Retirement points are important but they’re also confusing as all get out. Points can help or hurt the money you earn in retirement. So they’re very important to know about and understand!

John Cooney is a CFP (R), Enrolled Agent, and a fee-only financial planner who founded Green and Gold Financial Planning to help people make smarter financial decisions, develop confidence in their financial situation, and live more financially secure lives. John is a graduate of West Point and a 20 year US Army veteran. When not working with clients or attending his drill weekend, John enjoys being outdoors with his wife and two boys, cooking, running, and cheering on the Boston area sports teams.

John breaks down what retirement points are, who they’re for, why they’re important and how they impact your military pension.

Show notes can be found here:

https://laceylangford.com/podcast/retirement-points/

Between 2016 and 2020, Service members and veterans lost over 420 million dollars in scams that were reported. Members of the military community are victims of Cybercrimes at a higher rate than the civilian community. A steady paycheck and frequent deployments make you a big target for fraud.

Cindy Liebes is the Chief Program Officer at the Cyber Security Network, a public and private collaboration to help individuals and small businesses combat cybercrime.

Cindy and I talk about common types of scams and fraud impacting service members and military spouses, how you can spot them and what to do about them whether you are a victim or not.

Inflation is something that impacts everyone's wallets. Talk about the subject is everywhere but what’s everyone saying and what does it all mean?

To get the 411 on what’s going on with inflation in the U.S., I’m bringing in an expert on inflation, Bob Frick.

Robert Frick is Navy Federal’s corporate economist, the world's largest credit union serving the military and their families. He provides expertise in economics as it relates to home, auto and consumer lending, credit cards and financial planning. Bob is an expert in personal finance, having worked as an editor at Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine for 15 years, and also is an expert in behavioral economics, or the study of people’s behaviors surrounding money.

Bob and I get into a great discussion of what’s going on with inflation and what it means for all of us and our wallets.

Show notes can be found here:

https://laceylangford.com/podcast/inflation-in-2021

Many military spouses head up the finances for their households. The frequent moves and deployments make it easier for the military spouses and often military wives to be the money point person whether you have experience or confidence to manage money or not.

Catherine Alford is the author of the book Mom's Got Money: A millennial mom's guide to managing money like a boss. She’s a nationally recognized financial educator who started her business with a $10 domain name and grew it into a multifaceted, six-figure digital media company.

Cat shares what every Mom should know about money, how to educate yourself on money fundamentals, and the importance of calculating your net worth.

Starting a non-profit after military service is an option some aren’t aware of. Creating your own non-profit to do the work you love and to help others is an opportunity you can take if you prepare.

My guest, Mike Steadman, the Founder & CEO of IRONBOUND Boxing & Education, did just that. Mike, a three-time National Collegiate Boxing Champion from the United States Naval Academy and Marine Corps Infantry Officer, started a nonprofit organization based in Newark, NJ that provides free amateur boxing training, entrepreneur education, and employment opportunities for Newark youth & young adults.

Mike shares his story of getting started in boxing, the steps he took to start a non-profit, and tips to help you start a nonprofit, and mistakes to avoid.

The show notes can be found here:

https://laceylangford.com/podcast/non-profit-after-military-service/

Not everyone is content to live off of service member's pay alone. Military spouses want to make money and many service members want to make additional income. People want a better quality of life and are willing to do the work to make more money but how do you do it?

A growing path to earn money anywhere, anytime is by becoming a virtual assistant or a VA. Mary Elaine Baker knows how to make lots of money as a VA. Mary Elaine is the Co-Founder of VAUSA with her husband, Brett. Mary Elaine is a former military spouse that previously worked full-time as an elementary school teacher while her husband was deployed. After struggling for so many years to balance competing demands, Mary Elaine longed for a better work-life balance and a way to be more present for her children. She discovered the ability to work remotely helped her to succeed in other areas of life.

Mary Elaine and I talk about how she got started, how VAUSA can help military spouses become VAs, and what you need to know about the work before you jump it.

The show notes can be found here:

https://laceylangford.com/podcast/make-money-as-a-virtual-assistant/

Figuring out what you want to be after you retire or separate from the military is a big decision. Or figuring out a career that works well with military life can be a challenge for spouses. If you’re going to work as a financial professional, there’s a lot to do and know before starting that career path. 

Certified Financial Planners and military veterans Forrest Baumhover and Daniel Kopp are on the show to share advice on the steps you should take if you’re interested in becoming a financial planner. I know I’m biased since it’s my show, but this episode is a resource I had before starting my path as a financial professional. 

Forrest and Daniel are the creators and hosts of the Military to Financial Planner podcast. A podcast where they share their unique perspectives and career transition advice to help others build a post-military life and career as a financial planner. 

Forrest and Daniel break down what you should know and do before getting started as a financial planner. 

The show notes can be found here: https://laceylangford.com/podcast/becoming-a-financial-planner-after-the-military

It’s encore time. For USAA members, the transfer of investment products to Charles Schwab was something that we had to get used to. It was new. Well, it’s been a year since the transfer so today I’m doing an encore airing of my show with Danielle Munoz from Charles Schwab on the benefits members receive at Schwab. Danielle covers a lot of valuable info in this show.

Be sure to check out the show notes with newly updated resources from this show.

It’s hard to believe but it’s been a year since USAA transferred their brokerage accounts to Charles Schwab. In honor of the anniversary, I’m doing an encore presentation of my interview with Mary Stork from USAA.

Be sure to check out the show notes with newly updated resources. I’ll have more information on Schwab stock slices and the free financial plan you are eligible for as a Schwab client.

Money conversation can be hard to start. It’s a talk that a lot of people would rather avoid. Especially when money’s tight. They can be stressful and lead to fights in a marriage. So you can see why it’s not top of the list for most people. But it’s something that has to be done.

Paul Roberts is a Charles Schwab Financial Consultant - Member Relationship Advisor. He is a Certified Financial Planner and a Human Resources Officer in the Army Reserves. He understands the importance of money conversations and legacy planning for the military community.

Paul shares advice on how to start money conversations, what needs to be discussed, and how to handle resistance. He also talks about how you can get your gets involved in money discussions.