MILMO Show

A military move comes with orders, packing, paperwork, timelines, and a lot of stress. But for some service members, a Personally Procured Move, also known as a PPM or DITY move, can be a way to take more control and potentially make money. In this episode, Lt Col Jonathan "Peso" Clason shares how he and his family completed two full PPM moves, what he learned, and why planning, paperwork, weight...

Leaving the military does not always come with a perfectly mapped-out plan. Sometimes the next step is a stepping stone. Sometimes it opens doors you didn't even know existed, and sometimes it leads you to build something completely new. In this episode, I'm talking with Sinon Bennett, a former Navy submarine officer who went on to work in private banking at J.P. Morgan before co-founding Wavvest,...

We hear the word "networking" all the time, especially around military transition, career growth, and business. But building real partnerships is different. It's not about collecting contacts, pitching yourself, or asking people for favors. It's about building trust, adding value, and creating relationships that help people move forward together. In this episode, Katherine Torres-Pummill shares wh...

Annuities are among the financial products that can spark a lot of strong opinions. Some people love them, while some people warn everyone to stay far away from them. A lot of people are stuck somewhere in the middle, trying to figure out what an annuity actually is, what it does, and whether it makes sense for their situation. The hard part is that annuities come with a lot of jargon, fees, surre...

Sometimes, the reason money feels tight is not that you're bad with money. Sometimes your money just needs more structure. In this solo episode, I'm talking about financial discipline and why it is not about shame, perfection, or taking all the joy out of your life. It is about giving your money direction, keeping small promises to your future self, and creating enough structure so your paycheck d...

Military retirement comes with some big financial decisions, but few create stronger opinions than the Survivor Benefit Plan. Some people believe SBP is essential protection for military spouses. Others say you're better off declining it and buying term life insurance instead.  In this episode, retired Army officer and Certified Financial Planner™ Kyle Packard breaks down the Survivor Benefit Plan...

Memorial Day is one of those days I never want to rush past, but I also never feel like I have the right words for it. In this special solo episode of the MILMO Show, I'm taking a moment to reflect on the meaning of Memorial Day, the men and women who died in service to our country, and the families who carry that loss every day. This isn't about having a perfect message. It's about remembering we...

People often assume Guard and Reserve finances work the same way as active duty, but they don't. The income can be inconsistent, benefits can be confusing, and transitions on and off orders can create financial stress that catches families off guard.  In this episode, Accredited Financial Counselor® and military spouse Terri Bailey shares real-world insight into the financial realities Guard and R...

Life in the military is full of change. PCS moves, deployments, and leaving the service can all come with a long list of decisions and a lot of pressure to make them quickly. In those moments, even smart, disciplined people can make financial choices that quietly set them back. In this episode, I talk with Stacy Miller about why money mistakes tend to happen during life transitions and how to navi...

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...