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What is a Veteran, and Why it Matters

By random chance, I have the same name as my great-great-great grandfather. It probably wasn’t completely random, as the name must have floated about at Thanksgiving or somewhere. I certainly wasn’t named for the old gentleman, and in any case he passed away long before I was born. He was...
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Annuities 201: Do They Belong In Your Financial Plan?

Annuities are some of the most heavily marketed investment vehicles available. And as I said in Annuities 101, annuities are neither good or bad. It depends on what your financial goal is. Once you set the financial goal, you’ll be able to determine if an annuity is right for you. Since...
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Seven Ways to Save the Defense Budget

In July, 2011, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta inherited a difficult job: overseeing the U.S. military while trying to navigate the budget cuts Congress was hatching. In a press release, Secretary Panetta had this to say about the challenges facing the Department of Defense (DoD): “We must preserve the excellence...
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The Goldman Sachs Letter and You

The letter from a resigning Goldman Sachs executive has become quite the Internet rage. Most of us will never deal with Goldman Sachs and the letter may seem to be nothing more than an interesting “rant”. But, is that necessarily true? Maybe not. The letter spends a fair bit of time...
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Annuities 101: What Are They?

With the stock market “crash” of 2008, annuities have gained a lot of attention in the last few years. But what is an annuity? First of all, annuities are a life insurance product. Second of all, annuities are complicated and difficult to understand. Let me see if I can help clear up...
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Should You Take Advantage of the TSP’s G Fund?

Are you invested in the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)? If so, did you realize that you have access to an investment vehicle that others can’t access? You do. The humble G Fund is unique and it is only available to those who invest through TSP. Let me explain… The Treasury Department issues...
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Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance May Help Some, But Not Many

Raise your hand if you’ve ever heard of the Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance (FSSA) Program. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller? You, gentle readers with your hands in your laps, are not alone. The program, outlined in Department of Defense (DOD) Instruction 1341.11, isn’t very well known. The website used to determine...
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Military Tax Benefit: Delayed Actions When In a Combat Zone

Dealing with the IRS is stressful enough. It can become even more stressful if you or your spouse is in a combat zone. The Government realizes this and those serving in a combat zone have some special exemptions for taking action with the IRS. Taking action can include: filing your taxes,...
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Preparing for an Audit in Four Easy Steps

When I tell people one of the most enjoyable mornings I spent several years ago was my IRS audit, they tend to look at me as if I have just announced my cholera is clearing up quite nicely without any medicines and move away as quickly as possible. I have...
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Shake, Rattle and Roll… What Are the Insurance and Tax Implications?

Not too long ago, I was working in my home office when I was sure that the washing machine upstairs was completely unbalanced. As I started up the stairs I realized that the washing machine was off and I was going through an earthquake. I spent a few years in...
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