MILMO Show

Leaving the military doesn't always go according to plan. You may think you know what your next career will look like, only to have an opportunity, a setback, or a major life change send you in a completely different direction.

In this episode, I talk with Army veteran and Chick-fil-A Operator Jon Harmeling about his unexpected path out of the military, the five-year process that eventually led him to running a restaurant, and what...

Going through a medical board can be confusing, and it's happening at a time when you may already be dealing with health issues and an unexpected change to your military career. On top of that, there are two disability ratings, different rules for medical retirement versus medical separation, and benefits that can depend on the details of your situation.

In this episode, Heather Walrath and I talk about the Integrated Disability Ev...

There are more tools, apps, services, advisors, and now AI options than ever before that can help you manage your money. On the surface, that sounds great. The problem is that all the convenience can make it easy to become disconnected from your own finances and start relying on someone or something else to manage your money for you.

That matters because even if y...

There are some expenses that are really easy to question. You look at the charge and think, why did I spend money on that?

But spending money on your kids is different. It's easy to justify because you're doing something for them. You want them to be happy and have what they need. You don't want them to feel left out. Sometimes, you just want to say yes and be the fun parent. But all those yeses can add up.

In this episode, I want ...

Military and veteran benefits can have a major impact on your finances, but finding them is not always easy. The information is spread across federal agencies, states, counties, and different programs, which means you may qualify for something without ever realizing it exists.

In this episode, Jackson Jerdee and I talk about why he created Benefitry, an app designed to help members of the military community identify benefits they m...

Four hundred episodes is hard for me to take in fully. I'm proud of reaching this milestone. I love this show, I love the people I get to talk to, and I love helping the military community. But reaching 400 episodes has also made me realize how much more I want to do.
What I have now isn't something I would have imagined when I began. I have a show I care deeply about, a community I am honored to serve, and the opportunity to t...

The things we have cost money. And the care and attention we give them matter to our bottom line more than we realize.

Today's episode isn't exactly about money, but it's also not not about money. It's about door thresholds and more.

In this episode, I'm talking about one of the easiest ways to save money that has nothing to do with earning more or spending less. It has everything to do with taking care of the things you already ow...

This episode is a little different than what I normally do.

I love interviewing guests and sharing their stories and expertise, but sometimes life has a way of changing your plans. Over the last few weeks, I've had one of the hardest experiences I've ever gone through as a parent, and honestly, I haven't felt like talking.

I went back and forth on whether I should record this episode at all. But as I started processing everything t...

A lot of military entrepreneurs know they need to market their business, but it can be hard to know what is actually worth your time and money. 

In this episode, Aaron Tellier shares how service members, veterans, and military spouses can approach marketing in ways that drive revenue rather than just create more work. We talk about how to stop wasting money on random marketing and start building a revenue-focused strategy. He ...

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 tickets, and teamwork matter so muc...

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, a fintech company helping moderniz...

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 what strong partnerships actually loo...

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, surrender charges, and sales language th...

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 does not disappear before you know i...

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, how it compares to term life...

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.

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 Reserve families face and what ...

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 navigate those moments with more clarit...

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 veteran, shares where the system fal...