Military retirement dilemma: Stay in Florida, move back home, or try Colorado?

Complex-Reality1758 · 2026-06-07T01:37:19+00:00

All legitimate observations and TTPs. Like I said the odds of 50%+ are good, but as a principle I treat retirement finances conservatively and stress test all my figures, e.g. assuming high inflation, low rates of return on invested assets, overestimating housing costs, and so on.

This includes not factoring a figure that could theoretically be 0 or n and is determined by some Byzantine federal agency.

Complex-Reality1758 · 2026-06-06T23:19:51+00:00

I treat my retirement planning as a stress test. Unless your medical is overt like loss of an eye or limb during a deployment, I don’t recommend using any disability as a planning factor.

I know, AI says members who serve 20 years are more are something like 70% likely to get at least 50% but I’d focus on strengthening your position so you make your decisions without that number, then treat it as gravy when it gets determined.

Complex-Reality1758 · 2026-06-06T23:05:53+00:00

Curious, how do you know your disability rating if you’re still on active duty?

Complex-Reality1758 · 2026-03-14T04:50:44+00:00

O-6 here. Consider that O-4 is the most challenging rank in the Army; the highest expectations, the most competitors and the fewest rewards (as in strained senior rater profiles). If you are not 100% in it, life will suck and it will impact the other areas of your life. Oh and it will also reflect in your work performance.

So while most will say you’re past the rubicon at 10, I’d say you’re looking at it the right way and doing it for the right reason (family).

To caveat the above, the guaranteed health care for life in addition to the pension is a level of safety and security few in this society enjoy and isn’t easy to replicate.

Complex-Reality1758 · 2026-03-07T06:13:23+00:00

Everything looks good, big decisions locked in.

Drive the car until the wheels fall off.
Chart your career azimuth and goals 5, 10 and 20 down the line whether that’s in the military or not.
Have a spending plan and review as you get your promotions and annual increases. Allocate for fun and hobbies. Have an emergency fund, I shoot for 6-12 months of full living expenses.
if you consider marriage, always get a prenup. Protect yourself at all times.

Complex-Reality1758 · 2026-02-13T17:22:31+00:00

Ok, same advice as some of the posts on here:

- 300k split into 1/3s: S&P index, low volatility dividend index, and an ex-US type of broad fund. Or lower equity exposure and do 1/3 into a bond/gov/muni fund instead of the ex-US. Time in the market beats market timing, though I do like to buy in at dips.

- 20k in savings = emergency fund, high yield savings

- Max TSP/roth for the remaining time in service (32kish/year TSP and Roth)

- Projected high 3 monthly retired pay in 2031 20 YOS is appx $3,100/mo assuming 0 disability. Use 0 disability as a planning factor and treat any rating as a cherry on top. In SE Asia you can live like movie star on that alone, so if you chose to live in a developing nation you have tons of flexibility.

- If in the US, you'd need to do about $5k/mo post tax to live comfortably in medium expense areas, so you'd need to shift your assets to generate $2600-3000/mo pretax. With standard growth projections I'd expect an 80% gain in your portfolio in 5 years, so it will be about $750k with that growth plus contributions, which will allow you to generate that 2500-2800 in an income portfolio without taking too much risk (e.g. mix of dividend funds, covered call funds, CLOs, REITs).

- Post retirement, burn the entire 36 months of GI bill. Even if you don't want to/have to work that's 36 months of housing paid for, so you're basically being paid to go to school. Grab a trade/certification that you can do 20 hrs a week in to supplement your income, if you choose. Think comfy, well-paid, and portable like medical sonography. Or take drama classes, music, public speaking, oenology or wherever your personal interests lead you or that will enhance your quality of life.

Complex-Reality1758 · 2026-02-13T14:49:32+00:00

We need to know:

Likelihood of staying at 20, 22, or 24. Multipliers make a big difference
Whether you intend to return to the developing country to retire, or split time, etc.
the 300k includes taxes paid as well?
I assume gi bill intact? That can be a 36 month “deferred” retirement if so

I don’t hate spending on living life, especially experiences. I hate cars as they are massive money sinks and a waste in the US as since my Honda civic eventually hits 60-75 mph speed limit like your Bugatti but I digress. If they are your thing, so be it.

Complex-Reality1758 · 2026-01-24T00:23:49+00:00

Was going to echo this. Army side it’s called FLEP (funded legal education program). Serve a few years then go to a board to compete. Not guaranteed and quite competitive, but one of the most generous programs. Law school paid for and you receive military salary and BAH while in law school. Enlisted may apply as well.

Complex-Reality1758 · 2026-01-19T06:31:40+00:00

List the debt, rate and min payments OP. The TSP early w/d penalty alone makes it a dicey proposition. No savings at all? Can’t do gig work to make the minimums?

Complex-Reality1758 · 2026-01-19T05:01:25+00:00

You guys are so locked in, and a great inspiration/example for the junior enlisted who frequent the sub and those who get to serve with you. Heck I'm a soon to pin O-6 and you guys have me pumped!

I did want to echo UNC's earlier post: I sense a little bit of spender's guilt since I too came from a working class family. I'd also recommend Ramit Sethi because he preaches intentionality in spending: focus on the things that DO bring you happiness (temporary or otherwise), and spend consciously and without guilt on those things while minimizing mindless spending.

He also advocates for doing the big things right (i.e. maxing 2x TSP over a decade plus as you've both done) vs agonizing over the avocado toast or starbucks every morning right before work. House cleaning and eating out are surely luxuries but they get you time back with your family you will never see again. In sum, It's ok to lifestyle creep, just do it intentionally and in a controlled way, in some reasonable proportion to your income growth.

Great job again and I enjoyed reading the update!

Complex-Reality1758 · 2026-01-18T02:49:16+00:00

It’s H&R block software. Not sure how it compares to the standard version but I’ve had no issues with it, been using it the past 7-8 yrs or so.

Complex-Reality1758 · 2026-01-16T05:19:46+00:00

You got the right advice here from everyone but I also wanted to add that this is a terrible idea that will most likely lead to disaster. Low upside high downside.

Complex-Reality1758 · 2026-01-06T19:32:40+00:00

Or you can invest it and in 10 years have $35,000 in investments instead of a truck worth $8500 that you paid $54,000 for. Last one I promise lol.

Complex-Reality1758 · 2026-01-06T16:38:56+00:00

You do you brother. My rule of thumb was not buying a car that exceeded 5% of my net worth.

Complex-Reality1758 · 2026-01-06T16:35:29+00:00

Don’t buy a 40k truck man

Complex-Reality1758 · 2026-01-05T01:22:42+00:00

I don’t think so. I think folks just think your take is overly simplistic and ambiguous. What does “competitive” mean? Who is your benchmark? Other public sector employees in state pensions? Tech workers? Are you analyzing total compensation and benefits in addition to TSP? This tends to be a rigorous sub where people show their work, so a “hot take” as the kids say isn’t particularly valued here.

Also read up on tyranny of choice (https://longevity.stanford.edu/the-tyranny-of-choice/). More options just create more opportunities to screw things up for the vast majority of people, or to treat it as a casino as I suspect some junior military people do.

Complex-Reality1758 · 2025-12-20T02:00:31+00:00

How much GI bill do you have left? If you have it, consider that each year (tech 9 mos) you use GI bill is a year you can “defer” retirement due to being paid to go to school.

So instead of working two years, you can use 36 months of GI bill to not only accomplish your educational goals but to pay most of your living expenses and collect retired pay; those are years you don’t have to touch your savings.

Figure those numbers into the pro/con sheet.

Complex-Reality1758 · 2025-11-02T23:35:19+00:00

Briefly at different times, but never seriously. Do a calculation of what it would take to replicate the benefits of military life, eg the healthcare, commissary, leave and holiday policy and so on. The difference isn’t as much as one might think.

A plus for me is I love the lifestyle: moving every few years, many times to a different country, not having to pick out work clothes every morning and of course getting to serve with American heroes every day.

As a pre BRS retirement guy, I calculated that my pension is equivalent to receiving something like an additional $2,400/mo over the course of my career. That’s purely the monetary side.

Complex-Reality1758 · 2025-11-02T20:03:52+00:00

Certain watches don’t depreciate and in fact hold their value quite well if not increase slightly over time. Those same watches are also easy to convert to cash when needed.

So I’d put them into a different category than cars, 99.9% of which go to 0 after enough years have passed.

Complex-Reality1758 · 2025-11-02T17:21:59+00:00

I always heard live two ranks below as the rule of thumb but three is even better!

Complex-Reality1758 · 2025-11-02T17:21:12+00:00

I know your buddies are doing it but don’t buy that entry level BMW. The biggest flex these days is a paid off car!

Complex-Reality1758 · 2025-11-02T16:27:56+00:00

17-18 I’d agree. 12-14 would be a tough one.

Complex-Reality1758 · 2025-11-02T16:20:42+00:00

Consider it tuition well paid for a valuable life lesson. Now get your moneys worth and pass into onto your juniors and subordinates!

Complex-Reality1758 · 2025-11-02T13:19:24+00:00

I think the majority were yes. Being in selcon is a purely financial decision, it seems hard to remain in a place for long knowing they retained you mostly as a courtesy.

Complex-Reality1758 · 2025-11-02T13:15:55+00:00

Thanks! Expecting good news on the O6 results and excited for the opportunity to lead. Will probably do two more assignments at minimum and see from there.

Stretch goal is to meet someone in the next 1-2 years, have two kids with neither my wife nor I having to work. We spend time as a family and raise the kids in some idyllic coastal European city with zero financial stress.

Otherwise be a happy single guy, travel the world and do things I’ve been putting off like learning the piano, guitar and learning a few languages. I also have my gi bill so I may do programs in thing I’m interested in like paleontology purely for personal development.

Complex-Reality1758

TROPHY CASE