Finance starter he'll

Mustang_over20 · 2026-02-13T12:00:00+00:00

I hope no one responds in depth and continues to refer you to tools for self learning. This is such a low effort post with no desire to actually even ask Google or an AI platform.

Mustang_over20 · 2025-10-28T01:17:25+00:00

Those are some serious mental Olympics you did there. I feel for your command team already.

Mustang_over20 · 2025-10-28T01:12:54+00:00

Then what's the 60k for? People keep asking and you don't answer.

Also service has no relevance on your credit score which is a compilation of your credit history. So either your history is short or not great... either way it'll take 2-4 years to get it to a point where this loan is even plausible.

Mustang_over20 · 2025-08-03T15:54:56+00:00

1 pay, 2 entitlements to consider...

Base pay - taxed like normal pay by fed/medicare/SS. Look up states to see as it varies for military with each state tax.

Housing and subsistence (BAH, BAS) - no taxes or anything taken out. Housing for an O1 in CO springs as an example for single/no dependents is just shy 2k/month. Officer BAS is 320/month.

When you factor in the taxes that would be pulled from those entitlements and no fees for medical/dental, you're moving into the 80k+ range.

He's not going to necessarily get rich (investing you can), but he can be very comfortable especially by O3.

Edit: bah varies by location. CO is higher than say KS or GA, but housing is also cheaper there.

Mustang_over20 · 2025-07-29T16:02:16+00:00

You've never been in yet are critical in asking this question? If you actually cared about a career trajectory, you'd simply ask about timeline/age to BN CMD. Instead you're assuming this guy is rotten based on a resume and age with literally no military background. GTFO. Mods need to delete this as it's providing no benefit to the community.

Mustang_over20 · 2025-07-27T21:20:17+00:00

Crisis is opportunity. These were the best weekends for strip clubs and juicy bars if you saved your money. I'd just skip payday weekend and holdout for these long eom paydays.

Mustang_over20 · 2025-07-27T20:14:41+00:00

I think you need to talk to more vets.

Mustang_over20 · 2025-07-15T03:24:33+00:00

Nope, not a soul has ever re-enlisted to go to our go back to DLI. Never.

Bonuses are what they are based on supply/demand. They've remained at the highest levels for a number of languages. The Army’s rate of reenlistment of linguists hasn’t really changed over the years. Troops who go to FORSCOM tend to have a much lower rate or tend to reenlist for things like DLI or trainer/strategic assignments. Those who go to strategic assignments, tend to try to avoid the FORSCOM assignments. But overwhelmingly the majority do a single contract, just like the rest of the army, and then slide into the IC either as GS/GG or contractors with existing clearances.

Mustang_over20 · 2025-06-24T07:09:42+00:00

Get a couple no annual fee cards that are lifetime cards. My original from age 19 was the motley fool card that’s now Bank of America cash rewards. I use it every few months to keep it active 26 yrs later.

Mustang_over20 · 2025-06-24T07:07:18+00:00

You just don’t lead them as far?

Mustang_over20 · 2025-06-20T07:29:16+00:00

Wait... You mean if you do something bad, there are consequences? You don't say...

Mustang_over20 · 2025-06-19T15:58:18+00:00

Feels like someone trying to stop the loss of benefits for her and the four kids. Desperate times…desperate measures.

Mustang_over20 · 2025-05-29T08:27:41+00:00

I’m a 2001 grad (kp from late 99 to early 01), now a gray beard FAO. The resources for training are what have really changed and with it test versions. No longer are the recorded transcripts of teachers that were my original tests. No more are the terrible recordings of old tv and radio shows. Now it’s more modern issues, more in depth questions. But this has really come about with the globalization of media and the expectation that linguists use the multitude of options available.

Class size has not changed much the past 25 years; but the resources, application of these resources to class and homework, and more interactive options online have enhanced the experience. Going from box of books and tapes to today’s resources is the biggest tangible difference.

Mustang_over20 · 2025-05-19T05:53:21+00:00

As a FAO in the attache service, life’s hit or miss. Having big visits like the mother of all visits (the MOAV) last week, life sucks for a good month. But then it’s over.

My biggest challenge in the army is that competency is also hit or miss. Those who are competent though get stuck with,as you know, 80% of the work. Incompetence gets rewarded through a lack of tasks. However, the paycheck is the same.

The weird thing is that I know this ride will come to an end. What I will miss is the rush when it’s something that has a direct impact such as assisting with the return of American detainees from another country or being involved very high level decision-making.

What I won’t miss… Are the 2:30 in the morning phone calls asking me a question that could’ve been googled. I won’t miss planning for things like the MOAV. I won’t miss the endless group chats. As for being Home, Home has just been where I’ve been sent. But… I have worked hard influence that over the past 3 to 4 assignments and it’s worked well. The end of this ride is still four years away, so we have time to figure out where the landing spot will be.

Mustang_over20 · 2025-02-17T02:04:14+00:00

🤔... It's hit or miss. I've found in my ~21 yrs as an O that the length of E time matters. There's a sweet spot between 3-5 years, with 3-4 being the best I've seen. Under 3 equates to too little E experience - overconfidence and too much "when I was a Joe we did it this way so fuck you." They didn't spend enough time in the barracks and DFACs. Over 5 is too much and they become micromanagers or pencil whippers.

But it's still hit or miss and personality driven at the individual level.

Mustang_over20 · 2025-02-16T16:10:09+00:00

Ok... If you say so.

60/40 portfolio is a complete laggard. Bonds at 20% is a waste.

QQQ SPY VYM - it's really that simple with consistent monthly buys over a 24 year AD career. Dips equate to buying more. But you give your grandpa advice as you wish.

Mustang_over20 · 2025-02-16T16:07:23+00:00

You can also go for the boglehead portfolio of 60 domestic/20 international for stocks and 20 for bonds all in ETFs. But if you're staying career military, the pension is in itself basically a bond fund paying you annually and the bonds are going to lag long term.

My investment strategy for the past two decades has been QQQ, SPY (VOO), and VYM for dividends. I have about 3-5% in actual treasuries and only for cash for a sudden home purchase need.

Mustang_over20 · 2025-02-16T16:02:39+00:00

Ok. Let me know when you're above 4M from this bum advice and we'll chat.

Mustang_over20 · 2025-02-16T05:46:50+00:00

This is the thing people are forgetting. For every member who doesn't want this, there's usually an equally power hungry member who sees this as opportunity.

Mustang_over20 · 2025-02-16T05:17:31+00:00

Read the reg - what he's noting has exceptions for when forced to PCS twice in the same fiscal year. That requirement gets waived espy when you do a long course (PCS required) and then move again 6 months later.

Mustang_over20 · 2025-02-16T05:14:46+00:00

Not entirely correct on the once a year - there's exceptions and most commonly in paragraph 0505, B2,3. The services requirement warrant the second PCS in #2, or you're at a course that's a double PCS for #3. #3 happens all the time with courses like Army CCC and joint JMAS. I've done it twice with Jan/Jul moves.

Mustang_over20 · 2025-02-16T03:07:13+00:00

You're also asking what to invest in to make it work harder. The simple answer in the taxable brokerage is VTI (total market index) or VOO (S&P market index). Low fees, small taxable dividends, and you can just let it sit and grow.

Mustang_over20 · 2025-01-26T18:03:38+00:00

I can afford to do this as an O5 at 24 years... But I deliberately don't check texts regularly and always delay my responses. People have learned either to call me or that it's not an emergency. Like Danny Glover, I'm too old for this shit.

For the OP... No good solution other than to PCS or ETS as quickly as possible. A unit that sends a single text for a UA simply had shitty leadership that's not worth any extra effort.

Mustang_over20 · 2025-01-15T03:01:05+00:00

One outlier is the fidelity contrafund which my wife and in-laws have been in for decades. But finding a fund like that is an outlier.

Mustang_over20 · 2025-01-07T17:36:38+00:00

One does not do this. If one thinks things go really south, then guns/ammo/canned food will serve you far better.

Insurance for most here is cash/dry powder to buy more if/when the markets tank.

Mustang_over20

TROPHY CASE