Posted on May 31, 2015
LTC David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU®
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I am creating a new wealth building course and would like to know what are your top problems, issues, and questions you have when it comes to your finances?

I want to help answer these questions and helpful to know what else I may have missed!

http://artofsmartmoney.com
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Responses: 7
COL Health Services Plans, Ops, Intelligence, Security,Training
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Fortunately, I have planned well for retirement. However, what many in the military fail/are unable to plan for is divorce. Like most LTs, I received my briefings on the 3 legged stool (Insurance, Savings and Pension). I balanced these well and despite the influence of divorce (division of property, equitable pension pay-out, child support and alimony), I may outlive my finances. But too often, I have bumped into the veteran/retiree, who has been stripped of everything, including his dignity after divorce. If you are writing a wealth building course, include the value of a pre-nup to your discussion as well as the limited influence a pre-nup has on the government mandated former spouse protection (pension payout). Good luck.
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LTC David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU®
LTC David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU®
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Great thanks!
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SPC Jeffrey Bly
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My biggest peeve is when they give you a hundred dollars and take back 99.
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SSG VNicia Young
SSG VNicia Young
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I hate that too.... Taxes is a killer and living is high in some areas... Checks are gone before they come
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LTC David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU®
LTC David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU®
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In some cases, if you include every tax out there (gas tax, sales, etc) many of us pay 60% of our income to taxes! incredible huh? There are ways to get around that though thankfully
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COL Health Services Plans, Ops, Intelligence, Security,Training
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I suspect you are too young to experience this first hand. The cadence song comes from a time when you reported to the pay officer on payday. You saluted, you reviewed your LES and the pay officer paid you in cash! As you left the pay officer, you reported to the 1SG, who collected your 'cup and flower fund' fee, you passed by the Spouse's club (now Family Support Group) and you 'donated' to their cause, you passed the Emergency Relief desk and 'donated' to their cause. These payments were made in addition to taxes, Soldier's Home, and laundry (that laundry bag actually had a use at one time). This is in the past but as a PVT, it was the best $800 a month you could earn.
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CSM Charles Hayden
CSM Charles Hayden
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What did you say about the 1SG's girlfriend?
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SGT Richard H.
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Investments, by far. I've found that basic "program" investments such as 401k, 529 college plans. etc. Just don't show much return. In fact, here's an example: My daughter's 529 was doing OK until everything crashed out in 2009, then it took a few years to even gat back to the level of the deposits, and never really performed after that. After well over 10 years of deposits, it's barely above the amount of the deposits. Several years ago, I stared a plain old educational savings account, and after continued non-performance of the 529, I cut the deposits to it by 75%, and deposit to the savings account, because it just plain performs better. The kicker is that the 529 is with USAA, where investment accounts are actually fairly highly rated.
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