Why do you charge flat fees instead of AUM?
Because AUM fees are fundamentally misaligned with your interests. An advisor charging a percentage of your assets earns more when your portfolio grows — not when you make better decisions. My fee doesn't change based on how the market performs. I'm paid to give you good advice, period. And you pay it from your bank account, where you can see it clearly, not from a retirement account where it disappears quietly.
You're not a licensed financial planner yet — why would I work with you?
Fair question. I'm actively pursuing Series 65 and CFP® credentials. In the meantime, what I offer is financial coaching — education, budgeting, cash flow strategy, accountability, and goal-based planning. Coaching and financial planning are different disciplines, and for most of my clients, coaching is the right fit. They're already managing their money intelligently — they don't need someone to manage it for them. They need a thinking partner to help them make better decisions, close the gap between knowing and doing, and build a plan that actually holds up under real-life pressure. That's what I do.
What is the "Medical Cliff" and why do you coach on it?
If you're in a role where your income and family's security depend on medical certification — pilot, controller, flight doc — you have a single point of failure in your financial plan that most advisors never address. One unexpected finding and your financial picture changes completely. I'm NBC-HWC certified and NASM certified, so I can work with you on both the financial contingency planning AND the physical performance habits that keep you medically viable longer.
Do I need to be in Nashville to work with you?
No. All sessions are via Zoom. I work with clients across the country. The Guard/Reserve officer navigating the O-5 dilemma in Colorado Springs has the same questions as the one in the Nashville area.
What does "coaching first" mean — how is this different from financial advice?
Financial advice (from a licensed advisor) includes investment recommendations, portfolio management, and regulated guidance. Financial coaching is education, accountability, behavior, and planning — the foundational work that most people need before (and often instead of) portfolio management. I don't tell you which stocks to buy. I help you figure out why you're still broke despite a good salary, build the plan that changes that, and hold you accountable to it.
How is this different from just watching YouTube or reading Reddit?
YouTube can't ask you why you've known you should be funding your Roth IRA for two years and you still haven't. Reddit can't model whether staying for O-6 is worth it given your specific civilian income opportunity cost. And neither one will follow up the week after your session to ask what happened with that debt payoff plan you agreed to. Information isn't the problem for most people. Execution and accountability are.
How should a Guard or Reserve officer think about retirement differently than active duty?
The pension math is fundamentally different. Guard and Reserve retirement is point-based, and you typically can't draw it until age 60 — with some exceptions for sustained activation. That means there's often a multi-year gap between separation and pension income that active duty officers don't face. TSP contribution discipline and civilian income planning matter more for Guard and Reserve, not less. Most financial content online is written for active duty. The Guard and Reserve calculus requires a different framework.
Is TSP enough on its own for retirement, or do I need more?
Depends on your retirement system, years of service, and what "enough" means in your specific life. If you have a full military pension and you've contributed aggressively since your first LT paycheck, TSP can be a cornerstone of a solid plan. The problem is most officers aren't contributing enough — especially Guard and Reserve members whose pension math is different and who have longer gaps to fill. The honest answer: it depends on how much you're putting in and whether you've actually run the numbers.
Should I contribute to Roth TSP or traditional TSP?
Generally, Roth TSP favors officers earlier in their career when their current tax rate is lower than their projected retirement rate. Traditional makes more sense if you're in a high bracket now and expect a lower one in retirement. One exception worth knowing: contributions made during a tax-free combat zone deployment are advantaged either way — that window is particularly valuable for Roth. Your answer depends on your specific tax picture, not a universal rule.
What happens to my TSP if I separate or get medically retired?
It stays yours. You can leave it in TSP — one of the lowest-cost investment vehicles available anywhere — roll it into an IRA, or roll it into a civilian employer's 401(k) if applicable. The wrong move is cashing it out: immediate tax hit plus a 10% early withdrawal penalty in most cases. TSP separation rules are well-structured. The key is knowing your options before you sign anything.
How should I be using BAH — is it income or housing?
BAH is housing. Full stop. The mistake is treating it as bonus income layered on top of base pay. If you're living cheaply and pocketing the difference, that surplus is great — but it needs to go somewhere intentional: debt payoff, emergency fund, investment. Too often BAH disappears into lifestyle inflation. The officers who build real wealth treat every dollar, including BAH, as a tool with a job to do.
How much life insurance do I need as a military officer — is SGLI enough?
SGLI is excellent low-cost coverage — max $400K — and you should have it fully funded. Whether it's enough depends on your income, dependents, debt, and what your family's finances look like if you're gone tomorrow. A rough benchmark: 10-12x your annual income in total coverage. Run that math against your SGLI payout and close any gap with term life insurance. Not whole life. Anyone pitching whole life to a military officer is not working in your interest.
What is the O-5/O-6 decision and why does it matter financially?
Staying for O-6 means more income and a higher pension multiplier — but the opportunity cost is real. Those additional years have a price: civilian income forgone, career capital, timing, family factors. The financial case for staying versus separating is different for every person and nearly impossible to evaluate correctly without modeling your specific numbers. Gut feel and peer pressure are bad inputs for this decision. The math deserves a serious look before you commit either way.
What should a pilot or aircrew member do to financially prepare for a medical disqualification?
Build a plan that doesn't require flight pay to work. Specifically: don't let lifestyle expand to absorb flight pay as permanent income. Build an emergency fund covering six to twelve months of expenses without it. Understand what your retirement income looks like under a medical board outcome versus voluntary separation. Know your civilian income options before you need them. A disqualification should be a manageable transition — not a financial crisis. This is exactly what the Medical Cliff package is built for.
How much does financial coaching for military officers cost?
Four flat-fee packages: Mission Brief ($197 — one 90-minute session plus written summary), Flight Plan ($597 — three sessions over six weeks plus a written financial plan), Full Mission ($997 — six sessions over three months), and Medical Cliff ($397 — two sessions focused on aviation career financial contingency). No retainer. No subscription. No percentage of assets. You know exactly what you're paying before you book a single session.
Do I have to sign a long-term contract?
No. Each package is a defined scope with a defined end. You're not locked into anything ongoing. If you want to continue after a package wraps, we talk about what makes sense. No auto-renewals, no pressure to extend.
What does the actual work look like in a session?
Sessions are 60-90 minutes on Zoom. Before the first one, you complete a financial intake — the more honest you are, the more useful the session. We work through your specific situation, not a generic checklist. You get written notes and action items after each session. The work between sessions is on you. I follow up on it at the next one.
Can my spouse be involved in sessions?
Yes — and for most clients, they should be. Financial plans that only one partner buys into don't hold. If you have a spouse or partner who's part of your financial picture, bring them. Sessions work better when both people are in the room.
How do I get started?
Book a free 20-minute Discovery Call. That's it. No intake form required, no financial documents ahead of time. Just show up — we'll figure out whether this is the right fit and where to start. Link is at the top of this page.
How long does it take to see results?
Depends on what results means for you. A single Mission Brief session can resolve a specific question the same day. A Flight Plan engagement produces a written financial plan in about six weeks. The deeper behavioral shifts — closing the gap between knowing and doing — those take longer and look different for every person. What I can tell you: after a first session, you'll leave with a clearer picture and at least one specific action.
Are you a fiduciary?
Not in the legal sense — not yet. Fiduciary duty is a legal standard that applies to registered investment advisors managing assets or providing securities advice. I'm a financial coach: education, planning, accountability, and behavioral work. That's a different discipline. I'm transparent about what I can and can't do, and when your situation requires a licensed RIA, I'll tell you directly and refer you to someone qualified. I'm actively pursuing Series 65 credentials.
Is financial coaching regulated?
Financial coaching isn't regulated the way investment advice is — no licensing requirement, no government oversight body. That makes the space uneven: there are excellent coaches and some who have no business charging for advice. What to look for: full transparency about credentials, a fee model that doesn't depend on selling you products, and a clear scope of what the coach will and won't do. I'll tell you exactly what I'm qualified for and where my limits are — every time, without being asked.
How is this different from free financial resources on base?
Base financial counselors cover the basics — debt awareness, TSP enrollment, predatory lender protection. Valuable, and I'd never tell you not to use them. What they can't offer: deep session-based work on your specific financial picture, accountability over time, and the kind of direct peer-level conversation that actually changes behavior. They also can't tell you the math on staying for O-6 doesn't work for your situation — that's outside their lane. It's squarely in mine.
