MILMO Show

Life is so precious, and I'm squeezing my family a lot tighter this week. Last week, I lost my grandmother. I'm recording this on the morning of her funeral, as I get ready to celebrate her life and say goodbye.

I feel incredibly blessed that she lived to be over 98 years old and that I was able to spend so much time with her. And even more thankful that I was able to sit down and record this conversation with my Grandmother. Havin...

We're diving into investing with Cale Smith, founder and CEO of Bastion Fiduciary, a veteran-led fee-only RIA, and portfolio manager for the Bastion Energy Fund, an actively managed ETF. As a graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, Cale brings a unique perspective shaped by both military service and decades in finance.

In this episode, he explains what a portfolio manager really does, the differences between ETFs, mutual funds, a...

Do you know what it takes to lead when the uniform comes off? My guest is Mark Tilsher, a 21-year veteran of the Air Force who has dedicated his career to developing resilient leaders across military, corporate, and community settings. 

In this episode, Mark shares how veterans can adapt their leadership to the civilian workplace, avoid common pitfalls, and use their skills to thrive in their careers. We also discuss his perso...

Have you ever stood in line for something free and realized it actually wasn't worth it? That moment sparked today's guest, Army veteran and financial planner Rob Moore, to develop a simple but actionable framework he calls flipping the value. Rob is the founder of Everman Prosperity, where he helps military families and those in transition make confident financial decisions.
​
In our chat, we discuss how flipping the value works i...

This episode is for every military spouse and veteran who's ever wondered how to earn income on your own terms around military life. My guest, Melissa Broughton, is the creator of The 1-Hour Bookkeeper and founder of Busy Bee Advisors. She's on a mission to help military spouses launch bookkeeping businesses that fit their lives —flexible hours, work from anywhere, and with the potential for a six-figure income.

Melissa shares her ...

Welcome to this special episode of the MILMO Show! Today's my birthday, and I'm celebrating by doing something I love—talking business, family, and protecting what you've worked hard to build. And I get to do it with my cousin, Mark Flanigan.

Mark is an intellectual property lawyer with experience spanning startups to Fortune 500 companies. His work has spanned patents for medical devices, trademarks for global brands, and voluntee...

Budgeting is one of those words that makes a lot of people squirm but it doesn't have to. In this episode, I sit down with Zach Whelchel, founder of My Budget Coach, to talk about the method that gave him (and so many others) true financial clarity, which is zero-based budgeting. Zach breaks down what it is, why it works for both steady and variable incomes, and how couples can actually turn it into a shared vision instead of a sou...

We're diving into the world of geofencing with Navy veteran and entrepreneur Chris Seminatore. Chris is the founder of Get Geofencing, a company that helps businesses, from car dealerships to government contractors, use location data to put their ads in front of the right people. 

He shares how geofencing works, what it costs, and why it's a tool that even small businesses and military spouses can use to grow their brand. We a...

There's something that's quietly stealing joy from the military community and millions of Americans every single day. It's something that has completely warped our understanding of what financial success looks like.

In this episode, I'm breaking down how social media is impacting people's financial lives and sharing why getting back to basics isn't just smart, it's essential for our mental health and financial well-being.

https://m...

Starting a business is hard enough, but starting one with a mission bigger than turning a profit can feel like navigating a battlefield. The obstacles are real, like cash flow challenges or forces beyond your control, but so are the rewards when your work changes lives.

In this episode, we're talking about what it takes to build a business that stands for something. Matt "Griff" Griffin, West Point graduate, Army Ranger, and co-fou...

When your military career ends, the mission doesn't, but figuring out what's next, or what truly lights you up, can be one of the hardest transitions. It's not just about finding a new job. It's about rediscovering what matters most and learning how to fund the life you want, not the one you think you're supposed to have.

In this episode, Omen Quelvog and I discuss values-first financial planning. Omen shares what it is, why it mat...

Too many people wait until they're just a few years from retirement to start asking the big questions, like Can I afford to stop working? And what if my spouse isn't retiring yet? The truth is, preparing for retirement isn't just about portfolios and percentages. It's about aligning your finances with your life.

In this episode, Jeff Panik shares the common mistakes people make before retirement and offers advice on how to avoid th...

Losing a spouse changes everything, emotionally, mentally, and financially. But while grief is often discussed, the money struggles that come with it are rarely part of the conversation, or just grief in general. From paperwork and decisions to pressure and overwhelm, surviving spouses are often expected to figure it all out.
In this episode, Certified Financial Planner and Air Force veteran, Daniel Kopp, talks about the financial ...

Military life comes with lots of transitions and career decisions are a big one, especially for spouses navigating remote work, PCS moves, and family schedules. A big decision many milspouses face is whether to stick with the stability of a W-2 job or switch to the flexibility and income potential of 1099 contract work.

In this episode, I'm answering a listener's question from Holly about whether she should leave her W-2 remote job...

Veteran homelessness is a heartbreaking reality that still exists in communities across the country. While many of us want to help, it can be hard to know where to start, or feel like what we can give really makes a difference.

In this episode, Tom McLean and I are talking about how small, everyday actions can add up to real change for veterans in need. We talk about the current crisis of veteran homelessness, what meaningful suppo...

Taking the oath and raising your right hand is a big moment. For many of us, it's one we never forget. But imagine if you could hand your younger enlisted or officer self a letter on that day. A letter full of the wisdom, hard work, and growth that military life and life itself were going to teach you. 

In this episode, I'm doing just that. This is a letter I would have given to my 19-year-old self on the day I swore into the ...

There's a quiet shift happening in the way we spend money and it's costing us more than we realize. Small payments, auto-splits, and "buy now, pay later" options have become the new normal, and while they seem harmless, they're creating habits that lead to quiet, creeping debt. Especially in the military community, where transitions and tight budgets are already part of the equation, these modern money habits can quickly get out of...

When it comes to money, our emotions often drive the decisions we make and that's especially true in military life, where constant change, separation, and stress can shape how we spend, save, and communicate with those we love. But if we don't understand our financial behaviors, we can find ourselves repeating the same mistakes over and over, leading us to feel stuck.

In this episode, I discuss the world of behavioral finance with ...

Transitioning out of the military isn't just about finding a new job. It's about redefining who you are. For many service members, especially those in the Special Operations community, leaving the military can feel like losing a piece of your identity, your purpose, and sense of belonging.

In this episode, Kelly McGraw shares how to navigate the emotional and mental side of transition with tools that go beyond resumes and LinkedIn ...