The Military Wallet Podcast

This Mail Call episode of The Military Wallet Podcast focuses on how VA health care works and what veterans should know about dependent benefits. VA health care can be confusing, especially when disability ratings, priority groups, copays, and family eligibility rules all overlap. Ryan Guina is joined by Chad Armstrong, founder of Ace Veteran Consulting and a retired senior non-commissioned office...

In this episode of The Military Wallet Podcast, Ryan Guina talks with Sarah Roder, Director of Partnerships at Armed Forces Mutual and a certified financial education instructor, about how military families can prepare for a PCS and make the transition to a new duty station a little smoother. Sarah shares practical ways to build a financial cushion before a move, reassess your budget after arrivin...

In this episode of The Military Wallet Mail Call, Ryan Guina answers three listener questions about moving money out of the Thrift Savings Plan and into other retirement accounts. He covers when you may be able to roll money out of the TSP while still in federal or military service, what to consider before making the move, and why direct rollovers can help simplify the transfer process. Ryan also...

Building a family can be challenging under any circumstances, but military life can add another layer of complexity. PCS moves, deployments, continuity-of-care issues, and gaps in TRICARE coverage can all affect the options available to military families — and how much those options cost. On this episode of The Military Wallet Podcast, Ryan Guina is joined by Julie Eshelman, William Fontanez, and...

Leaving military or federal service doesn’t mean you have to close your Thrift Savings Plan. You can keep your money invested, roll it into another retirement account, purchase an annuity, or cash it out—but each option has different costs, tax implications, and long-term consequences. On this episode of The Military Wallet Podcast, Ryan Guina answers a listener’s question about what happens to a...

The Department of Defense is looking to reduce spending on discretionary permanent change of station moves, raising a major question for military families: Could fewer PCS moves actually make military life better? On this episode of The Military Wallet Podcast, Ryan Guina is joined by Megan Harless, founder of PCS Like a Pro, and MJ Boice of the National Military Family Association to discuss what...

A VA disability rating is not always permanent, and receiving a re-examination notice can understandably make veterans nervous. In this The Military Wallet Mail Call episode, host Ryan Guina speaks with Chad Armstrong, founder of Ace Veteran Consulting and a retired senior NCO, about when the VA can re-examine or reduce a disability rating and what veterans should do if they receive a re-exam noti...

The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) can be one of the most valuable tools service members have for building retirement savings, but understanding matching contributions, contribution rules, and investment choices can be confusing when you're getting started. In this Military Wallet Mail Call episode, host Ryan Guina answers reader questions about the TSP basics service members should understand. Rya...

Military spouses often face career disruptions that can make it difficult to build and maintain long-term professional momentum. Frequent PCS moves can mean leaving a job, starting over with a new employer, accepting work below your experience level, or stepping away from a career altogether. In this episode of The Military Wallet Podcast , host Ryan Guina speaks with National Military Spouse Netw...

Filing a VA disability claim can feel overwhelming, especially when you are unsure which type of claim to submit, what evidence the VA needs, or how to prepare for a C&P exam. In this first The Military Wallet Mail Call episode, host Ryan Guina is joined by retired senior non-commissioned officer and VA benefits expert Chad Armstrong to answer common questions from veterans and military famili...

Military pay raises are usually applied evenly across the board, but lawmakers are considering something different for 2027. One proposal would provide a larger raise for junior enlisted troops, while senior service members would receive a smaller percentage increase. In this episode of The Military Wallet Podcast, host Ryan Guina speaks with military journalist and researcher Jennifer Barnhill ab...

Paying for college is challenging for almost any family—but military families often have access to unique education benefits that can dramatically reduce the cost when used strategically. In this episode of The Military Wallet Podcast, host Ryan Guina sits down with military finance expert and author Kate Horrell to discuss how families can make the most of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, 529 plans, schola...

If you want to learn essential military financial literacy strategies to help manage your money with confidence and build long-term wealth, this episode is for you. Today, host Ryan Guina sits down with Darius Lester, an active duty financial literacy educator and the founder of Mammoth Money Mindset. Darius breaks down practical steps for military members and their families to take control of the...

In this episode of The Military Wallet, host Ryan Guina sits down with Heather Campbell to tackle a vital yet deeply misunderstood issue within our community: military food insecurity. Heather Campbell is an active-duty Air Force spouse, registered dietitian, and an "accidental advocate" who has become a leading subject matter expert on this hidden challenge. Heather bravely shares her p...

In this episode of the Military Wallet podcast, host Ryan Guina and guest Kayla Corbitt tackle the massive, complex challenge of finding safe, affordable, and reliable childcare for military families. Kayla, founder of Operation Childcare Project, shares her expertise on navigating Department of Defense programs like CDC and FCC, as well as civilian assistance programs. Discover the crucial differ...

Transitioning from the military is one of the biggest challenges a veteran will face. In this episode, host Ryan Guina, sits down with 10-year Army veteran and career coach Jacob Mousseau, and breaks down the "Swiss Army Knife" mistake most veterans make and how to build a 90-day action plan that actually lands you a job you love. Whether you are 6 months out or have been out for 10 year...

When a service member passes away, the grief is overwhelming, but the financial "what now" starts almost immediately. In this episode, host Ryan Guina sits down with Krista Simpson Anderson, founder of The Unquiet Professional, to discuss the reality of navigating life after loss in the military. Krista shares her personal journey following the loss of her husband, Green Beret Staff Sgt....

Join us for a profound conversation with Ryan Guina and Jennifer Barnhill , a journalist, researcher, and author of "Military Stories You’ve Been Told and The Ones You Need to Hear". Jennifer peels back the "pink camouflage" to reveal the raw, often overlooked experiences of military families. From the personal sacrifices of career gaps and underemployment to the "wicked p...

Once you’ve organized your finances and tackled debt, the next step is building long-term wealth through investing. But with so many options and strategies, it can be hard to know where to start. In this episode of The Military Wallet , Ryan Guina sits down with Mike Hunsberger to introduce the fundamentals of investing — from brokerage accounts to employer-sponsored plans and the Thrift Savings P...

Managing your money doesn’t have to be complicated — but without a clear plan, it’s easy to fall into debt, miss savings goals, or feel like you’re always behind financially. In this episode of The Military Wallet , Ryan Guina sits down with Mike Hunsberger to break down the fundamentals of personal finance — starting with one of the most important skills you can build: budgeting. From building an...

Life insurance isn’t something most people want to think about — but for military families, having the right coverage can make the difference between financial security and long-term hardship. In this episode of The Military Wallet , Ryan Guina sits down with Chad Armstrong to break down how life insurance fits into a complete financial plan — and what service members need to know about protecting...

Saving, and planning for your financial future can get complicated fast — but deployments add an entirely new layer of tax rules, benefits, and opportunities most service members don’t fully understand. In this episode of The Military Wallet , Ryan Guina sits down with Mary Armstrong to break down the key financial and tax strategies every military member should know before, during, and after depl...

Many veterans believe the VA home loan is a one-time benefit — use it once and it’s gone forever. That’s one of the most common (and costly) VA loan myths. In this episode of The Military Wallet , Ryan Guina is joined by Ryan Bell , a VA loan expert with more than 20 years of experience and a former Army National Guard member, to explain how the VA loan really works — and how veterans can use it m...

Leaving the military isn’t just a career change — it’s an identity shift. In this deeply personal episode of The Military Wallet , Ryan Guina sits down with Dane Gibson , an Army veteran turned realtor, property manager, and entrepreneur, to talk candidly about transition, addiction, mental health, faith, and finding purpose after service. Dane shares his journey from active-duty field artillery t...

Buying or selling a home is one of the biggest financial decisions most service members will ever make — and doing it with a VA loan adds an extra layer of complexity. In this episode of The Military Wallet , Ryan Guina sits down with Jared Reichel , Director of Agent Relations and a veteran himself, to reveal the real-world insights every military homebuyer and seller needs to know. From choosing...