Nowadays, attaining financial normalcy and understanding is paramount as the cost of gas, food and goods inflate faster than a balloon at Dollar Tree.
And for service members and their families, these precarious financial times can be even more daunting with the burden of spousal unemployment, insurance costs and child care.
But there is help.
Several military-related financial podcasts exist for the purpose of guiding active-duty members (and their spouses), reservists, guardsmen and veterans to sound financial health. Some of the shows have more personality than others but all have something to offer. Below is a list of podcasts that can answer questions and provide useful advice.
Military Money Show
This podcast explains intelligent ways to make, spend, save and invest money. The host is Lacey Langford, the “Military Money Expert,” a former Air Force information manager. Langford interviews a variety of guests versed in investing, debt, military life, personal finance and entrepreneurship. The podcast airs on Mondays and can be accessed on Stitcher, Spotify, Audacy, Amazon Music and Google Podcasts. LISTEN.
The Military Money Manual Podcast
Military Money Manual Podcast covers many subjects, particularly personal finance in the military, military travel-hacking and investing in the Thrift-Savings Plan. It is framed around the idea of expeditiously achieving financial independence in the military. The show is hosted by Air Force veteran and certified financial planner Spencer Reese. Episodes are weekly (Mondays) and can be accessed on Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible. LISTEN.
Operation: Veteran Finance
The education-based Operation: Veteran Finance assists folks in achieving their financial goals and accomplishing their money mission. OVF offers clear and unambiguous investing advice, and savings and planning education for veterans. The podcast, hosted by Army veteran and certified financial planner Garett Sorenson, airs every other Friday and can be accessed on Apple, Spotify and Castro. LISTEN.
The Military Millionaire Podcast
The show focuses on helping service members, military spouses and veterans build wealth through real estate investing, entrepreneurship and personal finance. The podcast is hosted by reservist and Marine veteran David Pere, and Alex Felice. (The duo occasionally drop single-word profanities.) Pere says service members still don’t have access to the necessary information that allows for financial freedom in the military. They’re trying to change that. You can listen to the podcast on Fridays, but it fluctuates between weekly and bi-weekly episodes. It can be accessed at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Stitcher. LISTEN.
Militarily Speaking (Armed Forces Bank)
Militarily Speaking launched this year and is committed to advising the military community on military life and how to navigate finances. The program shares stories and insights about effective and poor financial practices, while furnishing strategies to help service members get in front of their finances. The show also highlights resources for PCS moves and transitioning to civilian life. Militarily Speaking is hosted by Armed Forces Bank executives Tom McLean and Jodi Vickery. It is a bi-weekly Wednesday podcast, accessible at Audible, Spotify, Amazon Music and Blubrry, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts. LISTEN.
Navy Federal Credit Union MakingCents Podcast
This podcast investigates ways to help military members, their families and veterans remain in control of their personal finances, e.g., rethinking budgets, mortgages, status transition, etc. “I’m a Navy brat from Coronado, California, and growing up, I experienced firsthand how the military lifestyle can make basic finance questions a bit more complicated,” said show host Emily Bingham in a podcast. The program airs sporadically, with the latest episode posted in May. It is accessible at Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify. LISTEN.
This article was originally published in the 2022 fourth-quarter print edition of Reserve & National Guard Magazine.
