Why military financial planning is its own discipline
Military compensation is not a paycheck. It is a system — base pay, allowances, the Thrift Savings Plan, a pension that vests at twenty years, Tricare health coverage, Servicemembers Group Life Insurance, VA benefits for service-connected disabilities, and a retirement system that changed significantly in 2018 with the Blended Retirement System. Each piece has its own rules, its own deadlines, and its own tradeoffs.
Most civilian financial advisors have never seen a Leave and Earnings Statement. They do not know the difference between the legacy High-3 pension and the Blended Retirement System. They cannot model the interaction between VA disability compensation and retirement pay. They treat the TSP like a regular 401(k) and miss the features that make it one of the best retirement plans in the country.
We sit down with military families and start with the benefits they already have. The plan is built on that foundation — not on a civilian template that ignores it.
What working with us looks like
First meeting — on your schedule
We meet at our Paramus office, at your home, or on video — whichever works with the military schedule. Bring your Leave and Earnings Statement, your TSP statements, your SGLI election, and any VA documentation. We ask what the family is planning for and where the gaps are.
Second meeting — the written plan
We return with a written plan that covers TSP optimization, the stay-or-separate analysis, the spouse's retirement strategy, the insurance review, and the transition timeline if applicable. The plan is yours to keep whether or not you decide to work with us.
A note on fit
When this might not be right for you
We are not the right fit for every military family. Some situations where we would say so:
- Anyone looking for free financial counseling available on-installation. The Military OneSource and on-base financial readiness programs exist for a reason, and we encourage using them for basic questions.
- Anyone who wants an advisor to sell them SGLI supplemental coverage or other insurance products. We do not sell insurance of any kind.
- Anyone looking for VA benefits claims assistance. We model the financial impact of VA compensation, but the claims process belongs to a Veterans Service Organization or an accredited claims agent.
- Anyone stationed overseas who needs a local advisor in the host country. We are a Northern NJ firm and we work best with families who have a connection to this area.
If any of that describes your situation, we would rather say so on the first call.
Frequently asked questions
Do you understand military pay and benefits?
Yes. We work with military families regularly and we start every engagement with the full military compensation picture — base pay, allowances, TSP, pension, SGLI, Tricare, and VA benefits. We do not need the service member to explain these. We already know how they work.
Should I roll over my TSP when I separate?
Not always. The TSP has some of the lowest investment fees available anywhere and offers withdrawal options that other plans do not. In many cases, keeping the TSP open and adding a separate IRA for additional flexibility is the better approach. We model the options before recommending one.
How do you model the stay-or-separate decision?
We run both paths in full. The pension path shows lifetime retirement income, Tricare-for-Life eligibility, and total compensation through twenty or more years of service. The separation path shows the civilian income needed to replace military compensation, the benefit gaps, and the transition costs. The comparison gives the family a real number to decide against.
Can you help with my spouse's retirement planning?
Yes. Military spouses often have interrupted employment histories due to PCS moves. We identify the best retirement account options given the spouse's employment situation — employer plan, traditional IRA, Roth IRA, or spousal IRA contributions — and build a savings strategy that survives the next relocation.
Do I need a lot of savings to work with a fee-only advisor?
No. We have no minimum. Many military families come to us with a TSP, a small savings account, and a lot of questions. The planning fee depends on the complexity of the situation, and we publish it before you agree to anything.
Do you sell SGLI supplements or other insurance?
No. We are fee-only fiduciaries. We do not sell any insurance product. We review what you have — SGLI, private policies, employer coverage for the spouse — and tell you whether the coverage matches the family's needs. If you need additional coverage, we point you to independent agents.
Where do you meet with military families?
Most meetings happen at our Paramus office, at the family's home, or on video. We schedule flexibly around military obligations and we do not charge extra for video meetings. In-person service is the default when geography allows.