The first thing to understand about predatory lending is that you are the prey. If you are or were in the military, that obviously should not be the case. Your service should earn you a ...

It’s no secret that members of the military and veterans often experience financial struggles. Serving your country is a big life commitment, but military service can also mean a big load of debt and bad ...

What will be the path to securing financing for your first or next home? For eligible active-duty personnel, veterans, or qualified surviving spouses, the option to secure a home loan from the Department of Veterans ...

When you enlisted in the military, you probably didn't think about how much it would cost you to serve... at least not in terms of dollars and cents. It can take time to realize that ...

It seems like a failure of policy and priorities to not forgive the student loan debt of our nation’s veterans and service members. Until that happens, service members must rely on one of a few ...

If you’re currently serving in the military, chances are you already have low-cost life insurance for yourself. When you went on active duty, the government automatically enrolled you in its Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) ...

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and its lenders issued more than 400,000 home loans totaling over $144 billion in Fiscal Year 2023, so they’re obviously popular and for good reasons. You don’t need ...

It’s widely known that the VA housing program offers a direct and accessible path to homeownership that’s been used by hundreds of thousands of qualified service members and veterans over many decades. Should you need ...

Life insurance is one of those subjects, like funeral planning and pest control, that turns heroes into cowards: Almost everyone needs it, but nobody wants to talk about it. Active-duty military personnel can avoid the ...

Among the long list of benefits available to military personnel, there may be none better than the VA home loan program. The program has helped deliver more than 28 million loans since 1944, and eligibility ...

The United States is experiencing one of the hottest housing markets in its history, and the robust demand coupled with very low inventory in many markets is driving home prices into record territory. The state ...

You’re dreaming of buying a home using a VA loan, but you’re concerned that your credit history will stand in the way. It’s reality that having good credit means you’ll get the best rate on ...

A home loan backed by the VA is an invaluable benefit for military personnel and veterans who dream of homeownership, but some home sellers may have reservations about dealing with the VA loan process and ...

A benefit of being a veteran is that when you buy a home, you’re eligible for VA home loans, which require no down payments or costly private mortgage insurance, typically have lower interest rates and ...

All too often, an otherwise rosy financial picture can be clouded by unexpected (and common) events: job loss, a reduction in pay, medical expenses, divorce, lawsuits, or maybe even plain old mismanagement of your finances. ...

Most of us associate a VA loan with buying a first house, a home that provides more space for a family indoors and a place to use a barbecue grill outdoors. But for some, a ...

If your dream is to buy a home, you want to do everything possible to make sure it becomes yours. An earnest money deposit when you make an offer on a home tells the seller ...

Closing costs can turn the dream of home ownership into a nightmare on the very day you’re expecting to celebrate. Finding out the largest purchase of your life has a bunch of added, often unexpected, ...

Severino used the program in 2015 on a property in Orlando with an additional dwelling unit, or ADU, in the backyard. He rented that out to cover the bulk of his mortgage and lived in ...

What Are the VA Home Inspection Requirements? There comes a time in every home-buying process when a buyer has the opportunity to take a peek behind the curtains – literally and figuratively. After you submit ...

Life brings opportunities and challenges with financial consequences, and sometimes budgets get squeezed. If you’re a VA mortgage-holder, perhaps you’re pondering how to pay for some big-ticket item: a home improvement project, youngsters’ college expenses, ...

What is Virtual Currency? By Sarah Brady | Investing Whenever you think of money you probably picture dollar bills and metal coins. But there's another type of money that can't be held in your hand: ...

Whenever you think of money you probably picture dollar bills and metal coins. But there's another type of money that can't be held in your hand: virtual currency. What is virtual currency? Even though you ...

Before we answer that question, let’s make sure we understand what VA home loans are and why the Department of Veterans Affairs created them. VA loans are offered by banks, mortgage companies and other private ...

As a service member or veteran, your eligibility for a VA home loan unlocks easy access to homeownership. Backed and run by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the mortgage program was established after World ...

Current VA Loan Rates Understanding VA Loan Rates A low interest rate is one of the many benefits VA loans provide when purchasing a home. Just a fraction of a percentage point on the interest ...

To an outsider, life in the military might seem like an endless barrage of direction and work, a constant grind with little affordable time for hobbies, personal pursuits, or passions. The truth is, while the ...

The threat of another government shutdown is becoming almost as commonplace a news story as the threat of another hurricane. The problem is both can end in disasters if you don’t take steps to prepare. ...

VA loans have appealing features that don't come with regular loans. With a VA-backed mortgage or refinance loan, you don't have to make a down payment or pay mortgage insurance. Most buyers, however, will have ...

For many, a hurdle to buying a home is affordable financing. Two federal loan programs can make a big difference for those who qualify. VA and USDA home loans are money-savers that charge few fees, ...

If you’re a member of the military or a veteran looking to buy a home, VA loans can be a great option. But there’s a hitch if you want to buy a fixer-upper – Your loan amount ...

Military service includes such benefits as low-cost life insurance through the Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) program. When the time comes to end your military career, you can even convert that SGLI policy into renewable ...

Military service often includes opportunities to serve or be stationed overseas, and that can mean one-time or recurring bonuses or stipends in addition to your military paycheck. One of the incentive pay programs for military ...

You want to buy a house, and why not? If you have access to the VA loan programs that can make home ownership more affordable for members of the military, what’s stopping you? Is it ...

Welcoming a newborn to your family is one of the happiest events you experience as a parent. From that day forward, you want the best life and health for your new child. And signing up ...

There are lots of great benefits that come with working in the military. Among them are guaranteed basic pay, tax-free allowances and paid vacation, just to name a few. But if you're called on to ...

We owe much to those who sacrifice for our country by serving in the military. One way the nation thanks them is by offering a VA loan as an option that helps active-duty and retired ...

One of the most tangible and valuable benefits available to those who opt to serve their country through military service is the VA home loan program. And while every homebuying process is a journey from ...

Active-duty service members and veterans have an ace in the hole when it comes to realizing the dream of home ownership: the VA loan, a mortgage guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Issued ...

VA loans exist only because the federal government wanted to help veterans purchase homes after they helped win World War II. The idea was to put veterans on equal footing with their peers who had ...

Since 1944, VA loans have been a game-changer for veterans looking to purchase a home. Private lenders make the actual loan, but the loan is backed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Understanding the ...

For better or worse, borrowing money and taking on debt is a way of life for Americans. We take out loans for big-ticket items like houses, cars and college educations. Most of us have a ...

Servicemembers and their families know all too well that military life often means pulling up roots and moving. This can cause a problem when cable TV, internet and phone contracts include penalties for canceling early, ...

A VA mortgage loan is one of the biggest benefits that the Department of Veterans Affairs provides to veterans, active-duty military members and families. It makes buying a home affordable by guaranteeing a portion of ...

It might seem more inaccessible than ever right now (thanks, inflation!) but owning your home is still a big part of the American Dream, maybe the biggest part. Why? Because home ownership continues to be ...

At first glance, FHA loans and VA loans appear very similar. Both are mortgage loans backed by the federal government. Both guarantee loans made to qualified buyers by banks and other mortgage lenders – neither ...

Military service includes a long list of benefits, perhaps none more useful than the ability to secure a VA home loan. With the elimination in 2020 of limits on VA loans, the perk got even ...

A military career can offer a fresh start and many opportunities. But significant amounts of debt and a questionable credit history can limit much of what’s available to you, including which branch you serve, your ...

The first step toward answering this question – Do I pay closing costs with a VA loan? – is understanding exactly what a VA loan is, and isn’t. The Department of Veterans Affairs was consolidated ...

Millions of veterans and active-duty service members have bought homes through the Department of Veterans Affairs. That’s one of the perks of the job. What many may not realize is they not only can buy ...

Many of us struggle to cover the costs of our day-to-day living expenses, like housing, food and transportation. An uncertain financial picture can be further clouded by an unexpected and untimely financial hurdle or hardship, ...

If you're a service member or a veteran who wants to build your own home, a VA-backed loan could be the best way to go. With a VA Purchase Loan, which is a benefit of ...

Did you know that your military training and experience could actually be applied toward college credits that can help you earn a college degree? Yes, all the time you spend in military classrooms and in ...

Worried that the education funds you get from the Department of Defense (DoD) might not cover the full cost of college tuition? The Tuition Assistance Top-Up Program might help you sleep better at night as ...

If you’re considering a career in the military, deciding which branch to join is maybe the most exciting question you’ll face. Besides the choice between the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard or ...

Coming to the end of a military career, whether through retirement or separation, means you need to plan for what’s next. While many transition into civilian jobs, a significant number of veterans opt to start, ...

The U.S. military has joined with landlords to help service members find more affordable off-base housing. The help comes through the Rental Partnership Program, or RPP, which provides service members and their families appropriate housing ...

You’ve completed your service. While you were on active duty, you learned or improvised many skills, whatever was needed to accomplish that day’s mission. Now you’re back in civilian life, looking to apply those unique ...

If you hate moving, you’re not alone. A study found that one out of 10 Americans would prefer a week in jail than deal with the hassle of moving. Military families know the feeling as ...

If you are a veteran or active-duty service member dealing with a mental health problem or crisis, you are not alone. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), more than 1.7 million veterans ...

Financial planning might seem like a luxury for the wealthy, but anyone can benefit from making plans for their money, especially those who are struggling to get by. As a servicemember or veteran, you have ...

Reserve pay is one of the many benefits of being in the military reserves. If you're a National Guard or a Reserve Soldier who's performing drilling and other training duties, you can receive compensation in ...

It's not often that you can get free money, but with the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) you can bring in free cash with no extra labor or effort on your part. For service members, having ...

Veterans who are disabled are eligible for tax breaks above and beyond what veterans without disabilities may get. Tax breaks for disabled veterans are usually in the form of exemptions – money that is exempt ...

You’re just out of the service and looking for a job, but the hard skills you learned in the military don’t seem applicable to life in a civilian position. The hiring managers you’re talking to ...

Military life can be pretty demanding. The last thing a soldier or sailor needs to worry about is losing all their possessions. Is such peace of mind worth 50 cents a day? That's about what ...

The federal government will help with burial of military veterans, but there are conditions and qualifications that must be met. The first and most important condition is that the veteran must not have been dishonorably ...

The military may travel on its stomach, but individual service members draw their greatest strength from the support of their spouses. While spouses receive no direct pay for their support role, they are a vital ...

If you weren’t thinking about retirement or other benefits when you enlisted in the military, that’s okay. You are still protected by one of the top three benefits of military service, along with medical and ...

No matter your branch of service or whether you serve in peacetime or during a war or conflict, service in the military carries the risk of injury that can alter the course of your life. ...

You’re away from your family. Your living quarters aren’t exactly luxurious. You might not be getting the supplies, or even the information, you need. Safety is an issue. Peace of mind can be hard to ...

Many who sign up for a military career do so for the adventure, the travel and the opportunity to live and work in foreign countries. And retiring from the military doesn’t mean the adventure needs ...

The selective retention bonus is the U.S. military’s take on an old Army recruiting poster. The twist is that Uncle Sam not only wants you but wants to keep you. Badly in many cases. The ...

The unique circumstances of military life for both members and their families require financial institutions that understand these circumstances. Military banks and credit unions are set up specifically to meet the unique financial needs of ...

Veterans Day, and often the days around it and even the entire month of November, is a great opportunity for veterans, military members, and their families to find military discounts and freebies. Free meals are ...

Media Center Military Money encourages the media to contact us to help with our mission to ensure financial success for service members, veterans and military families. Contact Form We would love to hear from you. ...

As the spouse of an active service member, you know how the frequent relocations that come with military life can complicate a couple’s financial situation. Traditionally, service members were allowed to claim residency in whichever ...

The U.S. military provides legal help and support to service members who want to write their last will and testament. Though it’s not a requirement, service members are encouraged to complete a will during their ...

One of the most valuable benefits afforded to military families is child care assistance. The Department of Defense operates the largest employer-sponsored child care program in the United States, serving approximately 200,000 children of uniformed ...

Whether you're a service member, a veteran, or in some cases even a civilian, a VA home loan can help you make home buying affordable. According to a 2022 survey, the majority of veterans and ...

Life insurance can offer critical protection from financial loss following a death. For military personnel, Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance is the easy choice for this coverage and it is unmatched in terms of affordability and ...

VA home loans help veterans, servicemembers and eligible surviving spouses not only buy a home but also build, repair, refinance and adapt homes for a disability. The loans are from private lenders, but the U.S. ...

The VA home loan program was created in 1944 as part of the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act (better known as the GI Bill), to help those returning from World War II buy homes. The federal government ...

The reality of military service is that nearly 85 percent of personnel leaving active duty each year do so with honorable discharges or a general discharge under honorable conditions. Their departures may not be the ...

As an active-duty service member or veteran of the armed forces, you’re likely familiar with the many benefits and perks you have earned through your military service.  However, you may not know that some of ...

Serving in the military shouldn’t make you more likely to need legal advice, but in these litigious, complicated times, military service can’t isolate you from conflicts that require legal advice. Fortunately, there are plenty of ...

Whether you are enlisted or an officer, whether to continue your military career through to retirement is a decision you will have to contend with from time to time. Staying put and retiring from the ...

Insurance discounts are one of the many perks of being affiliated with the military. If you're looking for affordable home insurance, a military-based discount can help you reduce your premium without sacrificing coverage. Plus, each ...

Everyone in the military gets basic pay that is determined by their rank and length of service. But there are plenty of opportunities to make extra money. Military members of all ranks and positions can ...

Opting for a military career opens the door to a treasure trove of job perks, ranging from education benefits and health care to guaranteed housing loans and the regular income from military pay. But for ...

Even as a civilian, the adoption process can be long, hard and expensive. It’s costly and complicated for anyone who wants to adopt a child. But sometimes, life in the military can add an extra ...

Military life means travel – often, a lot of it. Rental car companies offer military discounts with the understanding that military members and families may have to hit the road quickly, whether it’s in their ...

MyPay is a website for the military community that centralizes the information and transactions involving an individual user’s military pay. The site provides an automated system available to most active and retired members of the ...

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Almost 10 million active-duty members of all military services, plus military retirees, and their families are covered by TRICARE, the military health system that provides benefits and options at a cost lower than most civilian ...

Not surprisingly, Uncle Sam has been having a tough time of late convincing young men and women to answer the call to serve their country. With the unemployment rate hovering around a four-decade low in ...

Many car dealerships offer military discounts as rebates once the car is purchased. Others offer them as discounts during the purchase or on the overall cost of a lease. Military discounts related to vehicles don’t ...

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You might have noticed: Getting away isn’t easy on the wallet these days. Finding a place to stay for a little R&R is pricey, whether you’re looking at a resort, a hotel, or a motel. ...

Uncle Sam Wants YOU! People of a certain age will remember those recruiting posters from the last century. Uncle Sam, representing the U.S. Armed Forces and wearing a top hat and bow tie, points a ...

If you're a disabled veteran who receives in-home care, you and your caregiver could be eligible for the VA's Caregiver Support Program (CSP). Those who are eligible can potentially receive a number of resources, including ...

If you’re in the military, you’re almost certainly living on a budget, so you’ve got payday etched in your brain. For servicemembers, payday usually falls on the 1st or 15th of the month – provided ...

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If you’re a veteran receiving medical care and disability compensation, notification of a benefits review from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs might feel like getting audited by the IRS. After all, they have one ...

One of the great benefits of entering the military is that if offers financial security, not only when you are a member but also in retirement for those who have made it their career. The ...

Who We Are Military Money Military Money was created in 2003 as part of the Department of Defense's "Financial Readiness Campaign" with the support of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Military ...

The threat of credit-card fraud or identity theft is ever-present, and it may seem impossible to know when you’re at risk and who might be trying to defraud you. Military personnel, particularly those who are ...

Chances are good that military personnel will grow accustomed to navigating airports and downloading boarding passes during their stint in the armed forces. Whether it’s transferring bases, visiting family on leave or taking a much-deserved ...

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Dealing with your financial health can be like dealing with your physical health. Before you can fix it, you have to know what the problem is. A lot of people would rather not know than ...

If you're unsatisfied with your home loan, refinancing through the VA could help. Whether you have a high monthly payment, an adjustable interest rate that keeps rising, or other terms you're unhappy with, there are ...

Free meals for veterans and active-duty military members on Veterans Day have become a trend across the U.S., but those who are serving or have served can also find discounts on meals and other special ...

First, a couple of numbers. 47. That’s roughly the average age of officers when they retire from the Armed Forces. 43. That’s the approximate average age of enlisted service members when they retire from the ...

The first and best piece of advice is this: Have a plan, and start working on it sooner rather than later. This will give you the best shot at success. For all the difficulties that ...

It’s no secret that working with the federal government or as a government contractor means you might find yourself with access to privileged information. Being granted that access means that you must have, or be ...

About 250,000 service members transition into civilian life every year. One of the first things they do is look for a job, and many don’t like what they see. A LinkedIn study found that 33% ...

It’s the opportunity you’ve wanted. More responsibility, bigger paycheck, maybe a step up in rank. Now it’s yours, assuming you get the security clearance the new position requires. But as the military’s mandatory background check ...

If you have bad credit, few things are more tempting than a quick fix that promises to repair your credit and instantly increase your credit score. But beware, a company that offers to instantly repair ...

Free Military Fraud Alerts & Credit Monitoring By Craig Richardson | Credit Score The threat of credit-card fraud or identity theft is ever-present, and it may seem impossible to know when you're at risk and ...

A pension, including a secure military pension, is often described as a nest egg we build to provide for a comfortable retirement. It’s earned over years of service and paid to you, usually in monthly ...

For decades, members of the military had little to consider when it came to retirement planning. If they chose to remain in the armed services for at least 20 years, they would receive an annuity ...

Veterans looking to buy a house are entitled to juicy loan benefits civilians don’t enjoy. One of the juiciest benefits can help them buy a second house and not need a down payment to do ...

Your chance to make a good first impression in a crowd – without handing out $100 bills – is even more difficult when your first contact is a job resume fighting for consideration in a ...

Among the long list of perks and incentives offered to military personnel, the most impactful and beneficial may be your GI Bill benefits. Administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the GI Bill is ...

Nobody joins the military to get rich. They also don’t join it to get poor. Unfortunately, that’s often how it turns out. Studies show that almost 35% of service members can’t pay their bills on ...

In the movies, military life takes place on base, in tidy barracks with rows of well-made bunks. In reality, those barracks are only part of the story. The number and diversity of uniformed personnel require ...

We shouldn’t need a war to break out to appreciate the service of military members and the challenges they and their families face, not only during their tours of duty but after those tours are ...

The U.S. government recognizes that military families make sacrifices that can have an impact on a military spouse’s pursuit of a career or education, as well as on the education of their children. To help ...

With stunning interest rates ticking away relentlessly, and late fees eager to pounce on the slightest misstep, credit card debt erodes a consumer’s financial stability. These are not small stakes we’re talking about. U.S. household ...

One decision almost every member of the military eventually must make is whether to live in on-base military housing or find their own housing off-base. The decision is easy for single active-duty military in the ...

An MOS, or military occupational specialty, involves the breathtakingly wide range of jobs carried out by members of the United States armed forces — more than10,000 different specialties covering a vast array of skills, interests, ...

While on active duty, John D. used the Army’s tuition assistance program to pursue both undergraduate and master’s degrees. Not only did he take advantage of the Military Tuition Assistance, or TA, program to plan ...

Those who serve the nation do so knowing they will face significant mental and physical challenges. Unfortunately, military service does not make anyone immune to financial challenges, too, so it’s important for any service member ...

A deployed servicemember may find it a heavy burden to continue to pay for a car lease. Thankfully, the servicemember has the option to break a vehicle lease – provided certain conditions are met. The ...

Nobody wants to hear from a debt collector. It’s unnerving and can be a cause of anxiety. If you’re in the military, debt and debt collection issues can put your status, promotions and career at ...

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has long been committed to making sure education benefits are available to those who join the military. Modern VA education benefits recognize that today’s veterans and active-duty military service ...

They say the best things in life are free, and that’s especially true during tax-filing season. Nothing’s worse than having to pay an arm and a leg to a tax-preparation company, only to find out ...

As a thank you for the service of those in the armed forces, many businesses offer military discounts for active-duty military members and veterans. These range from free to discounted items. Some are year-round, some ...

Moving yourself and your family to another location for a job is something that happens across American life. Like most things, it is different for military servicemembers. Unlike civilian companies, which you can leave if ...

10 Tips to Help Service Members Get a Civilian Job After Service By Tom Jackson | Veterans The first and best piece of advice is this: Have a plan, and start working on it sooner ...

There are a variety of programs that provide housing assistance for both active-duty military and veterans. Military and veteran housing assistance not only helps those who are serving or have served buy, build, renovate and ...

Most people don’t volunteer for military service with retirement on their minds. A sense of patriotic duty, a tradition of family service, the chance to take advantage of opportunities for training and growth? Yes to ...

Advancing your education and preparing for a career after your military service should be part of the plan for anyone who signs up to serve their country. Whether it’s the G.I. Bill for veterans or ...

The Military Lending Act protects active-duty military members and their families from high-interest and costly consumer lending practices. Its major provision is that it caps the amount of combined interest and fees that can be ...

The U.S. government recognizes that those who have been serving in the military need a way to catch up to civilians busy building careers and wealth. The GI Bill provides education benefits and support to ...

Payday loans are a flashing neon sign at the intersection of desperation and convenience. Offering fast cash at a heavy cost, they’ve earned a deserved reputation as a financial speed trap for borrowers. What is ...

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The mission and work of military personnel is at times unpredictable and chaotic, and there are still many facets of life to manage -- whether it be your family, your possessions, or your finances -- ...

We Are Serious About Military Debt Help Know Your Options average military members debt 421 ProBiz Clients Intrinsically integrate diverse action items for team building best practices. Globally supply covalent ROI via e-business markets, assertively. 732 ...

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