MILMO Show

A lot of financial advice is built for people with steady careers, predictable income, and easy access to financial services. That's not the reality for many service members and veterans. And it creates gaps that can lead to costly mistakes and missed opportunities. In this episode, Dr. Chet Bennetts, Department Chair and Associate Provost at The American College of Financial Services and Marine v...

Money can start to feel like an either-or decision. Either you're doing the "right" thing and saving, or you're enjoying your life and spending. And for a lot of people, that tension never really goes away, especially when everything feels more expensive right now. That's why I wanted to bring this episode back. Here is the encore airing of Finding Your Financial Yin and Yang, a solo episode that'...

Money decisions can feel a lot heavier in military life. Between deployments, PCS moves, and the uncertainty that often comes with service, it's easy for stress, fear, and past experiences to shape how you spend, save, or avoid money altogether. In this episode, Tyler West and I discuss why money feels so emotional and how financial therapy can help. We get into how past experiences influence mone...

There's a VA benefit available to eligible SGLI and VGLI survivors that almost no one seems to know about. It's the Beneficiary Financial Counseling Service. It gives free financial planning during one of the hardest times a military family can face, yet too many people miss it entirely. In this episode, Certified Financial Planner Brian O'Neill and I, are talking about what this benefit is, who i...

You can know exactly what you should be doing with your money and still not do it. Maybe you know you need to save more, pay down debt, or finally sit down and plan for retirement. But somehow, life, stress, and emotions get in the way. Sometimes the story you're telling yourself gets in the way. In this episode, military spouse, Ashley Quamme and I discuss the real reason there's often a gap betw...

Money decisions are getting harder, not easier. There's more information, more tools, and now, more artificial intelligence telling you what you should do. It can feel like you finally have answers at your fingertips, but that doesn't always mean those answers are right. In this episode, I'm talking about AI and your money, where it can actually help, where it can get you into trouble, and how to...

Many in the military community see a problem and feel called to fix it. Maybe it's childcare, employment, or support services. One of the first questions that comes up is: Should this be a nonprofit or a business? The reality is that the decision isn't always clear, and choosing the wrong path can cost you time, money, and momentum. In this episode, Kayla Corbitt and I discuss how to decide betwee...

Starting a business can feel empowering, especially if you're looking for control over your earning ability. But a lot of entrepreneurs figure out that instead of building a business that gives them freedom, they've built an extremely demanding job that depends entirely on them.  In this episode, Diana Jaquith shares how entrepreneurs can build a business that has real value beyond the owner. We t...

A lot of people are curious about investing in individual stocks but were never taught how to do it, and want to learn. But trying to figure out where, how, and when to buy and sell stocks can feel overwhelming. There are charts, numbers, and unfamiliar terms everywhere. Even basic questions like where to open an account, how to fund it, or how to place a trade can feel confusing. In this episode,...

Running a business can feel like emotional whiplash. One minute you're celebrating a win, and the next you're questioning everything. Add in a military transition, a new identity, or the pressure to succeed, and it's easy to tie your worth to outcomes you can't control. In this episode, I talk with Ken Davenport about how Stoicism gives military entrepreneurs and service members a framework for na...

I've had a hypothesis sitting in the back of my mind for a while. Buy Now, Pay Later has become normal. Sports betting is legal in more states than ever. OnlyFans subscriptions are private, easy, and a click away. None of these things automatically ruins your finances. But I keep wondering what happens when they start stacking. In this episode, Josh Bannerman, Marine veteran and Certified Financia...

Estate planning is one of those things most people know they should do, but it often feels overwhelming, expensive, or easy to put off. Between our busy lives and discomfort around death, even responsible adults delay it far longer than they want to admit. In this episode, we break estate planning down into what it really is, a practical way to reduce stress for the people you love and make sure y...

Student loans can feel overwhelming. Repayment plans change, headlines create confusion, and it's hard to know what actually applies to your situation or what to do next. In this episode, student loan expert Robert Farrington breaks down what's really happening with student loans right now, what borrowers need to pay attention to, and how to take strategic action instead of staying stuck. We also...

Being busy can feel responsible and productive, but if you've ever found yourself working all the time and still wondering why the money doesn't reflect the effort you're putting in, you are in good company. In this episode, I'm talking about why busy is not a revenue strategy, how easy it is to get pulled into work that feels productive but doesn't actually bring in income, and how to think about...

So many people in the military community carry hard-earned knowledge from their careers, side hustles, and lived experiences, but aren't always sure how to turn it into consistent income aligned with their lives.  Here is the encore airing of Transforming Your Knowledge into Profitable Memberships with Stu McLaren, a standout episode that reminds us your expertise has value, and that building some...

Feeling behind can sneak up on you. It's not always about the numbers. It's that constant sense that you should be further along, more caught up, more on top of things than you are. And for military families, that feeling can hit even harder when life keeps moving, whether you're ready or not. In this episode, I'm sharing a quick financial reset. Not a full overhaul or a long to-do list. Just a st...

Saving money is something most people want to do or are already doing, but where that money sits often gets overlooked. A lot of service members and spouses are doing the right thing by spending less than they make and saving money, but your savings might not be working to its fullest potential for you. And that can slow your progress, even when you're trying hard. In this episode, I'm talking abo...

The start of a new year brings a lot of pressure. Pressure to fix everything, do more, be better, and somehow come up with a brand-new version of yourself at the stroke of midnight. And for many military families and others who feel financially or personally behind, that pressure can feel overwhelming instead of motivating. In this episode, I want to share a more straightforward approach to goals,...

As we close out the year and look ahead to what's possible, this felt like the right moment to revisit a meaningful conversation on the show. Building wealth in the military isn't about quick wins. It's about clarity, confidence, and playing the long game, even when life gets unpredictable. Here is the encore airing of Building Wealth for Military Families with Jerry Quinn, one of my top episodes...

Most of us spend years chasing success without ever stopping to ask what "living well" really means. We talk about building wealth or hitting financial milestones, but often overlook the two resources that matter most: our time and our health. In this episode, Navy pilot Zach Rodriguez shares about how a near-fatal helicopter mishap pushed him to rethink everything from what success looks like to...

For many veterans, the hardest part of leaving the military isn't the transition, it's figuring out what to do with the physical and mental wear-and-tear of service. Too many walk away without documenting injuries, without understanding the claims process, or believing they don't "deserve" benefits because someone else had it worse. But overlooking a VA disability claim can affect your health, you...

The financial risks facing service members today look nothing like they did 10 or 15 years ago. There used to be real barriers. A literal base gate stood between you and companies that didn't have your best interests at heart. Commanders could keep bad actors out. The Department of War could set policies and say "nope, not on installations." But that world is gone. Today, the enemy isn't standing...

Most people think about taxes one stressful season at a time, but that mindset can cost you opportunities. Especially if you're in the military, planning for early retirement, or navigating years when your income swings up and down. When you don't understand how the rules work across your whole financial life, it's easy to miss out on the strategies designed to help you keep more of what you earn....

Too many service members begin their careers already on their heels, navigating debt and financial confusion. And for many, lack of early financial readiness awareness doesn't just stress their wallets, it limits their options. In this episode, retired Army Colonel Michael Tremblay shares what he witnessed across the full spectrum of service, from onboarding new recruits to transitioning soldiers...

The holidays can be a special time full of connection with coworkers, friends, and family, but they can also be a season when money feels out of control. Between travel, gifts, parties, food, and "just one more present" moments, it's easy for two months of spending to undo months of progress. For many military families, the pressure hits even harder with long travel distances, family expectations,...