The Military Money Manual Podcast

The person next to you probably paid less for their seat than you did — and you'll never know it. Spencer talks with Sam Hollander, founder of Autopilot ( withautopilot.com ), about the overlooked art of saving money  after  you've already booked. Since U.S. airlines killed change fees, you can claw back cash every time your fare drops and snag last-minute premium-cabin upgrades for a fraction of...

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Spencer Reese has earned over $100,000 in travel rewards — booked a $27,000 first-class flight to Tokyo, a $1,700/night Ritz Carlton bungalow, and flew his parents to Italy in business class — all for nearly nothing. In this crossover episode with The Fiscal Clinician, Spencer breaks down how credit card points actually work, what the industry doesn't want you to know, and the financial foundation...

Spencer sits down with Jen from Wives of the Armed Forces to talk about the real side of deployment no one prepares you for: how to build your support system, spend money without guilt, avoid resentment, and actually come out the other side stronger as a couple and a family. Topics Covered The Two Deployment Mindsets — Grind mode vs. survival mode, and how to figure out which one fits your season...

20,000 Dollars, 4 Cards, 400,000 Points. Spencer Reese of the Military Money Manual podcast sits down with Taryn from The Military Travelers to break down how military families can turn PCS moving expenses into free travel — without spending a single extra dollar. From sign-up bonuses to Hyatt Globalist status, this episode is packed with practical strategies for the upcoming PCS season. Topics Co...

Most new officers will blow their first paycheck on too much car, too much apartment, or too much wedding. Don't be most officers. This episode is your 60-minute shortcut to building wealth, freedom, and financial confidence from the moment you commission. Host Joe Brown of Always Ready Financial Planning sits down with Spencer Reese (Military Money Manual) and Rob Shaye (Institute for Leadership...

Jason Steele hasn't paid for a flight or hotel in 20 years — and he has a family of five. In this episode, the credit card expert, Card Con founder, and author of Travel for Free breaks down exactly how military service members can build a sustainable points and miles strategy, avoid the money traps that sink young service members, and why the best card s help you travel for free. Spencer Reese si...

What if you could retire from the military at 50, bridge a decade of income, and pay less in taxes than you ever expected? It sounds too good to be true — but it's written right into the tax code . Spencer and Rob walk through exactly how a Roth conversion ladder works, who it's built for, and whether a simple brokerage account might actually beat it. Spencer Reese interviews Rob Moore, Army veter...

Episode 10: Save for Rapid Financial Independence — (10-part series finale) Jamie and Spencer close out their beginner-friendly 10-step series with the final move: saving aggressively to fast-track financial independence (FI). Topics Covered Quick recap of all 10 steps in the series (from getting the 5% Roth TSP match → building a life you want → saving enough to rapidly achieve FI) What financial...

Step 9 in our 10-part series: build the life you want and save for it. Spencer and Jamie step away from the spreadsheet to remind listeners that financial independence is a means to an end — not the end itself. Topics covered: Why high savers can lose sight of why they're saving and fall into a "scarcity mindset" The danger of grinding toward a 20-year retirement without enjoying the journey along...

Step 8 in our 10-part series: max out your Roth TSP. Spencer and Jamie explain the triple tax benefit military members get by combining low-taxed allowances with Roth contributions, and why maxing the TSP is a stretch goal — not a year-one expectation. Topics covered: The 2025 Roth TSP contribution limit is $23,500 (Spencer's projection for 2026: ~$24,500) Why BRS participants need to spread contr...

Step 7 in our 10-part series: open a Roth IRA at Vanguard, Fidelity, or Schwab and max out your contribution into a total stock market index fund. Spencer and Jamie break down why the LADS method (Low-cost, Automated, Diversified, Simple) beats stock picking and why Roth almost always wins for military pay. Topics covered: Why to open a Roth IRA at one of the big three: Vanguard, Fidelity, or Schw...

Step 6 in our 10-part series: grow your emergency fund to cover three months of expenses. Spencer and Jamie explain why your "SWAN number" (Sleep Well At Night) matters more than the math, why you should default to your partner's comfort level, and why this money is insurance — not an investment. Topics covered: Why three months of expenses is a solid starting point for most military families The...

Step 5 in our 10-part series: pay down your high interest rate debt. Spencer and Jamie share how they each paid off six figures of debt on military pay, why debt robs your future self of choices, and where to find free help if you're overwhelmed. Topics covered: Why non-asset-backed debt (credit cards, auto loans, student loans) is working against you The 5-6% interest rate threshold for "high int...

Step 4 of the 10-part military finance essentials series. Spencer and Jamie explain how to create a realistic budget focusing on "the four walls": food, utilities, shelter, and transportation. Learn which budgeting tools work best, why tracking spending matters, and how to avoid the biggest financial trap in the military—buying too much car. Create a Realistic Budget Focus on the Four Walls first:...

Step 3 of the 10-part military finance essentials series. Spencer and Jamie explain why every service member needs a $1,000 emergency fund. This starter fund stops you from living paycheck to paycheck, prevents debt accumulation, and turns emergencies into inconveniences. What to Do Save $1,000 Emergency Fund Timeline: $100/week = 10 weeks $250/month = 4 months Where to keep it: High yield savings...

Step 2 of the 10-part series on military finance essentials. After setting up your 5% Roth TSP contribution in Step 1, now you need to create your TSP account online and make sure your money is invested in the right fund. Spencer and Jamie explain how to set up your account at tsp.gov, enable two-factor authentication, and allocate contributions to the appropriate L (lifecycle) fund based on your...

Military Money Manual may receive compensation from JPMC. Opinions expressed here are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. What if you could set yourself up for financial success in the military with just ONE action that takes 5 minutes? Spencer and Jamie kick off their 10-part "If You Don't Have Time for Anything Else" series with the absolute first...

30+ premium credit cards—including the Amex Platinum and Chase Sapphire Reserve—without paying a single dollar in annual fees? Spencer Reese breaks down exactly how active duty service members, Guard/Reserve on orders, and military spouses can access over $10,000 in annual fee waivers through the Military Lending Act (MLA) and SCRA. Recorded on Veterans Day, this episode is packed with tactical st...

What if you could have SIX Chase Sapphire Reserve cards—each with zero annual fees—while maxing your TSP and living an incredible life of travel? Air Force Captain Jared Mataitusi reveals exactly how he and his wife stack premium credit cards, earn elite status, fly family to Europe for free, and still save aggressively toward financial independence. This is the ultimate military financial strateg...

Did you know your military pension is worth over $1 million? Most service members approaching retirement don't realize they're already work optional - and that changes everything about the decisions you should be making right now. In this episode, retired Marine and CFP Omen Quelvog reveals why the highest-paid contractor job might be the worst choice for your future, how to discover what you're a...

Spencer Reese welcomes Amy and Taryn, two of the three military spouses behind the booming  Military Travelers Facebook Group , 25,000 members strong! Together, they  debunk four major myths about military credit cards and share how military families can unlock thousands of dollars in travel perks—without falling into debt. Whether you're brand new to award travel or a seasoned cardholder looking...

In this episode, Spencer Reese is joined by  Paul , a recently medically retired National Guard officer, and Joel Petit , a military disability retirement attorney, to break down the medical retirement process , VA disability ratings, and how IDES really works. What We Cover Medical retirement vs. standard 20-year longevity retirement When medical retirement can make sense financially How the IDES...

Spencer Reese welcomes Ross Alcorn from Itinerary Boss https://itineraryboss.com/ to discuss credit card points and miles strategies, with special focus on small business owners. Ross shares how he saved $19,000 on his honeymoon, reveals tactical business spending strategies, and explains how military service members can leverage TDY travel and small business expenses to fund dream vacations. Gues...

Spencer and Jamie break down the 10 core principles of Bogleheads investing and show how military service members can apply this simple, low-cost approach to build wealth through the TSP and other accounts. If you're overwhelmed by investing advice or tempted by day trading and crypto, this episode cuts through the noise with a proven strategy that's worked for decades. Hosts: Spencer Reese (forme...