Starting a business is hard enough, but starting one with a mission bigger than turning a profit can feel like navigating a battlefield. The obstacles are real, like cash flow challenges or forces beyond your control, but so are the rewards when your work changes lives.

In this episode, we’re talking about what it takes to build a business that stands for something. Matt “Griff” Griffin, West Point graduate, Army Ranger, and co-founder of Combat Flip Flops, shares how he transformed lessons from special operations into a global brand manufacturing products in conflict and post-conflict zones. You’ll hear the hard truths about bootstrapping, the difference between nonprofit and for-profit mission-driven models, and why “fail cheap, learn fast” might be your best strategy for impact. https://milmo.co/podcast/mission-driven-business

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When your military career ends, the mission doesn’t, but figuring out what’s next, or what truly lights you up, can be one of the hardest transitions. It’s not just about finding a new job. It’s about rediscovering what matters most and learning how to fund the life you want, not the one you think you’re supposed to have.

In this episode, Omen Quelvog and I discuss values-first financial planning. Omen shares what it is, why it matters, and how it can help you and your family navigate life after service with intention. You’ll hear how to rethink your next chapter, what abundance really means, and why military retirees might be more financially ready than they realize.

Omen is the founder of Formynder Wealth Management, a fee-only financial planning firm helping military families build purpose-filled lives after service. A retired Marine Corps officer with 25 years of service, he holds the Military Qualified Financial Planner® designation and is a candidate for CFP® certification.

https://milmo.co/podcast/values-first-financial-planning

02:15 – Why values first financial planning matters for military families 04:10 – Starting with your “why” before creating a financial plan 06:02 – Common money challenges during the transition to civilian life 08:15 – How defining your “North Star” shapes every financial decision 10:05 – The emotional side of money and why it’s often overlooked 12:20 – Real-life examples of aligning spending with values 14:05 – The role of intentional trade-offs in living your ideal life 16:12 – How to filter out distractions and stay focused on priorities 18:30 – First questions to ask if you’ve never done values-based planning 20:45 – Bridging the gap between short-term needs and long-term goals 23:00 – Why flexibility is key in military-to-civilian transitions 25:12 – Building resilience through purpose-driven financial choices 27:05 – How this approach strengthens family relationships 29:15 – Final advice for living with clarity and intention

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Too many people wait until they’re just a few years from retirement to start asking the big questions, like Can I afford to stop working? And what if my spouse isn’t retiring yet? The truth is, preparing for retirement isn’t just about portfolios and percentages. It’s about aligning your finances with your life.

In this episode, Jeff Panik shares the common mistakes people make before retirement and offers advice on how to avoid them. He talks about why inventorying your financial life matters, what conversations couples should be having, and why testing your retirement lifestyle before you actually retire can be a game-changer.

Jeff is the Founder of Balance Wealth Partners and a financial advisor with over 25 years of experience. A U.S. Army veteran and first-generation college graduate, Jeff combines disciplined insight with deep empathy to help pre-retirees navigate the complex landscape of Social Security, Medicare, income planning, and succession strategy. His firm was founded on a simple mission: to help people live well today while preparing wisely for tomorrow.

Jeff’s approach is rooted in life experience, from paying off student loans through military service to building a career that demystifies money for others. He believes financial advice should be practical, transparent, and deeply human. He is the author of Your Future Is Now, a personal finance guide for young adults, and is set to release his upcoming book for pre-retirees. His work reflects a deep commitment to fostering financial literacy for all generations. When he’s not advising others, Jeff enjoys traveling, spending time with his family, and following sports— especially from his home base in Sandy Springs, Georgia. 06:05 – The #1 mistake people make 5–10 years before retirement 08:30 – Is the “perfect portfolio” really the goal? 10:35 – Why taking a “financial inventory” is a retirement game-changer 12:10 – What to do if you're not naturally organized with money or documents 13:30 – The surprising truth about hobbies and moving in retirement 14:45 – Couples and retirement: how to navigate different timelines 16:25 – Important financial conversations to have before marriage 18:00 – Perception vs. reality: social media and financial stress 19:57 – Why mentorship and storytelling matter in personal finance 23:15 – What retirees often overestimate—and what they underestimate 24:49 – The very first move to make if you haven’t started retirement planning 27:30 – Retirement and health: why you can’t afford to wait 29:22 – Jeff’s favorite tools, including how he uses AI for planning 31:36 – The book that shaped Jeff’s financial philosophy 33:15 – Game Time: “Is It Real?” – Jeff faces off with banana museums and reverse zoos

https://milmo.co/podcast/retirement-mistakes-to-avoid

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Losing a spouse changes everything, emotionally, mentally, and financially. But while grief is often discussed, the money struggles that come with it are rarely part of the conversation, or just grief in general. From paperwork and decisions to pressure and overwhelm, surviving spouses are often expected to figure it all out. In this episode, Certified Financial Planner and Air Force veteran, Daniel Kopp, talks about the financial side of grief, what widows and widowers really face after loss, the emotional weight behind every decision, and how to find stability when your world feels upside down. He shares both his personal experience and professional insights on navigating life after loss.

Daniel Kopp, MA, MS, CFP ®, is a fee-only financial planner, financial therapist, and founder of Wise Stewardship Financial Planning, where he helps young widows and widowers as well as military members organize their financial lives by aligning money with their deeply-held values. 

He leverages his experiences as a widower and Air Force veteran to offer a deeper level of engagement and connection with his clients. He is also an XYPN and NAPFA member, as well as being a founding board member of the Military Financial Advisors Association (MFAA). Daniel’s education includes his undergraduate with a BS in Economics from Purdue University with highest distinction, an MA from American Military University, a Graduate Certificate in Financial Therapy and an MS in Personal Financial Planning from Kansas State University (KSU). He has been published in the Journal of Financial Therapy for his research on working with widows dealing with money avoidance. https://milmo.co/podcast/life-after-loss

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Military life comes with lots of transitions and career decisions are a big one, especially for spouses navigating remote work, PCS moves, and family schedules. A big decision many milspouses face is whether to stick with the stability of a W-2 job or switch to the flexibility and income potential of 1099 contract work.

In this episode, I’m answering a listener's question from Holly about whether she should leave her W-2 remote job and take on 1099 work instead. I’ll break down the pros and cons of each path, especially for military families, including taxes, benefits, portability, and peace of mind so you can weigh your own decision with more clarity and confidence. https://milmo.co/podcast/listener-question-1099-career-switch

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Veteran homelessness is a heartbreaking reality that still exists in communities across the country. While many of us want to help, it can be hard to know where to start, or feel like what we can give really makes a difference.

In this episode, Tom McLean and I are talking about how small, everyday actions can add up to real change for veterans in need. We talk about the current crisis of veteran homelessness, what meaningful support looks like, and how anyone, military or civilian, can take action that matters.

Tom serves as Senior Vice President and Military Retail Executive for Armed Forces Bank, having worked for the company for 17 years. He is responsible for sales, business development and financial outreach at military banking locations around the country. He spends time focused on Associate development, coaching, marketing, business development, financial education initiatives, supporting installation activities and community outreach. https://milmo.co/podcast/veteran-homelessness

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Taking the oath and raising your right hand is a big moment. For many of us, it’s one we never forget. But imagine if you could hand your younger enlisted or officer self a letter on that day. A letter full of the wisdom, hard work, and growth that military life and life itself were going to teach you. 

In this episode, I’m doing just that. This is a letter I would have given to my 19-year-old self on the day I swore into the U.S. Air Force. I hope it resonates with you or someone you love who’s just starting out. https://milmo.co/podcast/younger-enlisted-self

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There’s a quiet shift happening in the way we spend money and it’s costing us more than we realize. Small payments, auto-splits, and “buy now, pay later” options have become the new normal, and while they seem harmless, they’re creating habits that lead to quiet, creeping debt. Especially in the military community, where transitions and tight budgets are already part of the equation, these modern money habits can quickly get out of hand and lead to mounting debt.

In this episode, I’m digging into the everyday spending behaviors that seem like smart choices but often backfire. I’ll talk about how things like Pay Later options, subscription overload, and loan stacking are affecting military families and what you can do instead to protect your finances and build real financial stability.

https://milmo.co/podcast/modern-debt-habits

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When it comes to money, our emotions often drive the decisions we make and that’s especially true in military life, where constant change, separation, and stress can shape how we spend, save, and communicate with those we love. But if we don’t understand our financial behaviors, we can find ourselves repeating the same mistakes over and over, leading us to feel stuck.

In this episode, I discuss the world of behavioral finance with Cherie Stueve and how it applies to military households. We talk about why comparison is a financial trap, how our upbringing influences our money habits, and the surprising role of intensity in financial arguments. Cherie offers practical advice and small steps you can take today to make smarter money moves.

Cherie Stueve, PhD, CFP®, AFC®, FFC®, FBS®, CAP®, is a lifelong learner and financial educator, counselor, coach, planner, and researcher. During her spouse’s 20-year Coast Guard career, Cherie navigated frequent relocations before portal, virtual career and education options. That experience drives her commitment to helping military spouses build flexible, resilient careers in personal finance. For the past three years, she and her spouse, Tim have supported scholarships for military spouses to attend conferences and pursue professional development, including MilMoneyCon. https://milmo.co/podcast/behavioral-finance-for-military-life

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Transitioning out of the military isn’t just about finding a new job. It’s about redefining who you are. For many service members, especially those in the Special Operations community, leaving the military can feel like losing a piece of your identity, your purpose, and sense of belonging.

In this episode, Kelly McGraw shares how to navigate the emotional and mental side of transition with tools that go beyond resumes and LinkedIn profiles. She discusses how the Honor Foundation is assisting service members through both its elite program and the new Vector Accelerator, enabling veterans to reclaim their sense of identity, purpose, and community as they transition into civilian life. 

Kelly is the Chief Impact Officer at The Honor Foundation (THF), where she joined in 2020 to build a diversified funding stream and sustain the organization’s mission into the future.  Prior to THF, she directed the development efforts at other notable nonprofits, including The National Pediatric Cancer Foundation, Horizons Hampton Roads, and the Navy SEAL Foundation.  Kelly also has 9 years of corporate experience in sales, marketing, and consulting. https://milmo.co/podcast/missing-step-in-military-transition

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