit: E7 with 14 years, $600,000 saved, contributing $20-25k/year
• In 10 years that E7 will have $1.2 million just from money already contributed (before new contributions)
• Add military pension: $30k/year plus $40k from 4% rule = $70k annual income in retirement
• Time is your biggest asset. US stock market doubles roughly every 7-10 years

Common Mistakes to Avoid in 2026

• Not contributing to TSP at all (minimum 5%, goal 15%+)
• TSP loans for non-emergencies...change behavior instead
• New car trap: 7-year car loans becoming standard, shooting yourself in financial foot
• Lifestyle creep: Give half of pay raise to savings, half to lifestyle improvements
• Waiting for "perfect time." Spoiler: there's never a perfect time. Start this weekend

Capture Free Money

• Review LES monthly for accuracy
• File paperwork for CZTE, hostile fire pay, family separation allowance
• Follow up with finance multiple times if needed. Don't give up on money you're owed
• Request corrected W2s if aircrew touching tax-free zones in Nov/Dec
• Spencer recovered $20,000+ over career by being persistent with finance

Take Action Now

• Schedule family money meeting. Make it a priority! Hire babysitter if needed, dedicate one hour
• Write down all debt on paper: credit cards, student loans, auto loans
• Acknowledge it's overwhelming but necessary to move forward
• Resources: Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover or Ramit Sethi's I Will Teach You to Be Rich

• Budgetting and tracking: Monarch Money, YNAB (You Need A Budget), Rocket Money, Every Dollar
• Credit card offers: Card Pointers Chrome plugin
• Free books: Libby app + MWR library on base
• Military Money Manual by Spencer Reese
• Selected as US Air Force Academy Class of 2023 graduating gift
• Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover
• Ramit Sethi's I Will Teach You to Be Rich and Money for Couples
• TSP match/max charts by rank
• The Money Guy Show: Financial Order of Operations

Spencer and Jamie offer one-on-one Military Money Mentor sessions. Get your personal military money and personal finance questions answered in a confidential coaching call. militarymoneymanual.com/mentor

Over 20,000 military servicemembers and military spouses have graduated from the 100% free course available at militarymoneymanual.com/umc3

In the Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course, you can learn how to apply for the most premium credit cards and get special military protections, such as waived annual fees, on elite cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card.

• https://militarymoneymanual.com/amex-platinum-military/

• https://militarymoneymanual.com/chase-sapphire-reserve-military/

Learn how active duty military, military spouses, and Guard and Reserves on 30+ day active orders can get your annual fees waived on premium credit cards in the Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course at militarymoneymanual.com/umc3

If you want to maximize your military paycheck, check out Spencer's 5 star rated book The Military Money Manual: A Practical Guide to Financial Freedom on Amazon or at shop.militarymoneymanual.com.

Want to be confident with your TSP investing? Check out the Confident TSP Investing course at militarymoneymanual.com/tsp to learn all about the Thrift Savings Plan and strategies for growing your wealth while in the military. Use promo code "podcast24" for $50 off. Plus, for every course sold, we'll donate one course to an E-4 or below- for FREE!

If you have a question you would like us to answer on the podcast, please reach out on instagram.com/militarymoneymanual.

What have learned as we've recorded over 200 episodes now? What have we changed our minds about?

We reflect back on our years of podcasting, recording over 200 episodes with hundreds of positive reviews, hundreds of thousands of downloads, and hopefully countless military families helped.

In this milestone 200th episode, Spencer and Jamie sit down in person to reflect on four years of the Military Money Manual Podcast. From recording the first episode in a living room before a PCS to reaching hundreds of thousands of downloads, they discuss how their financial philosophies have evolved and the enduring principles that help military families build wealth.

Whether you are an E-1 just starting out or a seasoned O-5 approaching retirement, this episode covers the essential debates and strategies for achieving financial independence while serving.

Topics Covered:

• Hardening & Softening Stances: The hosts revisit controversial topics like the Roth vs. Traditional TSP debate, buying a home on active duty, and taking out TSP loans, discussing how their advice has shifted over 200 episodes.
• The "Olympic Athlete" Trap: Why you don't need to be the "Michael Phelps of personal finance" to succeed—and why a simple, consistent plan beats trying to optimize every single variable.
• Financial Independence (FI): Defining FI not just as early retirement, but as having options—the freedom to leave a job you hate, take a lower-paying passion project, or simply not stress about bills.
• Credit Cards & Benefits: A reminder on maximizing military-specific perks, like waived annual fees on premium cards (Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve) and using them responsibly to travel for free.
• Crypto & Alternative Assets: Why they still view cryptocurrency as "gambling" rather than investing, and why boring, low-cost index funds remain the king of wealth building.
• Leadership & Mentorship: The critical role of NCOs and officers in guiding troops toward financial literacy and how financial readiness directly impacts mission readiness.

Key Takeaways:

• You Are the Captain: Don't let the military dictate your financial future. Take ownership of your TSP, your savings, and your career path.
• The 4% Rule: Why a 4% withdrawal rate is a solid baseline for financial independence, but flexibility is key.
• Emergency Funds are Non-Negotiable: Government shutdowns and unexpected expenses happen; cash reserves are your first line of defense.

Resources Mentioned:

• The Military Money Manual book
• Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) Funds (C, S, and I Funds)
• Dave Ramsey's Baby Steps (and where they agree/disagree)

Spencer and Jamie offer one-on-one Military Money Mentor sessions. Get your personal military money and personal finance questions answered in a confidential coaching call. militarymoneymanual.com/mentor

Over 20,000 military servicemembers and military spouses have graduated from the 100% free course available at militarymoneymanual.com/umc3

In the Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course, you can learn how to apply for the most premium credit cards and get special military protections, such as waived annual fees, on elite cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card.

• https://militarymoneymanual.com/amex-platinum-military/

• https://militarymoneymanual.com/chase-sapphire-reserve-military/

Learn how active duty military, military spouses, and Guard and Reserves on 30+ day active orders can get your annual fees waived on premium credit cards in the Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course at militarymoneymanual.com/umc3

If you want to maximize your military paycheck, check out Spencer's 5 star rated book The Military Money Manual: A Practical Guide to Financial Freedom on Amazon or at shop.militarymoneymanual.com.

Want to be confident with your TSP investing? Check out the Confident TSP Investing course at militarymoneymanual.com/tsp to learn all about the Thrift Savings Plan and strategies for growing your wealth while in the military. Use promo code "podcast24" for $50 off. Plus, for every course sold, we'll donate one course to an E-4 or below- for FREE!

If you have a question you would like us to answer on the podcast, please reach out on instagram.com/militarymoneymanual.

$7,500 is the new maximum amount you can contribute for your IRA in 2027. We recommend generally that you and your spouse (if applicable) both do Roth IRAs, after 5% to the the TSP for the match.

Spencer and Jamie offer one-on-one Military Money Mentor sessions. Get your personal military money and personal finance questions answered in a confidential coaching call. militarymoneymanual.com/mentor

Over 20,000 military servicemembers and military spouses have graduated from the 100% free course available at militarymoneymanual.com/umc3

In the Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course, you can learn how to apply for the most premium credit cards and get special military protections, such as waived annual fees, on elite cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card.

• https://militarymoneymanual.com/amex-platinum-military/

• https://militarymoneymanual.com/chase-sapphire-reserve-military/

Learn how active duty military, military spouses, and Guard and Reserves on 30+ day active orders can get your annual fees waived on premium credit cards in the Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course at militarymoneymanual.com/umc3

If you want to maximize your military paycheck, check out Spencer's 5 star rated book The Military Money Manual: A Practical Guide to Financial Freedom on Amazon or at shop.militarymoneymanual.com.

Want to be confident with your TSP investing? Check out the Confident TSP Investing course at militarymoneymanual.com/tsp to learn all about the Thrift Savings Plan and strategies for growing your wealth while in the military. Use promo code "podcast24" for $50 off. Plus, for every course sold, we'll donate one course to an E-4 or below- for FREE!

If you have a question you would like us to answer on the podcast, please reach out on instagram.com/militarymoneymanual.

What if you could fly your family to Europe in first class, stay at luxury resorts for $400 a week, and spend less on vacation than you do at home? Chelsey from Camouflage Perks shares how military families are using fee-waived credit cards and exclusive military discounts to travel the world.

Today's guest is Chelsey from Camouflage Perks - Military spouse and travel expert with 45,000+ Instagram followers sharing military-exclusive travel benefits and points strategies.

• Exclusive military travel benefits save thousands - from $200 Epic Passes to free Atlantis nights, many perks require in-person verification and aren't advertised online

• Fee-waived credit cards eliminate travel costs - Military spouses and service members get annual fees waived on premium cards, making $500+ in annual credits completely free

• Stack benefits for maximum impact - combine credit card points with military discounts to cover flights, hotels, and daily expenses

• Cards work without travel - streaming services, dining credits, and shopping perks can save hundreds monthly even if you never take a vacation

• Discipline is essential - this strategy only works if you pay balances in full every month; credit card debt disqualifies you from participating

• Instagram: @camouflage.perks
• Website: camouflageperks.com
• Grand Hyatt Deer Valley: Google "Deer Valley Salute to Service"
• Epic Pass military: epicpass.com
• Armed Forces Vacation Club: afvclub.com
• Use Your Credits (Resy restaurant finder): useyourcredits.com

Spencer and Jamie offer one-on-one Military Money Mentor sessions. Get your personal military money and personal finance questions answered in a confidential coaching call. militarymoneymanual.com/mentor

Over 20,000 military servicemembers and military spouses have graduated from the 100% free course available at militarymoneymanual.com/umc3

In the Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course, you can learn how to apply for the most premium credit cards and get special military protections, such as waived annual fees, on elite cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card.

• https://militarymoneymanual.com/amex-platinum-military/

• https://militarymoneymanual.com/chase-sapphire-reserve-military/

Learn how active duty military, military spouses, and Guard and Reserves on 30+ day active orders can get your annual fees waived on premium credit cards in the Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course at militarymoneymanual.com/umc3

If you want to maximize your military paycheck, check out Spencer's 5 star rated book The Military Money Manual: A Practical Guide to Financial Freedom on Amazon or at shop.militarymoneymanual.com.

Want to be confident with your TSP investing? Check out the Confident TSP Investing course at militarymoneymanual.com/tsp to learn all about the Thrift Savings Plan and strategies for growing your wealth while in the military. Use promo code "podcast24" for $50 off. Plus, for every course sold, we'll donate one course to an E-4 or below- for FREE!

If you have a question you would like us to answer on the podcast, please reach out on instagram.com/militarymoneymanual.

Don't want to feel stressed about money this holiday season? Here are 5 ways to prepare your family's mindset and spending for the season of giving!

Spencer and Jamie offer one-on-one Military Money Mentor sessions. Get your personal military money and personal finance questions answered in a confidential coaching call. militarymoneymanual.com/mentor

Over 20,000 military servicemembers and military spouses have graduated from the 100% free course available at militarymoneymanual.com/umc3

In the Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course, you can learn how to apply for the most premium credit cards and get special military protections, such as waived annual fees, on elite cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card.

• https://militarymoneymanual.com/amex-platinum-military/

• https://militarymoneymanual.com/chase-sapphire-reserve-military/

Learn how active duty military, military spouses, and Guard and Reserves on 30+ day active orders can get your annual fees waived on premium credit cards in the Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course at militarymoneymanual.com/umc3

If you want to maximize your military paycheck, check out Spencer's 5 star rated book The Military Money Manual: A Practical Guide to Financial Freedom on Amazon or at shop.militarymoneymanual.com.

Want to be confident with your TSP investing? Check out the Confident TSP Investing course at militarymoneymanual.com/tsp to learn all about the Thrift Savings Plan and strategies for growing your wealth while in the military. Use promo code "podcast24" for $50 off. Plus, for every course sold, we'll donate one course to an E-4 or below- for FREE!

If you have a question you would like us to answer on the podcast, please reach out on instagram.com/militarymoneymanual.

Join Spencer Reese and Carissa Rawson, Director of Travel and Marketing at Rove and Air Force veteran, for an in-depth discussion about maximizing credit card rewards and travel benefits as a military service member.

Carissa shares her journey from enlisted Arabic translator to becoming a leading voice in military credit card content, having written for The Points Guy, NerdWallet, USA Today, and Forbes.

Building Credit from Scratch

• Starting with secured credit cards (Capital One recommended)
• Using personal loans from Navy Federal or USAA to establish credit history
• Career starter loans for new officers
• Building from no credit to premium cards

Strategic Card Acquisition

• Best starter cards: Chase Sapphire Preferred, Citi Strata Premier, Amex Green
• Understanding bank application rules and restrictions
• The famous 5/24 rule with Chase
• Timing your applications strategically

Military-Specific Benefits

• SCRA (Servicemembers Civil Relief Act) vs MLA (Military Lending Act) protections
• Annual fee waivers on premium cards
• Advantage for reservists and guard members opening cards before active orders
• Two-player mode: How dependents can also benefit from MLA protections

Premium Cards Worth Getting

• American Express Platinum Card ($895 annual fee waived)
• Chase Sapphire Reserve
• Capital One Venture X (SCRA benefits)
• Hilton Honors Amex Aspire
• Multiple Amex Platinum cards strategy

Tools and Resources Mentioned

• Award Wallet - Tracks points balances, expiration dates, and travel itineraries
• Seats.aero - Award flight search engine
• Max My Point - Hotel search tool for maximizing FHR credits
• PointMe (roame.travel) - Award alert tool for flexible travel
• Use Your Credits - Tracking Amex statement credits
• Card Pointers - Auto-adds Amex offers and tracks credits
• FSAFeds.gov - Application rules by bank
• Rove Miles - Earning transferable points through shopping portal and hotel bookings

Rove Miles Platform Highlights

• 13,000+ shopping portal stores (vs Rakuten's 3,900)
• New "Loyalty Eligible" feature - book hotels while maintaining elite status benefits
• Earn Rove miles that transfer to 12+ airline partners
• Commission-based earning rates (up to 75x miles per dollar on some bookings)
• Immediate points posting on non-refundable bookings

Carissa Rawson served 7 years in the US Air Force (2009-2016) as a cryptologic language analyst (Arabic translator), including a deployment to Jordan supporting counter-ISIS operations. She's written extensively about military credit card benefits for major publications and now helps travelers earn rewards at Rove Miles.

Website: rovemiles.com

Contact: Reach out to Military Money Manual at [email protected] or on Instagram @militarymoneymanual

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Spencer and Jamie offer one-on-one Military Money Mentor sessions. Get your personal military money and personal finance questions answered in a confidential coaching call. militarymoneymanual.com/mentor

Over 20,000 military servicemembers and military spouses have graduated from the 100% free course available at militarymoneymanual.com/umc3

In the Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course, you can learn how to apply for the most premium credit cards and get special military protections, such as waived annual fees, on elite cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card.

• https://militarymoneymanual.com/amex-platinum-military/

• https://militarymoneymanual.com/chase-sapphire-reserve-military/

Learn how active duty military, military spouses, and Guard and Reserves on 30+ day active orders can get your annual fees waived on premium credit cards in the Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course at militarymoneymanual.com/umc3

If you want to maximize your military paycheck, check out Spencer's 5 star rated book The Military Money Manual: A Practical Guide to Financial Freedom on Amazon or at shop.militarymoneymanual.com.

Want to be confident with your TSP investing? Check out the Confident TSP Investing course at militarymoneymanual.com/tsp to learn all about the Thrift Savings Plan and strategies for growing your wealth while in the military. Use promo code "podcast24" for $50 off. Plus, for every course sold, we'll donate one course to an E-4 or below- for FREE!

If you have a question you would like us to answer on the podcast, please reach out on instagram.com/militarymoneymanual.

Hot new bennies are live on one of our favorite cards, the Chase Sapphire Reserve!

EDIT TO ONE MISPEAK IN EPISODE: site to search for Chase Dining benefit locations is https://useyourcredits.com/maps/chase-reserve/

As of 10/26/25, many new benefits are available for you to activate or take advantage of, such as:

• $300 per year ($150 per semi-annual period) for dining at restaurants in the Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables portfolio
• $500 per year ($250 per semi-annual period) for "The Edit" hotels
• $300 per year ($150 per semi-annual period) for StubHub
• Complimentary Apple TV+ and Apple Music. Subscriptions run through 6/22/27 – a value of $250 annually
• IHG Platinum status
• $10/mo towards Peloton membership

Other details:

• Points on your CSR before 10/26/25 can still be redeemed at 1.5 cents per point until Oct 2027
• Some redemptions may be higher using Chase's Points Boost feature
• Annual fee still waived for military service members's and their spouses in the MLA database
• Our initial podcast announcing these changes was episode #183. Go back and listen!

Check out the full details and apply at: https://militarymoneymanual.com/chase-sapphire-reserve-military/

Spencer and Jamie offer one-on-one Military Money Mentor sessions. Get your personal military money and personal finance questions answered in a confidential coaching call. militarymoneymanual.com/mentor

Over 20,000 military servicemembers and military spouses have graduated from the 100% free course available at militarymoneymanual.com/umc3

In the Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course, you can learn how to apply for the most premium credit cards and get special military protections, such as waived annual fees, on elite cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card.

• https://militarymoneymanual.com/amex-platinum-military/

• https://militarymoneymanual.com/chase-sapphire-reserve-military/

Learn how active duty military, military spouses, and Guard and Reserves on 30+ day active orders can get your annual fees waived on premium credit cards in the Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course at militarymoneymanual.com/umc3

If you want to maximize your military paycheck, check out Spencer's 5 star rated book The Military Money Manual: A Practical Guide to Financial Freedom on Amazon or at shop.militarymoneymanual.com.

Want to be confident with your TSP investing? Check out the Confident TSP Investing course at militarymoneymanual.com/tsp to learn all about the Thrift Savings Plan and strategies for growing your wealth while in the military. Use promo code "podcast24" for $50 off. Plus, for every course sold, we'll donate one course to an E-4 or below- for FREE!

If you have a question you would like us to answer on the podcast, please reach out on instagram.com/militarymoneymanual.