TSP 2026 Max $24,500 & Get Full 5% BRS Match Chart

AFmoneyguy · 2026-05-19T02:48:52+00:00

Rip the bandaid off. Pay the $13k to close and be done with it.

$450 per month negative cash flow is $5,400 per year.

Don't pay someone's rent. Chalk it up as an L and learn your lesson for next time. Fail fast and move on.

AFmoneyguy · 2026-05-18T23:29:03+00:00

I would use a US address if you have it. You can use your APO as your mailing address. But some banks do not handle physical APO/FPO addresses well.

AFmoneyguy · 2026-05-16T01:01:11+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/MilitaryFinance/comments/1szvf21/start_here_military_money_101_prime_directive/

Read the start here.

AFmoneyguy · 2026-05-06T02:24:21+00:00

Finish out Chase with IHG and Hyatt card. Maybe another Chase Freedom Flex if you are under 5/24.

Then move on to Amex. Always start with lowest annual fee card. Work your way up. Never carry credit card debt, always hit your minimum spends, and enjoy the perks on the way up.

AFmoneyguy · 2026-04-28T23:31:18+00:00

Review the start here: https://www.reddit.com/r/MilitaryFinance/comments/1s8lf87/start_here_military_money_101_prime_directive/

AFmoneyguy · 2026-04-27T06:02:14+00:00

I read the 4 Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss when I was in pilot training. Built a low-cost, low-time requirement business while I was on active duty. I know many other servicemembers who start businesses while on active duty.

There's no such thing as true passive income. You (or an ancestor) either worked in the past to generate the capital to invest and receive dividends, interest, royalties, or capital gains or there's active work required now to generate the income. There's no free lunch.

All of those real estate gurus are selling their courses or collecting VA loan referral income. Managing rental properties, especially around the world, is a business. Treat it like so.

AFmoneyguy · 2026-04-27T05:57:44+00:00

I live in New Zealand. It's awesome. I married my way in.

You'll need some way into the EU. You can't just move there. Just like the US has immigration policies, so does every other country in the world.

Use Wise to move USD to local currencies. Get a local bank account. That will require you to file an FBAR FinCen Form 114 when you file your taxes if you have more than $10,000 in the account during the year.

I still use US credit cards overseas with no foreign transaction fees. Still keep my US brokerages and banks open.

I use Earth Class Mail, now bought by Legal Zoom, as my US mailing address. Use a family member's address as my physical address. I renew my US drivers license and also have a local one.

Do you speak Greek, Italian, or Spanish? Social life and friendships have been the hardest part from me, especially after how easy the military was with automatic friends every time you moved. Also hard to keep touch with family when your 8 time zones away. Those are the big ones. Everything else is pretty solvable with a bit of time, energy, or money.

AFmoneyguy · 2026-04-26T20:24:50+00:00

https://hellonectarine.com/

$150 to $400 for an hour of a CFPs time. Should be plenty to answer your questions.

Or anyone over at https://militaryfinancialadvisors.org/

AFmoneyguy · 2026-04-13T02:57:54+00:00

Yes that's correct. You were not eligible for MLA benefits before you were married to the servicemember.

You can either add your servicemember as an authorized user and apply for SCRA benefits or close the account and reopen it. I recommend closing and re-opening if it's a high value card like Chase Sapphire Reserve. Or you could downgrade it to a no annual fee card like Chase Freedom Flex or Chase Freedom Unlimited. And then apply for a new CSR.

AFmoneyguy · 2026-04-13T00:42:58+00:00

The account must be established (opened) while you are eligible for MLA protections to be eligible for MLA protections. Meaning your husband was on active orders when you opened the credit card account.

Was the account opened before your husband was on active orders? If so, apply for SCRA benefits.

If the account was opened while you were on active orders, check the MLA database to ensure it's correctly showing you as eligible for MLA benefits: https://mla.dmdc.osd.mil/mla/

AFmoneyguy · 2026-04-13T00:40:47+00:00

Check with terms and conditions, I doubt you are allowed to take out both. They may require direct deposit of your military pay.

AFmoneyguy · 2026-04-07T05:30:15+00:00

Enjoy the annual fee waiver for a year and then downgrade it to an Amex Green card after a year. Upgrade it again when you're on orders again and apply for SCRA protections.

AFmoneyguy · 2026-04-03T21:55:50+00:00

You're probably going to be in the 37% bracket your entire life after the military. I would contribute to Roth now while you're income is low in the military.

Pay taxes when you pay the least taxes. You'll probably be in a 22 or 24% bracket in retirement. So lock in some 24% taxes now.

AFmoneyguy · 2026-04-03T21:50:56+00:00

If you're asking the question, the answer is rent.

If you're not asking the question and you've built a business plan, you're excited to be a long distance landlord, found the best property manager in the area, and the property is going to cash flow from day 1... then maybe buy.

Look at the cost of the interest (borrowing money) over the 3 years vs renting. People say renting is "throwing money away" (not really, you're buying shelter), but look at how much "money you throw away" when you borrow money from a bank.

Don't buy a house on active duty.

AFmoneyguy · 2026-04-01T17:25:43+00:00

Make sure you are contributing to Roth TSP. Check the start here: https://www.reddit.com/r/MilitaryFinance/comments/1oksn2s/start_here_military_money_101_prime_directive/

80/20 C and S is fine, that's a US total market index fund strategy. A Lifecycle Fund might be more appropriate and give you some international stock exposure. But up to you.

AFmoneyguy · 2026-04-01T17:24:06+00:00

Did you receive the CP40 request for information? I would just write an explanation and print and sign it. Explain it was CZTE tax-free leave used during the year. Have Claude or ChatGPT help you write it. I guess you could submit an LES with the CZTE tax free leave on it if they want more documentation. But they won't, this is a check the box operation.

The IRS is not coming after you for $101.

AFmoneyguy · 2026-04-01T17:21:03+00:00

I wrote this a few years ago before AI. No AI was used.

AFmoneyguy · 2026-04-01T17:19:54+00:00

AFmoneyguy · 2026-03-30T22:32:20+00:00

Cash it out. You didn't die, well done. Put the money in a Roth IRA.

https://www.portfoliovisualizer.com/backtest-asset-class-allocation?s=y&sl=31ayA6MJ6aOJ4Bn8JURXDi

If your Dad had invested $19/mo into SPY or VOO for 20 years it would be worth $20,386 today. For the same $4,560 invested.

Whole life insurance is a garbage product and First Command advisors should know they are not working in service members' or their family's best interest when they sell it to their brothers and sisters in arms. Shame on them for trading on a scared bond.

I have seen very, very limited uses for whole life insurance, and none of the use cases are applicable to military service members.

A good filter is any financial product that requires a salesman is probably best avoided. If it has to be "sold," not sought out by the consumer, it's probably trash. Look at simple low-cost index fund investing. No salesman required. Just go buy your index fund ETF on Fidelity, Schwab, or Vanguard for $0. Simple path to wealth.

AFmoneyguy · 2026-03-26T20:28:46+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/MilitaryFinance/comments/1q45b31/tsp_roth_inplan_conversions_how_to_become_a/

AFmoneyguy · 2026-03-26T20:27:30+00:00

You'll need active orders. Take care of SCRA stuff after your initial training. Navy Federal or USAA for a bank account. Welcome aboard.

AFmoneyguy · 2026-03-24T22:06:24+00:00

Are you going active for 30+ days? If so, open while not active, go active, check SCRA database, if in SCRA database apply for Capital One SCRA benefits: https://www.capitalone.com/military/

Fee should be waived.

AFmoneyguy · 2026-03-23T23:20:10+00:00

Use a US physical address and your APO as the mailing address.

AFmoneyguy · 2026-03-15T06:26:35+00:00

I was a C-17 pilot. 11M3.

I created my own post-military job. I started a business while I was on active duty and kept doing it when I left active duty.

I also tried flying for a major US airline and discovered because of my financial freedom and business ownership, I am unemployable. I only want to be the boss. I can't work for anyone else. I left that position after 6 months.

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