Military specific issues including military pay, living on/off base, education, programs and more. Many fail to take full advantage of opportunities available. Learn to make the most of the benefits you’ve earned.
Note: Before paying for any financial service, consultation or advice, consult your command/base financial specialist. Most if not all of financial services you need can be obtained for free at a discount. Your command/base financial specialist should also have a list of free local financial classes like money management, debt, credit, buying a home/car, etc.
Worksheets
- PCS Worksheet
- Deployment Checklist
- Financial Planning Worksheet Checklist (use prior to financial planning worksheet)
- Financial Planning Worksheet
- Financial Counseling Checklist (bring to your meeting with your financial counselor)
Pay & Benefits
- News, information and calculators about DoD pay for both military and civilians: www.dfas.mil, www.dfas.mil/MilitaryPay
- Military guide to benefits: http://myarmybenefits.us.army.mil/
- Tricare military health care: www.tricare.osd.mil
Money Management
- A solid financial guide for military families in PDF format that you can download, use and pass on: Personal Finance for Military Families
- Building wealth and reducing debt: www.MilitarySaves.org
- Free financial information and tools to help servicemembers manage their money: www.SaveAndInvest.org
- Personal finance tips for servicemembers: Use Financial Common Sense
- Financial resource for servicemembers and their families covering many topics: www.MilitaryMoney.com
- Free Educational Money Games
- Free Online Courses
- Free Money Management Software
Credit Management
- Credit game, learn about managing your credit: www.ControlYourCredit.gov
- Request a free credit report annually from each of the three credit bureaus, totaling three free credit reports per year. www.AnnualCreditReport.com
Retirement
- Thrift Savings Plan, an excellent retirement savings plan for military personnel and other federal employees: www.tsp.gov
Investing Resources
VA Loans
- Information on VA Loan programs: www.homeloans.va.gov
Education
- GI Bill: http://www.gibill.va.gov/
- Yellow Ribbon Program: http://www.gibill.va.gov/gi_bill_info/ch33/yellow_ribbon.htm
Deployment
- Deployment guide at military.com (for profit site): www.military.com/deployment
- Family deployment guide for families, developed by Marine Corps family readiness, but has helpful information for any service member and their family: MCCS Family Deployment Guide
PCS Moves
- Defense travel management office website: www.DefenseTravel.dod.mil
- Free tool to help plan your next PCS: www.MilitaryHomeFront.DoD.mil/tf/MovingAndRelocation
Military Housing
- Navy & Marine Corps Housing: www.Housing.Navy.Mil/OneStop
Consumer Awareness, Assistance and Tips
- Military Personnel & Families Fighting Back Against Identity Theft: Brochure with tips for military personnel and their families on how to deter, detect and defend against identity theft.
- Learn about your rights as a service member: www.servicemembers.gov
- Check out business in your local area before doing business with them, local: www.BBB.org, military: www.BBB.org/Military
- ID Theft: www.FTC.gov/IdTheft, www.Sileo.com
- Remove name from list for firm offers of insurance/credit by agencies that get their information from one of the three credit bureaus. Through this site you may: opt-out electronically (5 yrs.), opt-out by mail (permanently) or opt-in if you’ve previously opted-out: www.OptOutpreScreen.com
- When calling customer service lines, bypass initial automated services and get a customer service rep: www.GetHuman.com
Misc. Family Resources
- Excellent resource for active duty, guard/reserve and their families: http://www.MilitaryOneSource.com/default.aspx
- Support for military families: http://www.militaryfamily.org/
Leaving Active Duty (Transition/EAS)
- EAS soon? Here is the DOD’s official website on transitioning from military service: www.TurboTAP.org
Insurance
- Servicemembers’ & Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI): www.insurance.va.gov/sgliSite/default.htm
- Military insurance issues: www.naic.org/consumer_military_insurance.htm
Legal Assistance
- Legal assistance locator for military personnel: http://LegalAssistance.law.af.mil/content/locator.php
Taxes
- Tax information for military: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=97273,00.html
