Episodes

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...

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 — ...

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 ...

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 membe...

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 throug...

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)...

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...

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 — ...

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, Diversi...

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 partn...

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 i...

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...

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 accumulat...

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. Spe...

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...

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 mi...

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 pre...

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...

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 shar...

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 ...

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 honeym...

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 overwhel...

Starting January 28, 2026, military members can finally convert their traditional TSP to Roth while still serving...and if you're deployed to a combat zone, you could convert tens of thousands at near-zero tax rates. Brian "A...

Leaving thousands of dollars in credit card offers on the table because you forgot to activate them? Brooke Merkle from CardPointers reveals how the Chrome extension and app automatically track 40+ credit cards, find the best...